By Emmanuel Berbari

The Major League Baseball season is only two weeks away, projections are piling in and the American League East has drawn a tremendous amount of attention.

Throughout the early years of the 21st century, there has been a lack of parity within the division, with the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox typically duking it out to the finish line. In fact, the two teams have ranked first and second in the division—in no particular order—eight times since the turn of the century, more than any other combination in a five-team field stacked with talent.

While many believe that 2018 should be no different, with arguably the greatest rivalry in sports again taking center stage, the division is far more balanced than the average opinion would indicate, with a sleeper team north of the United States/Canadian border destined to make some noise.

Highlighting these two top dogs is what everyone wants. Re-energizing the rivalry to an early-2000s type feel would be sensational for the league.

The star power is there, as New York added the NL MVP to a lineup already containing the AL Rookie of the Year and MVP runner-up; a catcher who hit 33 home runs in five months, a shortstop who set the franchise round-tripper mark and a first baseman with the potential to hit 40 home runs. They also already possess baseball’s top bullpen and a top-five starting rotation in the American League.
On Boston’s side, the premier slugger in the free agent market was added to shore up its lone offensive hole: power. The starting rotation is anchored by a true horse and is solid top to bottom; while the bullpen is somewhat shaky, the team has the makings of a bona fide contender.

Add a third team to this mix: the Toronto Blue Jays. With last year’s significant underperformance, the Jays are being written off despite a roster at full strength, including a powerful lineup, a sturdy starting staff and some capable relievers—as a whole, a mix that could prove to be a thorn in New York and Boston’s side.
The addition of Curtis Granderson adds pop and veteran leadership to the top of a lineup that can compete with the big boys.

Josh Donaldson, the 2015 AL MVP who is coming off a 33-homer season that many call a “down year” due to a disappointing first half, anchors the middle of the order. Justin Smoak broke out as an All-Star last season and showcased himself as one the league’s top first basemen. At the designated hitter spot, Kendrys Morales is a proven run producer who would be an asset to any American League team. Much-needed speed and versatility comes with the presence of Kevin Pillar, while Russell Martin can handle a pitching staff—and contribute moderately in the batter’s box—as well as any catcher in the game.
This offense will score a lot of runs, hit plenty of home runs and give the Yankees and Red Sox scorching headaches.

Toronto’s pitching staff is no slouch either. Marcus Stroman has taken the necessary strides toward becoming an ace and is coming off his best season yet, pitching to a 3.09 ERA in 33 starts, including two complete games, spanning 201 stellar innings pitched. Marco Estrada is a pitcher that fits anyone’s staff. While the 34-year-old is coming off a down year, he is experienced, crafty, eats innings and serves as a stabilizer. Oh, and a former 20-game winner in J.A. Happ will toe the rubber every five days, a veteran southpaw who has logged two of his finest seasons at Rogers Centre. Jaime Garcia is another veteran lefty who has experience in the AL East, making starts for the ALCS-bound Yankees last year and coming out of the bullpen once during their postseason run. Rounding out the rotation, and perhaps the x-factor, is Aaron Sanchez, the righty flamethrower who was riddled by injuries in 2017 but is only a year and a half separated from a 15-2, 3.00 ERA campaign where he ranked seventh in Cy Young voting. A return to form from Sanchez transforms Toronto’s rotation from solid to elite.

If Troy Tulowitzki somehow avoids the injury bug for the majority of the season, the Blue Jays may have a lineup comparable to Boston’s, and within spitting distance of New York’s.

Sure, there are plenty of ‘if’s’, but Toronto only needs some things to come to fruition.

Many individuals around the game project the Jays as an 80-85-win team, but I like to view them as a lock for the second wild card, making the AL East a three-playoff-team division, with a ceiling that makes the Yankees and Red Sox really fight to keep the division crown in familiar territory.