Post by Grubs - Philly on Dec 28, 2020 19:13:45 GMT -5
2025 AL East Preview
With big-budget teams and deep farm systems, the AL East’s relative lack of World Series success had long been something of a mystery to the PBA. The Toronto Blue Jays put that wonder to rest for the time being, as the Canadians put together the playoff run they couldn’t the past few seasons, parlaying solid offense and pitching to a World Series championship. The Jays will look to build on their success as the division is poised to become more competitive, but might be a few years away from the title battles we long for.
Toronto Blue Jays (90-72, World Series champs)
Who they were: It all came together for Mike Leitao, as the PBA’s legendary first-year flash went off in a big way. The Jays featured a balanced attack that easily won the division. Vlad Jr. and Jake Burger feasted on the longball, smacking 83 homers and 269 RBI between them. While Guerrero wasn’t as good as 2023, it was his dynamic playoff performance that helped carry Toronto, as he nearly notched a 200 WRC+ in the postseason. Burger followed up with .905 OPS for the playoff run. Regular season stud Jahmai Jones put up his second straight 6+ WAR season, but a back injury set him down for the playoffs. Yusniel Diaz was the just about only Jay to flounder through October, but a pair of homers in the decisive Game 5 righted his playoff ship.
While not deep, the Blue Jays’ rotation was easily good enough to get them through the division and into the postseason. A September switch to closer for Michael Kopech paid huge dividends in the playoffs, as the often-wild fireballer notched three wins and five saves. Despite a 1.45 WHIP, Kopech locked it down and registered a 0.87 ERA. Thomas Szapucki and T.J. Zeuch anchored the rotation, and while Zeuch flailed in most of the playoffs, he locked it down in Game 5 against the Dodgers. The Jays had timing in spades, and it made all the difference.
Offseason review: The Jays went out and grabbed arguably the best catcher in the league in Gary Sanchez. While he’s unlikely to repeat the career year at the plate he had with Kansas City, he’ll still give a boost. He also won’t be playing for the Royals, which is huge. Leitao also bolstered his bullpen by signing the uninspired-but-talented Corey Knebel and trading for Mauricio Cabrera. The addition of a couple youngsters could really improve the late innings for the Jays.
On the farm: The Jays went right out and traded for pitcher Tanh Dai. He’s not a world beater, but he’s solid and, more importantly, It’s always impressive when a contender can make moves to build the system after a World Series win or even strong playoff run. Toronto has a well-developed minor league system.
Pitcher Darge Gakere tossed just a handful of games during the regular season, but showed up in clutch situations in the postseason to notch three wins and ERA/WHIP numbers below 1.00. Danny Richardson at Buffalo is probably ready to contribute, though an undeveloped changeup will likely limit him to bullpen duty. At 23, catcher Eric Walker is nearly ready. He’s been solid to dominant at every minor league level. Only AAA remains for him, but with Gary Sanchez signed for 5 years at $28 million per, it could get awkward. That’s especially true with Federico Pando ready to pick up 1B duties. He’s already playing DH in Spring Training and could be knocking on the door in no time.
Best case: Toronto has only gotten better. They repeat in the East and bring home another Commissioner’s Trophy.
Worst case: Starting pitching falters and they don’t win a World Series. Toronto is on the upswing, and the fact that they just won it all should worry the rest of the division.
Key Question: Both Gakere and Triston Casas aren’t quite fully developed. Are you in it to win it with those two in your rotation? How long is their leash and what’s Plan B?
Baltimore Orioles (77-85 13 GB)
Who they were: Thump thump. Thump thump. Thump thump. Edgar Allan Poe’s Tell-Tale Heart? No. It’s the Orioles’ offense last year. This team could rip up the floorboards and give it a whack with the best of them. Despite playing just 98 games with the Birds after being acquired from Houston, 3B Joe DeCarlo hit 43 home runs at a .639 slugging clip (giving him 60 for the year). First baseman Jomar Reyes and DH Emmanuel Tapia slugged 41 a piece, and Mike Floyd, Gregory Polanco, Clint Frazier and Mike Siani added 120 more roundtrippers. Baltimore scored 912 runs, second highest in the AL and third in the PBA.
Then, there was the pitching and defense. Allowing 1,062 feet to touch home plate easily led the PBA, even outstripping the futile Red Sox.
