The American League East should again be the toughest division in baseball. The teams in the American League East are likely to beat each other up all summer. All of the teams in the AL East made important free agent acquisitions. That included one free agent signing with another divisional team. That should be interesting.
Expect games between teams in this division to be featured as the national game on ESPN. That said, many questions loom, none bigger than how the Yankees cope with the loss of all-world slugger Juan Soto. By adding a bunch of pitching, of course. Do you think the projected records presented here are accurate?
American League East Winners: Yankees
The Yankees should leverage their new pitching to be 95-67 and win the American League East. The biggest question for them is will the addition of Paul Goldschmidt and Cody Bellinger replace the loss of Soto? Offense wins games and defense wins championship and with the additions of Max Fried and Devin Williams, the Yankees have quality pitching. They will spend $100+ million on four starting pitchers in 2025.
Baltimore Orioles: An American League Wild Card Team
The Baltimore Orioles will be 89-73 and should be a wild card team. The key question for them is all of the young talent going to hit well enough to replace departed slugger Anthony Santander. He signed with the Toronto Blue Jays earlier this month. Also, the Orioles plan to make changes to the left field wall installed in 2022. After receiving negative reception from everyone, the team will move the fences in for 2025.
Tampa Bay Rays: Finish Above .500
The Tampa Rays, whose home was destroyed by Hurricane Milton, will finish slightly above .500 as they play their games in 2025 at the Yankees spring training complex. 83-79 is predicted, though it is worth pointing out the Rays always seem to over-perform. It would not be a surprise to find them at the top of the American League East. Will The Tampa Bay Rays be able to find enough nameless players to compete?
Boston Red Sox: The Struggles Continue
The struggles for the Boston Red Sox should continue as they are predicted to finish 80-82, which is a decent amount better than last place in the tough American League East. One key addition for Boston should be noted. The Red Sox signed Starting Pitcher Walker Buehler to a one-year contract. The pitching depth will be crucial, though it is sensible to wonder how much Buehler has left in the tank. Will the Boston Red Sox be back in 2026, because 2025 will not work out?
Toronto Blue Jays: Mired In Last Place
The Toronto Blue Jays will struggle to a 75-87 record and will be mired in last place in the American League East. That is despite a deep lineup that includes Bo Bichette, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and now Santander. That is a good heart of the lineup, but the Blue Jays may not have enough pitching to compete over the long run.
Conclusion
We predict the New York Yankees will win the American League East with a 95-67 record. Baltimore should finish 89-73 and be a wild card team. The Tampa Bay Rays are predicted to finish 83-79, but they always seem to do better than expected, and could compete for the division crown.
The Boston Red Sox will have to settle for an 80-82 record for fourth in the American League East. The Toronto Blue Jays will struggle to a 75-87 record and will bring up the rear in the American League East. This will be a division to watch in 2025.
