AL East report cards: Grading offseason moves
With spring training fast approaching, theScore's MLB editors hand out their offseason grades for each division. We continue our report cards with the American League East.
The AL East saw five different winners over the past six seasons, with the Toronto Blue Jays the most recent team to stake their claim at the top.
The division sent two teams to the postseason eight times in the last decade, and it would surprise no one if two representatives are playing in October in 2016.
Arguably the deepest division in baseball, the AL East added to its star power this winter, welcoming Craig Kimbrel, Aroldis Chapman, and Starlin Castro into the fold, while retaining Chris Davis and David Price.
Following an offseason in which the five teams combined to spend more than $500 million on free agents, here are the offseason grades in the AL East:
Baltimore Orioles
Key Arrivals: Chris Davis (re-signed), Hyun Soo Kim (FA), Efren Navarro (trade), Darren O'Day (re-signed), Mark Trumbo (trade), Matt Wieters (re-signed)
Key Departures: Wei-Yin Chen (MIA), Steve Clevenger (SEA), Gerardo Parra (COL)
140-character takeaway: The Orioles spent more than $210 million to retain their own free agents and are arguably worse off than the .500 team from a year ago.
Grade: B-
Boston Red Sox
Key Arrivals: Roenis Elias (trade), Craig Kimbrel (trade), David Price (FA), Carson Smith (trade), Chris Young (FA)
Key Departures: Craig Breslow (FA), Ryan Cook (SEA), Rich Hill (OAK), Jean Machi (CHC), Wade Miley (SEA), Alexi Ogando (ATL)
140-character takeaway: The Red Sox got their ace in Price and solidified their bullpen, putting them back in the World Series conversation.
Grade: A
New York Yankees
Key Arrivals: Starlin Castro (trade), Aroldis Chapman (trade), Aaron Hicks (trade), Kirby Yates (trade)
Key Departures: Andrew Bailey (PHI), Chris Capuano (MIL), Stephen Drew (WSH), John Ryan Murphy (MIN), Brendan Ryan (CHC), Chris Young (BOS), Adam Warren (CHC), Justin Wilson (DET)
140-character takeaway: GM Brian Cashman avoided signing any free agents, but put together a fantastic under-the-radar offseason.
Grade: B+
Tampa Bay Rays
Key Arrivals: Hank Conger (trade), Corey Dickerson (trade), Danny Farquhar (trade), Brad Miller (trade), Logan Morrison (trade), Steve Pearce (FA)
Key Departures: Joey Butler (CLE), Asdrubal Cabrera (NYM), Ernesto Frieri (PHI), John Jaso (PIT), Nathan Karns (SEA), Jake McGee (COL), Daniel Nava (LAA)
140-character takeaway: The cost-conscious Rays own the best rotation and a hodgepodge lineup. They'll remain the best-worst team in any division.
Grade: C
Toronto Blue Jays
Key Arrivals: Jesse Chavez (trade), Marco Estrada (re-signed), J.A. Happ (FA), Drew Storen (trade), Gavin Floyd (FA)
Key Departures: Liam Hendriks (OAK), Munenori Kawasaki (CHC), Mark Lowe (DET), Dioner Navarro (CWS), Cliff Pennington (LAA), David Price (BOS), Ben Revere (Trade - WSH)
140-character takeaway: A breathtaking season turned into an underwhelming winter, but the league's best offense will make Toronto a postseason contender.
Grade: C