Mike Floyd is a wonder with the bat, but his fielding makes one wonder if he uses a glove. A -38 zone rating at second and a -1.1 rating at short killed the O’s up the middle. With DH Tapia arguably worse and Reyes hitting at 1B, there was no place to hide Floyd. Jeremiah Jackson and Jonathan Arauz were oddly terrible at shortstop, given their ratings. It was ugly.
Not that the pitching helped. It’s hard to get a glove on 297 home runs allowed. A team ERA above 6.00 (and a FIP above 5.00) made it hard for even the Orioles to break even. It wasn’t for a lack of options, as GM Vic Black trotted out a whopping 38 guys to the hill. Ace Darwinzon Hernandez put up 193.2 innings of a mid-3’s ERA and was the lone bright spot for the O’s. Other SPs Sam Carlson and Tommy Stanfield—the only other pitchers to toss more than 100 innings—were inexplicably bad.
The Orioles were a compelling story in 2024, but it was a power-soaked horror fest that made any self-respecting pitcher watch the season through his fingers. Early indications were the team might be cashing in on its potential, but eight games under .500 isn’t what Black hoped for.
Offseason review: The Orioles have been active. Let the Mike Floyd-at-first-base experiment commence. He certainly can’t be any worse than at second. The Orioles pulled in left fielder Luis Robert when they shipped 1B Jomar Reyes to the Twins. Right fielder Axel Aleixo comes aboard. The team’s only second baseman who could field, Jonathan Arauz, goes to San Francisco in a depth move for RP Antonio Santillan, CF Reese Albert and 2B Enmanuel Valdez. Another RF, Adam Haseley, came in from the A’s along with two low-stuff, high-control pitchers.
While the Orioles seem to be taking a win now approach, Black shipped ill-fitting pitching prospect Chris Brandt to a bigger ballpark in exchange for Oakland’s first round pick this year. For taking on LF Jake Bauers’ contract, Baltimore made off with another first round pick, this time from Tampa. For unloading LF Trent Clark, the team acquired yet another first round pick, from Texas, along with a second and fifth round selection.
Overall, it’s a sizable net WAR loss, but that’s mainly due to the departure of Gregory Polanco, whose ask must have been too significant after a standout year with the O’s on a one-year deal.
On the farm: The Orioles have four of the first 26 picks this year and three second round selections, so expect the situation to improve if they choose wisely. It’s a middle of the pack system, with all the big guys out of the picture. Aside from SP Jake Shirey, most of the top pitching talent is high-ceiling relievers like Nihat Ecevit and Big Time Timmy Jim Newbold. At almost 25 years old, reliever Kurt Mann, who played almost 30 games in the majors, looks to make Baltimore his home this year and take a big step forward.
While Black spent considerable time retooling his big league lineup over the offseason, he’s also set himself up to have an enviable minor league system with a little skill and good fortune.
What now: New category, because Baltimore is still experimenting and this isn't easy to follow. Floyd will man first base and corner outfielder Jadon Ancrum is getting reps at second during Spring Training. Robert, defensive whiz Jacob Allred and Haseley will be arrayed across the outfield, with either Siani or Ancrum backing up. Defense should improve for anything not hit over the wall. Nick Dunn looks to start at shortstop, where he has serviceable ratings.
The starting rotation will be all familiar faces, with Hernandez, Carlson and Stanfield returning and Devin Ortiz and Eric Dusing getting first crack at starting. Silvino Bracho will get the nominal closer’s job, though just about everything looks up in the air in the bullpen.
Best case: A nailbiter of a division race goes down to the last couple weeks of the year, but lands the Orioles in the playoffs as a Wild Card, where they advance to the ALCS.
Worst case: The middle infield remains porous and pitching doesn’t come together and Baltimore slips further back from a well-balanced Toronto squad, finishing middle of the pack in the division.
Key Questions: What happens if Ancrum can’t start at second? Will you sit him and slot in Valdez or start Dunn there and go looking for a shortstop? Will you keep both Ancrum and Siani around? Is there any way out of the middle infield conundrum without making another deal? What’s your bullpen looking like?
Tampa Bay Rays (75-87 15 GB)
Who they were: The Rays were frustrated. They probably should have finished second and about 8 games back. But the offense never came around. Jesus Sanchez fought a bad back for two months of the year, curtailing a solid effort. Cole Brannen’s dynamite defense in center and skill on the basepaths was blunted by his bat (and the lack of offense around him). Same for Ben Ramirez at third. Lewin Diaz’ inexplicable decline accelerated.
