Blue Jays set to fly high in balanced AL East

It's going to be a Blue Jays autumn. That is, unless the Rays keep the magic going. Speaking of magic, no one had more of it than the Orioles last summer, and they're beginning this season with plenty of confidence that the best is yet to come. The Red Sox also made significant changes in both personnel and environment this offseason and like their newfound underdog status.

Finally, there are the Yankees. Even after all the losses and injuries, the Yankees are still on everyone's radar. They've got a deep, talented pitching staff, and if Curtis Granderson, Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez are healthy enough to contribute down the stretch, who knows how October will play out?

Welcome to the America League East, where there's a legitimate case to be made for all five teams. The Blue Jays begin the season as the favorite after an offseason talent infusion, but the Rays, Red Sox, Orioles and Yankees all believe they're good enough to make the postseason.

There are no perfect teams. Toronto's lineup and rotation could be tremendous. But the Blue Jays have lingering questions in their bullpen, especially whether Sergio Santos or Casey Janssen will close.
Meanwhile, the Rays are attempting to move forward without James Shields, who was both a leader in the clubhouse and a 200-inning workhorse on the field. And Rays manager Joe Maddon will again platoon all over the field to attempt to piece enough offense together.

The Orioles rode a wave of close victories to their first postseason berth in 16 years last season, and believe they're positioned to move forward with manager Buck Showalter coming off perhaps his best season.

The Orioles have a tremendous clubhouse with Adam Jones, Matt Wieters and Co., and an assortment of young arms from which Showalter believes he can construct a solid pitching staff.

The Red Sox changed more than faces, although they did change faces, adding Ryan Dempster, Jonny Gomes, Shane Victorino, David Ross, Mike Napoli and Joel Hanrahan. If Jon Lester, Clay Buchholz and John Lackey have solid seasons, the Red Sox are confident they'll be poised for a September run.

Far from the problems between the players and former manager Bobby Valentine last season, the Red Sox have embraced their new man, John Farrell, a former Boston pitching coach who is close with several current players.

The Yankees don't know what to expect. Nick Swisher, Russell Martin and others are gone. Teixeira, Granderson and A-Rod are injured. The Yankees didn't make a single splashy move in the offseason, and because the club seems too diminished, they might just be the most interesting team in baseball.

With that, the American League East might be the most interesting division in baseball. Toronto may be the favorite, but no one is conceding them a thing. Every team believes it's good enough to make the postseason.