2018 Predictions by Division: AL East

Considering that opening day is in just a couple of weeks, I've decided to continue my annual tradition of making predictions for each MLB division, and eventually the playoffs. Only this time, it's going to be a bit different. Because this is the first year I'll be doing this on the blog. I decided to do it now rather than later because I'm absolutely sick of waiting for Jake Arrieta to sign with a team. Who knows where he'll be on opening day, but I doubt it'll be a game-changer.

I've decided to start with the AL East only because it's the first division listed in baseball. I will then go in order by division each day and cover the 5 teams and their chances to win the division, and possibly make their way to the Fall Classic.

With all that being said, it's time to predict the outcome of the AL East and definitely cause some controversy. Here we go.

1st Place: New York Yankees

As a Red Sox fan, this absolutely killed me to do, but I have to say it seems like the Yankees are going to win the World Series. I'm not going to factor in the chance of a collapse I'm strictly going by talent, and right now the Yankees are as talented as they come. While Aaron Judge's performance value doesn't have much room to improve, there's a very good chance he will be able to stay as consistent as he is. He's also got a ton of talented guys to play with him like Gary Sanchez and Didi Gregorius. They also have Luis Severino who was 2nd in 2017 AL Cy Young voting. Oh, and have I mentioned that they added Giancarlo Stanton? Don't get me wrong, there's still a chance that this "super-team" won't work out. But on paper, this is a team that has a great chance to not just win the division, but the World Series as well. 

2nd Place: Boston Red Sox

I don't think there's that much doubt surrounding the team to win the division if the Yanks don't, and that team is the team that's won the division the past 2 seasons, the Boston Red Sox. The Sox obviously lacked a power hitter last year, so they did something they are known for doing and signed a big free-agent (J.D. Martinez) to a 5-year contract. They also were very smart to keep their core of young players together, because that is what could separate the Sox from the Yankees this season. They have one of the best outfields in baseball (Benintendi, Bradley, Betts) along with a couple of young stars in the infield (Bogaerts and Devers). They've even got one of the best pitchers in baseball in Chris Sale along with my favorite player, Craig Kimbrel. They have all the pieces to do well and make it past the first round of the playoffs this season. But, they'll be up against stiff competition against the Yankees.

3rd Place: Tampa Bay Rays

This is where things will get interesting because the final 3 teams in the AL East are pretty evenly-matched. The Rays are an interesting team every year, and I always like to think of their team as a puzzle. They have a lot of good pieces, but they're always missing a few that will complete their team. Also, since they traded their franchise player Evan Longoria over the offseason, it's easy to see that this season will be an unusual one for Tampa Bay. They still have some very good players including ace Chris Archer and closer Alex Colomé. They also have Christain Arroyo, who they got from the Giants for Longoria along defensive-star Kevin Kiermaier and a pretty good player in Wilson Ramos. This team could be a fringe playoff team in a year or so, but without Corey Dickerson, Logan Morrison, and the beloved Evan Longoria, I doubt Tampa Bay will be playing October baseball this year. 

4th Place: Baltimore Orioles

The Orioles will also be in an interesting position this season, because their franchise player Manny Machado will be a free-agent after this year, and since they probably won't make the playoffs, it makes sense to trade him at the deadline. Baltimore finished last in the east last year, and it appears their playoff days with this team are done for, so it makes sense to start a rebuild. They have incredible young talent that includes Trey Mancini and Johnathan Schoop. They also have a few good pitchers like Dylan Bundy and Kevin Gausman. It makes sense them to build around what they have, particularly Mancini and Schoop, while moving on from Machado, who they could get quite a lot for. If I were Baltimore, I'd realize that this won't be our year, I'd get value for Machado before it's too late, and I'd prepare to contend in a couple of years with new talent to go along with what they have now.

5th Place: Toronto Blue Jays

The Blue Jays are in almost the same position as the Orioles, except they don't have young talent like Mancini and Schoop under team control for at least a couple of years. They do, however, have Josh Donaldson who is also going to be a free-agent 3rd baseman this offseason, and my feelings for the Orioles regarding Machado are the same as my feelings regarding the Blue Jays and Donaldson. They absolutely need to trade him. The Jays had their chance for years with Donaldson, Bautista (when he wasn't hitting .206) and Encarnacion. Now, the team is changing and while they do have some up and rising prospects like Vlad Guerrero Jr., this team is still far from ready to contend in the AL East.

To sum it all up, here are my AL East Predictions.

1. New York Yankees

2. Boston Red Sox

3. Tampa Bay Rays

4. Baltimore Orioles

5. Toronto Blue Jays

I'll be posting the AL Central tomorrow and sharing my thoughts on the teams from that division so make sure to look out for that.