Tampa’s pitching fell off the table, too. Good defense and strength relative to the rest of the division kept the run total down. But rotation stalwarts Lucas Sims and Conner Greene were terrible. Sixto Sanchez was good, but missed a month and a half with two separate injuries. Newcomer Nick Vespi showed promise, but a freak offseason elbow fracture has him out until the dog days of summer. Despite alleged problems with lack of motivation, closer Corey Knebel was dominant. Heaven help us if Toronto lights a fire under him this year.
Offseason review: GM Ryan Morneau stayed active, with some of his most savvy moves being letting vets like Andrew Toles, Knebel and Jared Cosart hit free agency. Catcher Blake Hunt went to the Royals, with starter Brent Honeywell coming home along with Christopher Torres (SS) and glove-first catcher Stuart Turner.
On the farm: Help is not on the way. Pitcher Pat Clemens is major league ready, but unfortunately, an underdeveloped slider is going to relegate him to bullpen duty. He can soak up some serious innings, though, and might provide a security blanket for the rotation. The acquisition of Torres gives slick-fielding middle infielder Tony Ryan time to fully develop. Gerritt Cole came on board for a third round draft pick and Mike Foltynewicz cost a mid-level prospect to acquire from Boston.
Best case: Tampa did what no division team except Toronto did this offseason: solidify its rotation. That could pay dividends. With a resurgent offense, the Rays could swipe second in this division, though a playoff berth is likely not in the works.
Worst case: The veteran pitchers stumble and a depleted bullpen can’t pick up the pieces as the Rays fall to fourth.
Key Question: This season will probably tell you a lot about your rebuild scenario. You’ve patched some holes and regression should improve the club’s offense. What are you hoping for going forward, and what results will you look to as you consider where to take the Rays in the next few years?
New York Yankees (75-87 15 GB)
Who they were: After World Series appearances in 2019 and 2021, Greg Masceri’s Yankees have fallen back, finishing third or worse two of the last three seasons and getting bounced by the Twins in 2023.
The Bronx Bombers scored the most runs in the PBA with 920, led by first baseman Greg Bird and shortstop Gleyber Torres, who both sported an OPS above .900. Shortstop Amed Rosario made the trip across town from the Mets and provided depth and solid offense after missing a chunk of the early season with a concussion. Veteran catcher Miguel Gomez did his best Gary Sanchez impression after coming over from the Royals.
Allowing 945 runs, though, is a recipe for a middling season. Journeymen Danny Salazar and Jerad Eickhoff were the Yanks best starters, but ERAs of 5.90 and 5.15, respectively, are nothing to cheer about. Aroldis Chapman and Gio Gallegos were solid in the back end of the bullpen, but Gallegos is gone to the Cubs and Chapman went down in spring with a bad hamstring, turned his ankle upon returning in May, then ultimately opted for season-ending Tommy John in August (just weeks after the Gallegos trade). At 37 and likely to miss most of the year (and his 2026 vesting option) the Cuban Missile’s days as a Scud stud are likely done.
Offseason review: Masceri’s offseason for the Yankees was like Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ SNL assessment of Ernie Hudson as a Ghostbuster: He didn’t do nothing. Trades and dumb luck will be the only thing that salvages New York’s 2025 season.
On the farm: New York has two of the top five OSA prospects. Starter Enrique Gomez looks to skip single A and begin the year with Trenton. He has a low-90s fastball, but a curve, slider and change that all rate as plus plus. The curve has been slow in coming and needs to develop if he’s to become a true ace. Luis Villarreal has ace potential, too, though it comes in a more prototypical power pitcher package, with a fastball that sits around 97, a wipeout curve and a devastating change. He’s been dominant in the low minors, but struggled a bit with his control in AA last year. The temptation will be to move these guys along to keep up with Toronto and Baltimore, but patience might pay off for Masceri.
Center fielder Angelo Santiago has loads of talent and some of the best bat skills around, but he’s raw and needs time to develop, having just turned 19. A first-rounder in 2023, CF Bob Allison has a more power-oriented game and might end up being a left fielder when it’s all said and done.
The Yankees got first and second round picks from the Cubs in the Gallegos trade.
Best case: Third
Worst case: Last
Key Question: How will you solve the pitching problem?
Boston Red Sox (55-107 35 GB)
Who they were: The same, underachieving bunch of scrubs we’ve grown to love. I mean, ignore. There’s not much to say about a -314 run differential, other than holy hell. Their most productive position by OPS was catcher. Their best pitchers were middle relievers. Those players are, as they should be, gone.
