AL East

The teams in the AL East are filled with talent.

The Yankees, per usual, are one of the most skilled and highest-paid teams in the league. The Red Sox are determined to rebound after a tough 2012. The Blue Jays made a bevy of offseason moves. The Orioles are hoping to build on one of their best seasons in years, and the Rays look to ride stars Evan Longoria and David Price to a postseason berth.

Don't be surprised, however, if a newcomer from each team plays a pivotal role in determining the winner of the AL East. 

This series will evaluate one team per day, starting on January 23, 2013 and ending on February 22, 2013 (the first game of spring training). It is based on last season's performance, offseason changes since and the author's outlook for the team in 2013. Please keep in mind that rosters can, and will, change before Opening Day. We start in the AL East and go in ABC order; next up, the Tampa Bay Rays.

Most fans are well aware at this point of the New York Yankees' plan to cut payroll down to $189 million before the start of the 2014 season.

Entering the 2013, the Yankees have at least 10 significant players on their roster that can or will be free agents after the season.

Their budget plans will make it next to impossible to bring back everyone.

The Boston Red Sox have brought back a familiar face, recently signing outfielder Ryan Sweeney to a minor-league deal, according to WEEI’s Rob Bradford.

New York Yankees prospect Tyler Austin was not a well-known player at the start of the 2012 season.

But in less than one year, Austin has steadily risen through the Yankees' ranks to become the No. 3 prospect in the organization.

Still just 22, this 6’2”, 200-pound Georgia native is a speedy athlete with steadfast lumber and an above-average arm.

The New York Yankees off-season has been a quiet one due to ownership implementing a new frugal stance.

Instead of story-lines about signing the biggest free agents, Yankee fans were relegated to watching the realities of missing the 2013 postseason grow by the day.

So as a result, fans, the media, and bloggers alike have been provided with plenty of things to grumble about.

In 2012 the Red Sox suffered their first losing season in 15 years and fired manager Bobby Valentine just one year into his tenure with the organization. 

Injuries, poor play, and attitude problems have plagued the Red Sox since September 2011, when they suffered an epic collapse, going from being the best team in baseball to missing the playoffs entirely. 

With a surplus of players who could fit the bill as a major league catcher, the Boston Red Sox find themselves in the rare position of strength heading into spring training.

The trade speculation involving Justin Upton and the Yankees officially ended on Thursday.

The Arizona Diamondbacks dealt their superstar outfielder to the Atlanta Braves in a seven-team deal that sent Upton to Atlanta for Randall Delgado, Martin Prado and other prospects.

Signing an oft-injured pitcher to a slightly over-priced, incentive-laden deal?

The Orioles have made it a side-business over the past few years, inking such pitchers as Justin Duchscherer, Dana Eveland, Randy Wolf, Josh Rupe and Jeremy Accardo.