Spring is on the horizon, and over the course of the next six weeks we at Wolf Tracks will be doing a division by division breakdown of all 30 MLB teams, beginning with the American League East.

1.Boston Red Sox

The Red Sox enter the 2017 season as not only favorite to win the AL East but also the entire American League. Boston added all-star pitcher Chris Sale in a trade with the Chicago White Sox that involved Boston’s number one overall prospect, Yoan Moncada. Sale joins a talented rotation that includes former CY Young award winners David Price and Rick Porcello. Boston also features one of the best lineups in MLB, led by all-stars Mookie Betts and Xander Bogaerts.

2.Toronto Blue Jays

Toronto is coming off its second consecutive playoff appearance but suffered a major loss this offseason when Edwin Encarnacion departed for the Cleveland Indians. The Blue Jays feature a solid rotation led by Aaron Sanchez and have a talented closer in Roberto Osuna. The Blue Jays were able to resign former all-star outfielder Jose Bautista. Bautista will be in need of a major bounce back season to help former AL MVP Josh Donaldson fill the void left by Encarnacion.

3. New York Yankees

A future dynasty is building in the Bronx but it will not begin this season. A plethora of young stars are beginning to join the Yankees major league team including Gary Sanchez, Aaron Judge, and Greg Bird. The lack of experience in the young bats along with a subpar rotation will keep the Yankees out of the postseason. Resigning closer Aroldis Chapman to pair with Dellin Betances creates an elite bullpen that could carry the Yankees into contention even with a poor rotation.

4. Tampa Bay Rays

The Rays are coming off of missing the playoffs for a third straight season. Tampa Bay traded away pitcher Drew Smyly and second baseman Logan Forsythe in the offseason, raising signs of a possible rebuild starting. In order for the Rays to compete, the rotation needs to improve, most specifically ace Chris Archer. Tampa Bay has attempted to improve the worst part of their team, the bullpen, by signing Shawn Tolleson and Tommy Hunter. The Rays most definitely need more hitting, which might be a struggle after losing their most consistent hitter, Forsythe.

5. Baltimore Orioles

The Orioles were the second wild card team in the AL last year but this season they’ll have an uphill battle to return. Baltimore has a weak rotation and did little to improve it during the offseason. The Orioles have a power heavy lineup similar to last season, but they failed to resign all-star catcher Matt Wieters, replacing him with a weaker player in Wellington Castillo. The brightest spot for the O’s is the bullpen, led by all-star closer Zach Britton.