The Post previews the AL East with MLB spring training set to begin:
Baltimore Orioles
2024: 91-71
Manager: Brandon Hyde (seventh season)
Spring training site: Sarasota, Fla.
Key additions: Baltimore has been busy but probably less aggressive at the top of the market than its fans hoped. Nice pieces but not needle-pushers in Tyler O’Neill — coming off a strong but another injury-filled season — Dylan Carlson, Ramon Laureano and Gary Sanchez have been brought in to help the lineup. They have not landed an ace, but Charlie Morton is solid and Tomoyuki Sugano intriguing. Andrew Kittredge should help the back of the bullpen, as should returning All-Star Félix Bautista, who missed all of last season with Tommy John surgery. Starters Kyle Bradish and Tyler Wells should be midseason pickups coming off elbow procedures.
Key losses: Gone is their best pitcher (Corbin Burnes) and the hitter with their second-best OPS (Anthony Santander). Danny Coulombe is gone from the bullpen, and deadline rentals Eloy Jiménez and Austin Slater are elsewhere. Longtime rotation member John Means and backup catcher James McCann are free agents.
Storylines to watch: The O’s have lost an ace without a replacement and spread money around to attempt to compensate for the loss of Santander. Will they regret not doing more to bolster a remarkable young cast? Grayson Rodriguez developing into a No. 1 would solve a lot of issues.
Boston Red Sox
2024: 81-81
Manager: Alex Cora (fifth season, seventh overall)
Spring training site: Fort Myers, Fla.
Key additions: In elevating its ceiling, Boston acquired a hopeful ace in Garrett Crochet and, if he indeed found something in October, a potential No. 2 in Walker Buehler. Lucas Giolito will make his club debut after injury wiped out his 2024. Patrick Sandoval, recovering from elbow surgery, could join the rotation midseason. The bullpen now is anchored by Aroldis Chapman and features lefties Justin Wilson and Jovani Morán. Former Yankee Carlos Narváez and Blake Sabol should compete for the backup catcher spot.
Key losses: James Paxton and Nick Pivetta have moved on from the rotation, and Chris Martin, Luis Garcia, Lucas Sims and Cam Booser have departed. O’Neill is a significant loss, and Danny Jansen is now with Tampa Bay. Top prospect Kyle Teel was lost in the Crochet trade.
Storylines to watch: Can Crochet handle the workload and Boston market? Are the Red Sox really not going to upgrade an offense that, on paper at least, has taken a step back this winter? Alex Bregman, with ties to Alex Cora from Houston, lingers in free agency.
Tampa Bay Rays
2024: 80-82
Manager: Kevin Cash (11th season)
Spring training site: Port Charlotte, Fla.
Key additions: Ha-Seong Kim is the most significant, slotting in at shortstop (once healthy, perhaps in May) as the Rays still seek to replace Wander Franco. Jansen brings a strong defensive profile and some power at catcher. Tampa has been aggressive in bringing in new arms, including Alex Faedo, Joe Boyle and Brandon Eisert. A trio of former Mets prospects in Mike Vasil, Nate Lavender and Eric Orze will try to crack the staff.
Key losses: Defensively excellent center fielder Jose Siri was sent to the Mets and talented but oft-injured starter Jeffrey Springs to the A’s. The always evolving Rays bullpen has moved on from Colin Poche, Tyler Alexander and Richard Lovelady.
Storylines to watch: Only the White Sox scored fewer runs than the Rays last season. Has Tampa Bay done enough to fix that problem? Opting for Jonny DeLuca over Siri should help. Jansen should be an upgrade and Kim plugs a hole. Can the Rays pitching staff — which will welcome back ace Shane McClanahan after a second Tommy John surgery — carry the load?
Toronto Blue Jays
2024: 74-88
Manager: John Schneider (fourth season, third complete)
Spring training site: Dunedin, Fla.
Key additions: The Jays have swung big and whiffed a few times this winter, but they have come away with a decent haul. Anthony Santander, fresh off a 44-homer campaign, will help the offense, and Andrés Giménez and Myles Straw are Gold Glove defenders (and suspect bats) in the infield and outfield, respectively. Max Scherzer is a high-upside wild card in the rotation, and the bullpen looks improved with Jeff Hoffman, Yimi Garcia and Nick Sandlin.
Key losses: Not many. A few trades later, Spencer Horwitz is with the Pirates. The bullpen has gotten a facelift and lost Jordan Romano, Dillon Tate, Ryan Yarbrough and Genesis Cabrera.
Storylines to watch: Will Toronto, too often the bridesmaid, swoop in and win the bidding for Alex Bregman? The Jays are facing urgency to win immediately, which would help their chances of locking down walk-year stars Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette.
