*Photo from CBS Sports*
We've reached the end of March, and opening day is on April 7, which is 6 days away. With 6 days and 6 divisions in baseball, it's time to preview each division's 2022 season outlook. As always, starting off with the AL East. Order is based off 2021 division standings.
Tampa Bay Rays
2021 record: 100-62
All things considered, the two time defending AL East champions had a quiet offseason. Collin McHugh, one of their best relievers, is gone, and the rotation depth looks depleted, only signing Corey Kluber and reliever Brooks Raley. Of course, this is the Rays, so they'll still win 90+ games and look legit while doing so.
Boston Red Sox
2021 record: 92-70
After a surprise surge to the ALCS in 2021, the Red Sox had another offseason of parts shuffling. Martin Perez and Garrett Richards were replaced with Michael Wacha, Rich Hill, and James Paxton. Adam Ottavino is gone, and lefties Matt Strahm and Jake Diekman are in. Kyle Schwarber and Hunter Renfroe were replaced by Trevor Story and Jackie Bradley Jr. The pieces are there, and the Red Sox look to be a contender once again.
New York Yankees
2021 record: 92-70
The Yankees were not the world beating world series contenders everyone thought they'd be. They were a good team, and got into the playoffs, only for the Red Sox to bounce them out in the wild card game. The Yankees didn't do a whole lot. They re-signed Joely Rodriguez, and traded Gary Sanchez and Gio Urshela for Josh Donaldson, Ben Rortvedt, and Isiah Kiner-Falefa. The Yankees will still compete, but this year we'll find out if the players were the problem last year, or if it was Aaron Boone.
Toronto Blue Jays
2021 record: 91-71
Oh baby. After missing the playoffs by one game, the Blue Jays loaded up. To replace Robbie Ray, they extended Jose Berrios and brought in Kevin Gausman and Yusei Kikuchi. Yimi Garcia was added to the bullpen, they swapped Randal Grichuk for Raimel Tapia, and the big piece, trading for platinum glove winning 3rd baseman Matt Chapman. Cavan Biggo and Santiago Espinal figure to replace Marcus Semien at second base, and if the bullpen doesn't randomly prolapse again, the Blue Jays will be a much better team in 2022.
Baltimore Orioles
2021 record: 52-110
It was once again a season to forget for the Orioles, outside of John Means, Trey Mancini, and Cedric Mullins. The Orioles continued doing what rebuilding teams do and signed veteran stopgaps. Think guys like Roughned Odor, Robinson Chirinos, and Jordan Lyles. It'll be yet another long summer in Baltimore, and the fans are just counting down the days until Adley Rutschman shows up.
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