2024 AL East Predictions & Preview: Front Office Insights

Wouldn't it be great if you had access to a real-life MLB general manager for your fantasy baseball drafts?
Lucky for you, the 2024 Fantasy Baseball Draft Guide gives you this exact access!
Meet Jim Bowden, a 16-year veteran of the MLB GM ranks. His connections to the front offices of all 30 MLB teams will provide you with information nobody else in your league will have.
As part of our Front Office Insights series, this article will go team-by-team through the AL East and examine each franchise from top to bottom. This will include everything from batting orders and bench depth, to starters and relievers, to free agents and farm systems, and everything in between. We'll even look at how each team’s front office traditionally handles personnel moves.
Let's get after it,
2024 AL East Fantasy Preview: Front Office Insights With GM Jim Bowden
The American League East needs no introduction.
The New York Yankees made a huge splash this offseason by acquiring outfielder Juan Soto from the San Diego Padres. He joins Aaron Judge to form one of the best 1-2 punches at the top of the order in all of baseball .The Bronx Bombers also traded for outfielder Alex Verdugo and signed pitcher Marcus Stroman in free agency.
The Yankees weren't the only team making moves in the American League East. The Baltimore Orioles traded for former Cy Young Award winner Corbin Burnes to start games and signed Craig Kimbrel to close them out. Their lineup already includes rising stars Adley Rutschman and Gunnar Henderson, but could also see the top overall prospect in baseball Jackson Holliday make an impact at some point in the 2024 season.
The Blue Jays roster is largely the same, with the most noteworthy additions being DH Justin Turner and infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa.
The Red Sox roster has left many in New England up in arms. The team's offseason moves were highlighted by the acquisitions of Tyler O'Neill and Lucas Giolito,while Chris Sale was sent off to the Braves in a deal for infielder Vaughn Grissom.
Last, but not least, we have the Tampa Bay Rays. They traded Tyler Glasnow to the Dodgers and didn't do too much else. They added Amed Rosario and traded away Manuel Margot, but the hope is that top prospect Junior Caminero will be an impact player when called up.
Let's take a deeper dive into the division.
2024 New York Yankees Prediction & Preview
2024 Boston Red Sox Prediction & Preview
2024 Baltimore Orioles Prediction & Preview
2024 Toronto Blue Jays Prediction & Preview
2024 Tampa Bay Rays Prediction & Preview
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Daulton Varsho picked up three hits, three RBI and a homer in a win over the Angels on Thursday.
Varsho has only played in seven games this year, but they’ve been seven good ones. He’s homered three times already, and his slugging percentage is a remarkable — and entirely unsustainable — .727 over 22 at-bats. Varsho has been a mediocre offensive player in his two seasons with the Blue Jays, but it’s possible at the age of 28 he’s having a breakout campaign. Far from a guarantee, but possible.
Taylor Ward hit a two-run homer in a loss to the Blue Jays on Thursday.
Ward, 31, gave the Angels a 2-0 lead with a two-run homer off Chris Bassitt in the first inning. He’s now gone deep in two of his last three games, and it ‘improves’ his slash to .181/.224/.391. Ward has been one of the most hot/cold players players in the sport over the last few years, so fantasy managers who can afford to make some roster moves may want to look at Ward while the going is good.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. picked up three hits and scored twice in an 8-5 win over the Angels on Thursday.
Guerrero also drew a walk. It gives the first baseman multiple hits in back-to-back games, and it’s the third time in May that he’s reached that mark. That’s helped raise his average from .268 to .295, and the only thing fantasy managers can be disappointed with is his .432 slugging percentage. That number should continue to climb as the season unfolds, but Vladdy Jr. has had some inconsistent seasons when it comes to power production.
Chad Green picked up his first save of 2025 with a scoreless ninth against the Angels on Thursday.
Green got the save after Jeff Hoffman worked in back-to-back games — and struggled — in the first two contests against the Angels. He struck out two and looked the part while needing just nine pitches to get through the inning. Hoffman should remain the closer, but Green is on his tail if the struggles were to continue.
Chris Bassitt allowed five runs — four earned — while working six-plus innings against the Angels on Thursday while picking up a win.
Bassitt allowed three runs over the first two innings on a pair of homers, but settled down over his next four frames. He came out to work the seventh, but ended up being charged for two more runs after leaving the contest. The 36-year-old veteran has forged a 3.35 ERA and outstanding 49/8 K/BB ratio over the first quarter of the season, but this wasn’t him at his best. He’ll get the Rays next week if the rotation order stays the same for Toronto.
José Soriano allowed three runs over five innings while not factoring in the decision Thursday against the Blue Jays.
Soriano left with a 4-3 lead, but it was erased quickly after his departure. The 26-year-old was not exactly dominant in his outing with eight hits allowed and four free passes, but he did strike out six to help balance things out a smidgen. Soriano takes an even ERA of 4.00 into a scheduled start against the Padres in San Diego on Tuesday. There should be better options for that one.