MLB Predictions: AL East

I'm extremely glad, by luck of the draw, I was able to get the AL East today. This is a great division that every single team has a legitimate chance to compete and win this division. Here's what I think.

1) Tampa Bay Rays

These guys know how to play baseball. Joe Maddon is one of the best managers in the game and this years edition of the Rays, even minus BJ Upton and James Shields, is going to be a very special group. This team is loaded in the rotation led by reigning Cy Young Winner David Price (above), followed by Jeremy Hellickson, Matt Moore, Jeff Neimann and Alex Cobb with big time prospect Chris Archer waiting in the wings. They have the best closer in the AL, maybe baseball, in Fernando Rodney. Even though there's no more Upton, the Rays have super prospect Wil Myers, who was acquired in the Shields deal, almost ready to go. Expect to see him around a similar time the Angels called up Mike Trout last year and watch Myers win the Rookie of the Year. Desmond Jennings will take over in center for Upton and is primed for a breakout season. The Rays also added Yunel Escobar to handle shortstop. These guys know what they're doing and I'm on board.

2) Toronto Blue Jays

I am usually not a fan of adding an overhaul of players and immediately expecting success. Just take a look at the Marlins and Dodgers last year. This one is very intriguing though, I'm going to drink the cool aid. I love what I saw out of Jose Reyes in the WBC, when he wants to play he's such a great commodity. The rotation looks very good with RA Dickey, Josh Johnson, Mark Buehrle, Brandon Morrow and last years ace, Ricky Romero. Health is the issue with the rotation, Johnson and Morrow are those question marks. The bullpen, although lacking a legit closer, is very good. Keep an eye on Steve Delabar to possibly be the eventual closer. Guy throws a hard, hard, hard sinker and gets a lot of strikeouts. The offense should be very good, Jose Bautista (above) has to come back from last seasons wrist injury and continue to drop bombs. Edwin Encarnacion needs to show last year wasn't a fluke and Brett Lawrie needs to show he's as good as we thought he could be. This is the Jays time, they're definitely going for it.

3) Baltimore Orioles

I can't figure out how I feel about the Orioles. I really want to say they were a fluke because that offense they put out in the playoffs was despicable and there's no way the patchwork of starting pitching will hold up again. But watching them in spring training a couple times, I'm not so sure anymore and it's because of three players. First is the return of second basemen Brian Roberts (above), this guy can play on my team any day. He wasn't around for almost all of last year, if he can stay healthy he can give them the leadoff man they lacked last season and really be the leader, that Adam Jones shouldn't have to handle. The other two are mega pitching prospects Dylan Bundy and Kevin Gausman. The Orioles have been down this road before with Jake Arrieta, Brian Matusz and Chris Tillman, but everything you hear about Gausman and Bundy is that they are can't miss. Bundy was being touted last year as a once in a generation type and today I heard scouts saying Gausman, last years #1 pick, might have past Bundy. The Orioles didn't have any big time top of the rotation arms last year. I think we're going to see Bundy and Gausman this season and if they hit the ground running the Orioles might once again be contending.

4) Boston Red Sox

What parallel universe are we living in, that the Red Sox and Yankees are in the cellar? I'll get to the Yankees in a second but first the BoSox. I'm going to be pretty blunt here, beside the trade for closer Joel Hanrahan, I hated every move the Red Sox made this offseason. I understand what they were trying to do, but Mike Napoli didn't officially sign with this team for over a month because of the hip problem, that's a big problem to me. I really hated the Shane Victorino deal, way too much money for a guy who has rapidly deteriorated. He was embarrassing in the WBC and hasn't looked any better since returning for the rest of the spring. Now he's also blocking a spot for prospect Jackie Bradley Jr who has been tearing it up this spring. They gave Jonny Gomes way too much money and somehow they expect a 4th outfielder type, DH type to handle left field at Fenway. Stephen Drew at shortstop is just a stop gap for either Jose Iglesias or more likely Xander Boegaerts. I like that John Farrell is the manager, when they return to winning ways, he's going to be the guy leading them but right now the Red Sox just don't have a clue in the front office. I do expect Jon Lester (above) to have a very good season, he's too good to put up the numbers he has the past couple of seasons.

5) New York Yankees

You Yankee fans can say whatever you want, this team is fucked. This team's season is hanging on a guy who went 4 for 40 in the postseason last year, a 43 year old closer coming off major knee surgery, an ace coming off two surgeries in 18 months and a 38 year old shortstop coming off a broken ankle. There's no catcher, first baseman, shortstop, third baseman or center fielder for at least the first month of the season, all season at catcher. Where is the hope? Cano can't hit a home run every time. Can this team do it though? Absolutely, but the offense needs to completely change with what will be in place. We can't sit back and wait for the 3 run home run anymore. If the Yankees think Travis Hafner, Kevin Youkilis and Vernon Wells are going to handle that game then the window isn't just closing, it's been replaced.