The Red Sox have been inexplicably bad ever since new GM Mike Ball liberated the team of Andrew Benintendi, Rafael Devers and Eduardo Rodriguez in the nascent days of the PBA and during his White Sox tenure. Now, El Pollo Grande has come home to roost. The team has never finished higher than fourth and never been closer than 15 games to the division winner. This team sux and Ball will have to bail them out.
Offseason review: The lone remnant of that fateful trade, catcher Zack Collins is now a Brave. A pair of New Year’s Day trades sent Collins and Raul (Adalberto) Mondesi to Atlanta, as Ball’s deep into a rebuild. The Red Sox have acquired 30 players this offseason, most of them young. The lone, embarrassing stain is the loss of Mike Fitzgerald during Rule 5. Still, the Red Sox did well with that trade and while Fitzgerald will sting, it’s not likely a franchise-killing gaffe.
On the farm: OSA says Fitzgerald is the no. 59 prospect, but that feels low. Even without him, though, the Red Sox sport a top 10 farm system. Starter Phil Cabrera has great makeup, dominant stuff and a fastball-slider-change mix that could make him a useful rotation guy. Spotty control might mean he’s more suited to the bullpen. His stamina is fine, but lots of strikeouts and walks mean he’s not likely to go past the 5th inning too often. If he’s a bullpen piece, he’s ready now. Shortstop Joel McCabe is a year or two away from contributing, and might be better suited to second base. He hasn’t played above A ball, so this year is key. While not rated highly by OSA, Juan Alaniz has a four-pitch mix (three if the change doesn’t develop) and could be a solid mid-rotation starter or dominant bullpen guy in a few years.
Best case: The Red Sox’ rebuild is going to be fun to watch. But not this year. They somehow beat a lackluster Yankees squad into fourth place.
Worst case: There really isn’t a worst-case scenario here. Boston is bad and needs to find valuable building blocks wherever it can. Ball will likely be on the hunt for draft picks and young talent.
Key Questions: Who’s your target in the draft? Would you deal your fourth pick (or other similarly high picks) for a package to build the minor leagues? Have you dealt all the pieces you think you can?
With big-budget teams and deep farm systems, the AL East’s relative lack of World Series success had long been something of a mystery to the PBA. The Toronto Blue Jays put that wonder to rest for the time being, as the Canadians put together the playoff run they couldn’t the past few seasons, parlaying solid offense and pitching to a World Series championship. The Jays will look to build on their success as the division is poised to become more competitive, but might be a few years away from the title battles we long for.
Toronto Blue Jays (90-72, World Series champs)
Who they were: It all came together for Mike Leitao, as the PBA’s legendary first-year flash went off in a big way. The Jays featured a balanced attack that easily won the division. Vlad Jr. and Jake Burger feasted on the longball, smacking 83 homers and 269 RBI between them. While Guerrero wasn’t as good as 2023, it was his dynamic playoff performance that helped carry Toronto, as he nearly notched a 200 WRC+ in the postseason. Burger followed up with .905 OPS for the playoff run. Regular season stud Jahmai Jones put up his second straight 6+ WAR season, but a back injury set him down for the playoffs. Yusniel Diaz was the just about only Jay to flounder through October, but a pair of homers in the decisive Game 5 righted his playoff ship.
While not deep, the Blue Jays’ rotation was easily good enough to get them through the division and into the postseason. A September switch to closer for Michael Kopech paid huge dividends in the playoffs, as the often-wild fireballer notched three wins and five saves. Despite a 1.45 WHIP, Kopech locked it down and registered a 0.87 ERA. Thomas Szapucki and T.J. Zeuch anchored the rotation, and while Zeuch flailed in most of the playoffs, he locked it down in Game 5 against the Dodgers. The Jays had timing in spades, and it made all the difference.
Offseason review: The Jays went out and grabbed arguably the best catcher in the league in Gary Sanchez. While he’s unlikely to repeat the career year at the plate he had with Kansas City, he’ll still give a boost. He also won’t be playing for the Royals, which is huge. Leitao also bolstered his bullpen by signing the uninspired-but-talented Corey Knebel and trading for Mauricio Cabrera. The addition of a couple youngsters could really improve the late innings for the Jays.
