AL East Predictions

Last year, the Toronto Blue Jays broke a post-season draught that went back over two decades, and they won the AL East. The New York Yankees just chugged along to the AL's First Wild Card, and while their post-season was short, the season was better than expected. The 2014 AL East Champion Orioles fell backwards a bit, and the 2013 World Series Champion Boston Red Sox hit rock bottom. The fifth team in this division, the Tampa Bay Rays, has already made history in 2016 by playing a baseball game against the Cuban National Team in Havana. Needless to say, this is a fun, if impossible to predict division. Here's my predictions for 2016:

1. Toronto Blue Jays (93-69)- The best offensive team in the division showed itself to be a winner finally last year, simply bashing their way to the AL East crown. Certainly losing David Price in division could hurt them, but the Blue Jays have some young arms that are promising, and they should be able to throw competitive games and let their line-up get them wins.
2. Boston Red Sox (88-74)- I'm either going to regret not picking them to win, or that I put them up this far. Boston got busy this off-season, adding Price and Craig Kimbrel to highlight their off-season, but the questions are still there. Is benching Pablo Sandoval smart? Will major prospects like Swihart and Betts break out? Will pitchers two through five be good enough? Boston could be a last place flop, again, as their roster is not as stacked with sure things as some of the press treats them like. They also could run out a dominant team and win this division.
3. New York Yankees (85-77)- My biggest concern is not the talent of the team, but the health. I like the moves to pick up Chapman and Castro. I love the bullpen, if it actually ever gets together- already facing suspensions and injuries. I wonder how many games they get from Tanaka, from Ellsbury, from Rodriguez, and others. Can Dustin Ackley be a serious help? This team could surprise if they get six innings of adequate pitching, good left-side defense, and the bullpen they thought they built on paper this off-season. Lot of ifs.
4. Tampa Bay Rays (81-81)- Are the Rays going to pitch really well? Yes. They are going to shut you down. Are the Rays going to hit better? Yes, the Rays are going to hit better. Will they score enough runs? No, I don't see it being enough to get them to the post-season. If their top four starters pitch up to their abilities and the team hits a little better, it's not crazy to say they come in with a better record, second place, and even the Wild Card. Lot of ifs here too.
5. Baltimore Orioles (74-88)- This is not unlike the Blue Jays, an offensive team. This team could end up surprising us all and winning the AL East. The problem is, I don't see them pitching anywhere near good enough. Yes, they've made some pick-ups. Yes, they could be healthier in 2016. If Manny Machado really does play 140 games, they could win this division. I guess i'm just not believing right now.