The AL East is widely regarded to be one of the most competitive divisions in baseball, and in all of sports for that matter. Unfortunately for the Orioles, 85 wins may only be good enough for fourth place in the division in 2014. With Opening Day only a few weeks away however, it is time to make picks in the division, and time to look in detail at the other four teams competing with the Orioles. This time a year ago, the Toronto Blue Jays had “won” the offseason and were a trendy pick to win 90 games and contend for the World Series, and the Boston Red Sox were coming of a 69-93 season and looked unlikely to contend in 2013. As we saw, the Blue Jays went on to finish last in the division and the Red Sox won 97 games and eventually won the World Series as well. It’s quite difficult to predict the 2014 season, as every single team in the AL East can realistically contend for a playoff spot. That being said, here we go:
Tampa Bay Rays
The Rays won 92 games in 2013 and made the playoffs as a wild card, with Joe Maddon’s regular formula of great young pitching and an average offense.
The offense going into 2014 looks to be Evan Longoria, Wil Myers, and a bunch of average guys, but with both players capable of putting up 30 homer seasons, the offense will likely be better than the sum of the parts. If Desmond Jennings can take the next step in his development and become the marquee speed/power threat he was regarded as a couple years ago, this offense has a chance to outdo expectations.
Ben Zobrist and James Loney are solid every season, so if they can build even a little bit upon the average numbers from last season the offense will be alright.
The pitching was superb last year, especially the starters, as David Price, Matt Moore, Chris Archer, and Alex Cobb all finished with ERAs under 3.40. The fifth spot in the rotation was never completely solved as both Jeremy Hellickson and Roberto Hernandez had below-average seasons, leading some scouts to think that the favorite for the fifth spot this season will be Jake Odorizzi, who came over from Kansas City along with Myers in the James Shields trade last year.
Eric Bedard is also attempting to latch on as a long man in the bullpen or as the fifth starter. The bullpen lost closer Fernando Rodney, but signed former Oakland Athletics closer Grant Balfour, who may be a better pitcher anyway. Balfour had physical concerns in the offseason (and as recently as this week), but the Rays determined he was healthy enough to take a gamble on this year. Balfour also pitched in Tampa from 2007-10. He will be set up by Jake McGee and Heath Bell, with Joel Peralta and Cesar Ramos in the bullpen as well.
#Rays Balfour, who talked of dead-arm last outing, was moved back from Tues to Weds to get an extra day rest but Maddon says “He’s fine.”
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) March 11, 2014
Prediction: 87-75, Third Place
The Rays are not an exciting team during the offseason due to their low payroll but all this team does is win 90 or so games every year and contend for the postseason (they’ve won fewer than 90 games just once since 2008.)
While the strength of the division may keep them slightly off the 90-win mark for this season, they will contend for the division title all season long, and may sneak in as a wild card anyway if they catch a few breaks. If they get in, watch out for a four-man playoff rotation of Price, Moore, Cobb, and Archer.
