MLB Spring Training: Can the Yanks hold off the O’s, Sox and Jays once again?

• The New York Yankees will try and fend off the Baltimore Orioles and others as the 2025 race for the AL East gets going. The Yankees are the defending American League champs.
• The Baltimore Orioles lost Anthony Santander to rival Toronto Blue Jays, but added Tyler O’Neill from the Boston Red Sox.
• The Tampa Bay Rays will play their season at the Yankees’ Triple-A park after Hurricane Milton damaged Tropicana Field.

---

Full Story

On Friday, Feb. 21, the New York Yankees made bigger news for their revamped “facial hair policy” than for beating the Rays in their first spring training game of 2025. But that hasn’t stopped most from picking the Bronx Bombers to repeat as American League East champs.

Can the Yankees make up for the loss of Juan Soto?

Despite losing Juan Soto to the crosstown Mets in free agency, the Yankees pitching improved by adding Max Fried from the Braves and closer Devin Williams from the Brewers.

Offensively, Aaron Judge is still the best slugger in the league. The Yankees have the weapons around him to get close to their AL-leading 815 runs scored from last season, especially with Cody Bellinger and Paul Goldschmidt joining the lineup. Manager Aaron Boone just has to figure out where to slot them all.

“A lot determines on who’s in that leadoff spot and who’s in that two or three spot,” Boone said. “Who’s in that mix, you know, ultimately to create that balance in the order and try and net as many guys as possible, as good of matchups as we can, with protection throughout.”

Will the Orioles finally finish strong?

The Baltimore Orioles led the division until the second half of the season, only to flame out in the playoffs for the second straight campaign.

Gone is power hitter Anthony Santander, but in his place is Tyler O’Neill from the Red Sox. The offense will still revolve around their young core of Gunnar Henderson and Adley Rutschman.

The issue for the Orioles will be pitching after the loss of ace Corbin Burnes. But the “win now” attitude is still there, says first baseman Ryan O’Hearn.

“It’s just a group of guys; we know what we’re capable of. We’ve had maybe, I would say, two good seasons the last two years, but ultimately, we haven’t done what we wanted to,” O’Hearn said. “So, I think the collective unit of players is probably more experienced than we had last year.”

Are the Red Sox stuck in mediocrity?

The Boston Red Sox were 81-81 a year ago and had a top-six offense scoring 751 runs. They replace Tyler O’Neill’s power with Alex Bregman from the Houston Astros. Still, it seems the Sox will live or die with their revamped pitching staff, which includes newcomers Garrett Crochet, Walker Buehler, Lucas Giolito and 36-year-old closer Aroldis Chapman.

Will Vlad’s contract hang over the entire season?

The Toronto Blue Jays finished one game behind the Sox last season and added Santander and his 44 homers to a lineup that features Vlad Guerrero, Jr. and Bo Bichette. Guerrero, however, could be mid-season trade bait after he and the team could not agree on a contract extension. Nevertheless, manager John Schneider doesn’t seem concerned.

“He’s always been kinda wise beyond his years. And I think that the dialogue back and forth is productive, and it’s good,” Schneider said. “I think he did a really good job with it, and it’s just unfortunate it didn’t work out, but I know it’s not going to affect him at all.”

Can the Rays overcome the loss of ‘The Trop?’

The Tampa Bay Rays lost their home park, Tropicana Field, because of damage caused by last year’s Hurricane Milton. They’ll play in the Yankees Triple-A Park in Tampa this season.

On the field, things aren’t much better. The only offense worse than the Rays last season was the Chicago White Sox. Former Padre Ha-Seong Kim should help, as will new catcher Danny Jansen, but a 75-win season will be an accomplishment.