With spring training here, there is optimism abounding in 30 Major League cities. Now, legit or not, every fanbase needs reasons to be excited at the start of the baseball season. Some teams are easier to come up with reasons than others, but we are going to come up with at least one totally sincere reason for each team to be excited heading into the 2026 Major League Baseball season. This is … hope springs eternal … American League East edition.
Baltimore Orioles: A Polar Bear Migrates South
Last season, the Baltimore Orioles were a major disappointment. After consecutive postseason trips in 2023 and 2024, these Birds dropped to 75-87. This underwhelming performance by a squad packed with young talent got their manager fired. This off-season, the Orioles signed Pete Alonso. A bona fide power bat and strong clubhouse guy should do wonders for this young nucleus. Since 2019, the Polar Bear is third in all of MLB in home runs and first in RBIs. That sort of pop and veteran leadership may be the magic elixir to getting this talented roster over the hump. Yes, the AL East is loaded, but the presence of Alonso in the Orioles lineup is a major reason for optimism for Baltimore fans.
Boston Red Sox: The Roman Empire
Many in Boston are grumbling that the Red Sox didn’t do enough in the off-season to win the formidable AL East. Yes, Alex Bregman and Rafael Devers are gone. So, who can be the stabilizing presence in the middle of that order? Look no further than superstar-in-training Roman Anthony. Before being lost for the season in early September, in only 71 games, Anthony had a batting average of .292, a .396 OBP, an .859 OPS, and a 3.1 WAR as a 21-year-old rookie. If you project that WAR number over 160 games, that puts him squarely in the AL MVP conversation. There is no guarantee that a sophomore slump doesn’t happen, but a full year of Anthony at Fenway Park is a reason for optimism for Boston fans.
New York Yankees: Schlitt Happens
Did anybody happen to watch the AL Wild Card Series last year between the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox? If so, then you know about Cam Schlittler. In a loser-goes-home game between bitter AL East rivals, this rookie mowed down 12 in eight scoreless innings. Besides that, this righty had a 2.96 ERA in 14 starts in the regular season. With an expensive and not always healthy top three in the rotation, this dealer could provide the Yanks with some inexpensive rotational depth for years to come. We know about all the big names in the Bronx, and they all have to produce for the Bombers to raise a 28th World Series flag. However, a young arm like Schlittler could go a long way in determining the Yankees’ success, and that is a reason for optimism for New York fans.
Tampa Bay Rays: Home Sweet Home
Imagine having to play all 81 of your home games at the minor league stadium of a divisional rival. That is what the Tampa Bay Rays had to do in 2025. After Hurricane Milton ravaged Tropicana Field in October of 2024, the Rays had to play their 2025 home games at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, the spring training home of the Yankees. In addition to a much smaller capacity with more sparse than usual crowds, home runs left this ballpark at a higher rate than most. Tampa Bay allowed 205 long balls in 2025, seventh most in MLB. The economical Rays have done a great job staying competitive in the mighty AL East, and just being back at their refurbished home ballpark in 2026 is a reason for optimism.
Toronto Blue Jays: Ride the Wave
The Toronto Blue Jays were two amazing defensive plays from winning the 2025 World Series. Excitement and expectations are high north of the border. With Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and company full of pennant-winning confidence, Toronto can ride this wave of success into the 2026 season. Revenue, attendance, and interest will all be at an elevated level this year for the Jays. That brings some pressure, but it also provides a fertile atmosphere for winning. Bringing in Dylan Cease to fortify the starting rotation and Kazuma Okamoto for some infield pop should keep Toronto very competitive in the AL East. After an almost-championship season in Toronto, just riding the wave of success is a reason for optimism for Blue Jays fans.
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