On the farm: The Jays went right out and traded for pitcher Tanh Dai. He’s not a world beater, but he’s solid and, more importantly, It’s always impressive when a contender can make moves to build the system after a World Series win or even strong playoff run. Toronto has a well-developed minor league system.
Pitcher Darge Gakere tossed just a handful of games during the regular season, but showed up in clutch situations in the postseason to notch three wins and ERA/WHIP numbers below 1.00. Danny Richardson at Buffalo is probably ready to contribute, though an undeveloped changeup will likely limit him to bullpen duty. At 23, catcher Eric Walker is nearly ready. He’s been solid to dominant at every minor league level. Only AAA remains for him, but with Gary Sanchez signed for 5 years at $28 million per, it could get awkward. That’s especially true with Federico Pando ready to pick up 1B duties. He’s already playing DH in Spring Training and could be knocking on the door in no time.
Best case: Toronto has only gotten better. They repeat in the East and bring home another Commissioner’s Trophy.
Worst case: Starting pitching falters and they don’t win a World Series. Toronto is on the upswing, and the fact that they just won it all should worry the rest of the division.
Key Question: Both Gakere and Triston Casas aren’t quite fully developed. Are you in it to win it with those two in your rotation? How long is their leash and what’s Plan B?
Baltimore Orioles (77-85 13 GB)
Who they were: Thump thump. Thump thump. Thump thump. Edgar Allan Poe’s Tell-Tale Heart? No. It’s the Orioles’ offense last year. This team could rip up the floorboards and give it a whack with the best of them. Despite playing just 98 games with the Birds after being acquired from Houston, 3B Joe DeCarlo hit 43 home runs at a .639 slugging clip (giving him 60 for the year). First baseman Jomar Reyes and DH Emmanuel Tapia slugged 41 a piece, and Mike Floyd, Gregory Polanco, Clint Frazier and Mike Siani added 120 more roundtrippers. Baltimore scored 912 runs, second highest in the AL and third in the PBA.
Then, there was the pitching and defense. Allowing 1,062 feet to touch home plate easily led the PBA, even outstripping the futile Red Sox.
Mike Floyd is a wonder with the bat, but his fielding makes one wonder if he uses a glove. A -38 zone rating at second and a -1.1 rating at short killed the O’s up the middle. With DH Tapia arguably worse and Reyes hitting at 1B, there was no place to hide Floyd. Jeremiah Jackson and Jonathan Arauz were oddly terrible at shortstop, given their ratings. It was ugly.
Not that the pitching helped. It’s hard to get a glove on 297 home runs allowed. A team ERA above 6.00 (and a FIP above 5.00) made it hard for even the Orioles to break even. It wasn’t for a lack of options, as GM Vic Black trotted out a whopping 38 guys to the hill. Ace Darwinzon Hernandez put up 193.2 innings of a mid-3’s ERA and was the lone bright spot for the O’s. Other SPs Sam Carlson and Tommy Stanfield—the only other pitchers to toss more than 100 innings—were inexplicably bad.
The Orioles were a compelling story in 2024, but it was a power-soaked horror fest that made any self-respecting pitcher watch the season through his fingers. Early indications were the team might be cashing in on its potential, but eight games under .500 isn’t what Black hoped for.
Offseason review: The Orioles have been active. Let the Mike Floyd-at-first-base experiment commence. He certainly can’t be any worse than at second. The Orioles pulled in left fielder Luis Robert when they shipped 1B Jomar Reyes to the Twins. Right fielder Axel Aleixo comes aboard. The team’s only second baseman who could field, Jonathan Arauz, goes to San Francisco in a depth move for RP Antonio Santillan, CF Reese Albert and 2B Enmanuel Valdez. Another RF, Adam Haseley, came in from the A’s along with two low-stuff, high-control pitchers.
While the Orioles seem to be taking a win now approach, Black shipped ill-fitting pitching prospect Chris Brandt to a bigger ballpark in exchange for Oakland’s first round pick this year. For taking on LF Jake Bauers’ contract, Baltimore made off with another first round pick, this time from Tampa. For unloading LF Trent Clark, the team acquired yet another first round pick, from Texas, along with a second and fifth round selection.
Overall, it’s a sizable net WAR loss, but that’s mainly due to the departure of Gregory Polanco, whose ask must have been too significant after a standout year with the O’s on a one-year deal.
