toronto blue jays
- kevin gosman
- dialing off
- trey yesways
- shane bieber
- Cody Ponce
- max shazer
The AL East's slaughter is in the headlines in Toronto. After losing their first World Series in 32 years, they were not satisfied with making a run back to it. They signed strikeout artist Dylan Cease to a historic 7-year, $210 million contract. He then signed a short deal with Ponce, as he had spent the last few years pitching in Japan and Korea.
But Gausman is returning, Bieber exercised his player option, and Scherzer re-signed with the club. After an exciting postseason debut, Trey Yesavage will return to the pitch this season. His slider demolished batters in the playoffs and had a chance to do the same in his first full year in MLB.
The club will likely use Scherzer as a depth option, but have talked about a possible six-man rotation. Whatever the case, Jays fans have a pitching staff they can get excited about.
New York Yankees
- max fried
- cam schlitler
- louis gil
- Ryan Weathers
- Will Warren
With Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon recovering from injuries this spring, they won't return to the Yankees until 2026. Until then, Fried, Schlitzer and Gill make a formidable (and young) front three. New York traded for Weathers but he and Warren became depth guys after Cole and Rodon returned.
It's been an up-and-down season for the Yanks when it comes to pitching. With an elite offense that keeps them in games, New York doesn't have to rely on their starters too much. But the front three are elite.
Fried has had a great first year in Pinstripes and is looking to build on that. Gil missed the majority of the 2025 season after winning the AL Rookie of the Year award in '24, and is currently struggling in the Grapefruit League. Schlitler is looking to build on an electric performance in the postseason. If those three can be effective, the pitching staff will be filled out when the Giants return later this year.
boston red sox
- Garrett Crochet
- ranger suarez
- sonny gray
- brian bello
- johan oviedo
this is a Very Different rotation for Boston than last year. In addition to Ace Crockett and Bello, the club added top pitcher Ranger Suárez in free agency, and traded for Gray and Oviedo to strengthen the staff.
They lost some depth in the trade of Kyle Harrison to the Milwaukee Brewers, but they still have top prospects Peyton Tolls and Conley Early stuck in the minors. Both have impressed this spring and will be starters at the big league level this year.
baltimore orioles
- trevor rogers
- kyle bradish
- Shane Baz
- jack eflin
- Chris Bassitt
- dean kramer
To say that Baltimore has been aggressive this offseason would be a major understatement. After finishing last in the AL East, the front office pursued top free agents in their offense, but not so much in their pitching staff. They traded top pitching prospect Grayson Rodriguez to the Los Angeles Angels.
That being said, rotation is clearly better. They re-signed Eflin, brought in Bassitt to eat innings, and traded for Tampa Bay Rays veteran Shane Baz. This is a staff that can and should shorten games. Rodgers, Brady and Kramer are returning contributors to the starting group.
tampa bay rays
- Drew Rasmussen
- Ryan Peppiatt
- Shane McClanahan
- steven matz
- nick martinez
With the loss of Shane Baz to the Orioles, Tampa Bay will get another look at McClanahan's return after two years away from MLB. Peppiatt and Rasmussen are also returning after solid campaigns in 2025.
The Rays' lone pitching moves came in signing free agents Matz and Martínez to short-term contracts. It's not an entirely awe-inspiring group, and Tampa Bay is struggling to stay afloat in a crowded and bloodthirsty AL East. But they have a solid attack led by star third baseman Junior Caminero. As long as the starters are serviceable, the Rays will be able to remain competitive in most games.
