AL East

There's no arms race going on in the AL East, as there's really only one team stockpiling weapons.

Having been one of the busiest teams in free agency during this offseason, the Boston Red Sox appear nearly set as they head into spring training. However, it’s still possible that their inability to tie up a loose end may force them to make another major acquisition.

Alex Anthopoulos, Paul Beeston and Rogers and Bell Media this offseason have decided now is the time to go all-out and spend the necessary cash to compete in a tough AL East division.

Adding nearly $50 million in payroll this season, the Blue Jays are not only in the discussion for a playoff spot, but some are even pegging the Jays as American League favourites and a possible World Series team.

With the announcement that Alex Rodriguez needed hip surgery, as a New York Yankees fan, I was strangely excited. Finally the Yankees would use this opportunity to get younger on the diamond, I thought. We could let an unproven young talent take over for a few months and see if we had the next Derek Jeter on our hands.

Boy was I wrong.

Here's the situation.

The Angels have too many outfielders after they landed Josh Hamilton in free agency and could look to trade someone.

The Yankees could use a right-handed bat and potential fourth outfielder.

It would be difficult to argue that for the past three seasons, the best everyday player on the Yankees hasn’t been one of their pricey acquisitions like Alex Rodriguez or Mark Teixeira or even their hall of fame stalwart, Derek Jeter.

The groin injury recently suffered by Boston Red Sox pitching prospect Anthony Ranaudo will not prevent him from being ready for spring training, according to this report from the Providence Journal’s Tim Britton.

In baseball, holding the top pick in the draft has proven to be more of a curse than a blessing.

It would appear the Toronto Blue Jays and New York Mets have agreed on players for an R.A. Dickey trade, but according to Jon Heyman of CBS, stranger things have happened than a trade like this falling through. 

The Boston Red Sox just bolstered their 2013 starting rotation by signing free-agent right-hander Ryan Dempster to a two-year deal. Despite his addition, the team still need more starting pitching depth, but the answer may already be on their roster in the person of Alfredo Aceves.