On the farm: The Orioles have four of the first 26 picks this year and three second round selections, so expect the situation to improve if they choose wisely. It’s a middle of the pack system, with all the big guys out of the picture. Aside from SP Jake Shirey, most of the top pitching talent is high-ceiling relievers like Nihat Ecevit and Big Time Timmy Jim Newbold. At almost 25 years old, reliever Kurt Mann, who played almost 30 games in the majors, looks to make Baltimore his home this year and take a big step forward.
While Black spent considerable time retooling his big league lineup over the offseason, he’s also set himself up to have an enviable minor league system with a little skill and good fortune.
What now: New category, because Baltimore is still experimenting and this isn't easy to follow. Floyd will man first base and corner outfielder Jadon Ancrum is getting reps at second during Spring Training. Robert, defensive whiz Jacob Allred and Haseley will be arrayed across the outfield, with either Siani or Ancrum backing up. Defense should improve for anything not hit over the wall. Nick Dunn looks to start at shortstop, where he has serviceable ratings.
The starting rotation will be all familiar faces, with Hernandez, Carlson and Stanfield returning and Devin Ortiz and Eric Dusing getting first crack at starting. Silvino Bracho will get the nominal closer’s job, though just about everything looks up in the air in the bullpen.
Best case: A nailbiter of a division race goes down to the last couple weeks of the year, but lands the Orioles in the playoffs as a Wild Card, where they advance to the ALCS.
Worst case: The middle infield remains porous and pitching doesn’t come together and Baltimore slips further back from a well-balanced Toronto squad, finishing middle of the pack in the division.
Key Questions: What happens if Ancrum can’t start at second? Will you sit him and slot in Valdez or start Dunn there and go looking for a shortstop? Will you keep both Ancrum and Siani around? Is there any way out of the middle infield conundrum without making another deal? What’s your bullpen looking like?
Tampa Bay Rays (75-87 15 GB)
Who they were: The Rays were frustrated. They probably should have finished second and about 8 games back. But the offense never came around. Jesus Sanchez fought a bad back for two months of the year, curtailing a solid effort. Cole Brannen’s dynamite defense in center and skill on the basepaths was blunted by his bat (and the lack of offense around him). Same for Ben Ramirez at third. Lewin Diaz’ inexplicable decline accelerated.
Tampa’s pitching fell off the table, too. Good defense and strength relative to the rest of the division kept the run total down. But rotation stalwarts Lucas Sims and Conner Greene were terrible. Sixto Sanchez was good, but missed a month and a half with two separate injuries. Newcomer Nick Vespi showed promise, but a freak offseason elbow fracture has him out until the dog days of summer. Despite alleged problems with lack of motivation, closer Corey Knebel was dominant. Heaven help us if Toronto lights a fire under him this year.
Offseason review: GM Ryan Morneau stayed active, with some of his most savvy moves being letting vets like Andrew Toles, Knebel and Jared Cosart hit free agency. Catcher Blake Hunt went to the Royals, with starter Brent Honeywell coming home along with Christopher Torres (SS) and glove-first catcher Stuart Turner.
On the farm: Help is not on the way. Pitcher Pat Clemens is major league ready, but unfortunately, an underdeveloped slider is going to relegate him to bullpen duty. He can soak up some serious innings, though, and might provide a security blanket for the rotation. The acquisition of Torres gives slick-fielding middle infielder Tony Ryan time to fully develop. Gerritt Cole came on board for a third round draft pick and Mike Foltynewicz cost a mid-level prospect to acquire from Boston.
Best case: Tampa did what no division team except Toronto did this offseason: solidify its rotation. That could pay dividends. With a resurgent offense, the Rays could swipe second in this division, though a playoff berth is likely not in the works.
Worst case: The veteran pitchers stumble and a depleted bullpen can’t pick up the pieces as the Rays fall to fourth.
Key Question: This season will probably tell you a lot about your rebuild scenario. You’ve patched some holes and regression should improve the club’s offense. What are you hoping for going forward, and what results will you look to as you consider where to take the Rays in the next few years?
New York Yankees (75-87 15 GB)
Who they were: After World Series appearances in 2019 and 2021, Greg Masceri’s Yankees have fallen back, finishing third or worse two of the last three seasons and getting bounced by the Twins in 2023.
The Bronx Bombers scored the most runs in the PBA with 920, led by first baseman Greg Bird and shortstop Gleyber Torres, who both sported an OPS above .900. Shortstop Amed Rosario made the trip across town from the Mets and provided depth and solid offense after missing a chunk of the early season with a concussion. Veteran catcher Miguel Gomez did his best Gary Sanchez impression after coming over from the Royals.
