How off-season moves shifted AL East landscape for 2023 Blue Jays
Payrolls within the AL East are available all sizes and shapes, however one facet of the division is uniform: the expertise swimming pools run deep.
In back-to-back seasons, 4 of 5 AL East groups have completed with successful data. No different division has completed that even as soon as in that span.
As the Toronto Blue Jays attempt to construct on final yr’s post-season cup of espresso, the remainder of the division is attempting to construct one thing, too.
With spring coaching approaching, let’s look extra carefully at what the Blue Jays’ divisional foes have been as much as this winter and the way they form up for the approaching season:
NEW YORK YANKEES
Who they’ve misplaced: SP Jameson Taillon, RP Aroldis Chapman, RP Lucas Luetge, RP Miguel Castro, RP Chad Green, DH Matt Carpenter
Who they’ve gained: SP Carlos Rodon, RP Tommy Kahnle, OF Rafael Ortega
After a 99-win season, the Yankees parted methods with an honest chunk of final yr’s stellar aid corps. You may say the Yankees had been principally trimming fats, although, as 5 of their high six relievers from 2022 (based mostly on fWAR) are nonetheless in pinstripes.
Rodon, who’s been a mid-ballot Cy Young finisher in consecutive seasons, offers a wonderful exterior splash. But after all, the largest addition for this workforce is within the outfield.
No, not Ortega …
It’s Aaron Judge, after all. We didn’t embrace him within the “gained” group as a result of he was technically by no means misplaced, however throughout free company he may’ve wound up wherever. Instead, the reigning MVP has agreed to torment the AL East for nearly one other full decade. Gulp.
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TAMPA BAY RAYS
Who they’ve misplaced: SP Corey Kluber, SP/RP Ryan Yarbrough, 1B/DH Ji-Man Choi, RP J.P. Feyereisen, RP JT Chargois, RP Brooks Raley, OF Kevin Kiermaier, C Mike Zunino
Who they’ve gained: SP Zach Eflin, RP Kevin Kelly
Another typical Tampa Bay offseason is effectively underway, with under-the-radar strikes (together with some fascinating extensions) far outnumbering notable acquisitions.
Eflin’s FIP has outperformed his ERA in every of the previous three seasons with the defensively inept Phillies, so perhaps his stuff will play up on the Rays. A man within the 96th percentile for common exit velocity (per Baseball Savant) and 94th percentile for hard-hit charge most likely shouldn’t have an ERA above 4.00.
Don’t suppose too arduous about all of the bullpen departures. Spoiler alert: The Rays will most likely determine it out with whomever they use. Since 2019, they lead the AL in reliever ERA (3.44) and fWAR (22.3).
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BALTIMORE ORIOLES
Who they’ve misplaced: SP Jordan Lyles, 2B Rougned Odor
Who they’ve gained: 2B Adam Frazier, SP Cole Irvin, SP Kyle Gibson, C James McCann, RP Mychal Givens
For the primary time in 5 years, the Orioles completed with extra wins than losses. They celebrated by occurring a small market spending spree, including Gibson ($10 million) and Frazier ($8 million) as their two highest-paid gamers.
All of Baltimore’s additions could be described most kindly as serviceable stopgaps. The actual enjoyable comes from the farm.
MLB’s No. 1 prospect Gunnar Henderson, who debuted late final yr, is again for a full season and is the early frontrunner to win AL Rookie of the Year. One of his main opponents needs to be teammate Grayson Rodriguez, a righty who tore up Triple-A in ’22 and has a strong probability to make Baltimore’s rotation.
Add them to the 25-and-under mixture of Adley Rutschman, Kyle Stowers and Ryan Mountcastle and also you’ve received fairly an rising military of child birds.
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BOSTON RED SOX
Who they’ve misplaced: SS Xander Bogaerts, DH J.D. Martinez, SP Nathan Eovaldi, RP Matt Strahm, RP Matt Barnes, SP Rich Hill, OF Tommy Pham, 1B Eric Hosmer
Who they’ve gained: OF Masataka Yoshida, OF Adam Duvall, 3B/DH Justin Turner, RP Kenley Jansen, RP Richard Bleier, INF Adalberto Mondesi, C Jorge Alfaro, SP Corey Kluber, RP Chris Martin
Don’t let this lengthy listing of acquisitions distract you from the truth that two of their three all-stars are gone and their rotation is rife with uncertainty.
At the highest is Chris Sale, who’s pitched simply 48 1/3 innings over the previous three years. Oft-injured Corey Kluber and James Paxton slot in behind him, together with Nick Pivetta, who in his seventh season will attempt to submit a sub-4.50 ERA for the primary time.
Even past the rotation, It’s not fairly for Boston proper now. Trevor Story’s shock elbow damage (found throughout his ramp-up throwing program round Christmas) means the workforce will want a patchwork plan to fill a void at shortstop.
The Red Sox introduced up the rear within the AL East final season, and it ought to stun nobody if that occurs once more in 2023.
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