This baseball offseason had the makings of a Hollywood movie. The greatest player the game has seen in decades, perhaps ever, was a free agent, another generational star was traded, a new Japanese superstar looks to make his stamp on the game, and the reigning NL Cy Young winner is still looking for a new home just days before the start of the season. Hopefully, the 2024 season will live up to the hype. We are fresh off a fun World Series with two teams that we didn’t see coming and new stars are set to take over the game. Let’s dive into some divisional previews. Here’s our 2024 AL East preview.
What Happened in 2023:
One of the best stories of the entire 2023 season was the Baltimore Orioles who have been one of baseball’s worst franchises over the last half decade. However, a youth movement started a few seasons ago could turn them into potential perennial winners. The Orioles won an AL-best 101 games in 2023. Behind them were the Rays who won 99 games yet were bounced rather quickly in the playoffs. You can’t forget about the Blue Jays who underwhelmed wildly with just 89 wins. Then, it was an odd sight to see the Yankees and Red Sox both situated at the bottom of the division. Both teams struggled all season.
Best Players to Watch:
Blue Jays – Bo Bichette – Bichette emerged as one of the most exciting shortstops last season, hitting .306 and belting 20 home runs. He is the next really talented offensive shortstop to watch.
Red Sox – Triston Casas – He has legit power and could be a force to be reckoned with behind Rafael Devers. He hit 24 homers last year.
Yankees – Juan Soto – What a trade and what a star the Yankees got. This guy has MVP potential every year he is on the field.
Rays – Zach Eflin – He isn’t the best pitcher that the Rays have but he is the best one they have that is healthy, he will shoulder a huge load in 2024.
Orioles – Gunnar Henderson – Just another guy in the youth movement, Henderson is going to be a star and already showed some of that off with his ROY campaign.
Biggest Addition and Subtraction:
Addition: Juan Soto takes this award home. This was a huge move for the Yankees and one that puts yet another star in the outfield at Yankee Stadium. It was risky with Soto hoping to test free agency, but the Yankees will employ an incredible lineup.
Subtraction: Tyler Glasnow is no longer a Tampa Bay Ray. Injuries stunted a season where he was likely going to win the Cy Young, but he is a Dodger now and the Rays will look elsewhere for solid pitching.
Prediction:
Baltimore crushed their way onto the scene a year ago and there is no reason to think they won’t be better this year with former Cy Young winner Corbin Burnes now anchoring their rotation. Division Winner: Orioles, 105 – 57