Allowing 945 runs, though, is a recipe for a middling season. Journeymen Danny Salazar and Jerad Eickhoff were the Yanks best starters, but ERAs of 5.90 and 5.15, respectively, are nothing to cheer about. Aroldis Chapman and Gio Gallegos were solid in the back end of the bullpen, but Gallegos is gone to the Cubs and Chapman went down in spring with a bad hamstring, turned his ankle upon returning in May, then ultimately opted for season-ending Tommy John in August (just weeks after the Gallegos trade). At 37 and likely to miss most of the year (and his 2026 vesting option) the Cuban Missile’s days as a Scud stud are likely done.
Offseason review: Masceri’s offseason for the Yankees was like Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ SNL assessment of Ernie Hudson as a Ghostbuster: He didn’t do nothing. Trades and dumb luck will be the only thing that salvages New York’s 2025 season.
On the farm: New York has two of the top five OSA prospects. Starter Enrique Gomez looks to skip single A and begin the year with Trenton. He has a low-90s fastball, but a curve, slider and change that all rate as plus plus. The curve has been slow in coming and needs to develop if he’s to become a true ace. Luis Villarreal has ace potential, too, though it comes in a more prototypical power pitcher package, with a fastball that sits around 97, a wipeout curve and a devastating change. He’s been dominant in the low minors, but struggled a bit with his control in AA last year. The temptation will be to move these guys along to keep up with Toronto and Baltimore, but patience might pay off for Masceri.
Center fielder Angelo Santiago has loads of talent and some of the best bat skills around, but he’s raw and needs time to develop, having just turned 19. A first-rounder in 2023, CF Bob Allison has a more power-oriented game and might end up being a left fielder when it’s all said and done.
The Yankees got first and second round picks from the Cubs in the Gallegos trade.
Best case: Third
Worst case: Last
Key Question: How will you solve the pitching problem?
Boston Red Sox (55-107 35 GB)
Who they were: The same, underachieving bunch of scrubs we’ve grown to love. I mean, ignore. There’s not much to say about a -314 run differential, other than holy hell. Their most productive position by OPS was catcher. Their best pitchers were middle relievers. Those players are, as they should be, gone.
The Red Sox have been inexplicably bad ever since new GM Mike Ball liberated the team of Andrew Benintendi, Rafael Devers and Eduardo Rodriguez in the nascent days of the PBA and during his White Sox tenure. Now, El Pollo Grande has come home to roost. The team has never finished higher than fourth and never been closer than 15 games to the division winner. This team sux and Ball will have to bail them out.
Offseason review: The lone remnant of that fateful trade, catcher Zack Collins is now a Brave. A pair of New Year’s Day trades sent Collins and Raul (Adalberto) Mondesi to Atlanta, as Ball’s deep into a rebuild. The Red Sox have acquired 30 players this offseason, most of them young. The lone, embarrassing stain is the loss of Mike Fitzgerald during Rule 5. Still, the Red Sox did well with that trade and while Fitzgerald will sting, it’s not likely a franchise-killing gaffe.
On the farm: OSA says Fitzgerald is the no. 59 prospect, but that feels low. Even without him, though, the Red Sox sport a top 10 farm system. Starter Phil Cabrera has great makeup, dominant stuff and a fastball-slider-change mix that could make him a useful rotation guy. Spotty control might mean he’s more suited to the bullpen. His stamina is fine, but lots of strikeouts and walks mean he’s not likely to go past the 5th inning too often. If he’s a bullpen piece, he’s ready now. Shortstop Joel McCabe is a year or two away from contributing, and might be better suited to second base. He hasn’t played above A ball, so this year is key. While not rated highly by OSA, Juan Alaniz has a four-pitch mix (three if the change doesn’t develop) and could be a solid mid-rotation starter or dominant bullpen guy in a few years.
Best case: The Red Sox’ rebuild is going to be fun to watch. But not this year. They somehow beat a lackluster Yankees squad into fourth place.
Worst case: There really isn’t a worst-case scenario here. Boston is bad and needs to find valuable building blocks wherever it can. Ball will likely be on the hunt for draft picks and young talent.
Key Questions: Who’s your target in the draft? Would you deal your fourth pick (or other similarly high picks) for a package to build the minor leagues? Have you dealt all the pieces you think you can?
