Free agency is winding down in Major League Baseball with the big moves completed and the regular season on the horizon. While we never know what to expect on the trade market, the big moves seem to be done there as well. It was an interesting offseason to say the least, with big deals and surprising moves happening across the board.
Out of every division, the AL East spent more money on contracts than any other and that was proven by three huge free agent signings across three teams. There were plenty of notable offseason additions over the winter and we’ll take a look at one from a team in each division, starting with the AL East.
Coming Soon: AL Central | AL West | NL East | NL Central | NL West
*Additions that are projected to be on the major league roster on Opening Day
AL East Notable Offseason Additions
Baltimore Orioles – Pete Alonso
The Baltimore Orioles needed to make a splash this offseason and they did, signing power bat Pete Alonso to a five-year, $155M contract. He will be paired on offense with the likes of Gunnar Henderson and Adley Rutschman. The Orioles also acquired Taylor Ward in a trade from the Los Angeles Angels earlier in the offseason, who is coming off a 100-RBI season.
Alonso has hit well over 100 RBI in three of the last four years with the New York Mets, including 38 home runs last season. He will be a force on offense for the Orioles in 2026. If everyone lives up to the hype and plays to their potential, this offense can be one of, if not the best in the league. The one question heading into the season for Baltimore is their pitching but if it can stay healthy for the most part, the bats can certainly help support them. With the addition of Alonso, the Orioles feel better about their chances of doing that.
Boston Red Sox – Ranger Suarez
Craig Beslow has had a busy offseason as Chief Baseball Officer for the Boston Red Sox. He’s made a handful of notable deals both via trade and free agency. Losing Alex Bregman is a tough hit for this Boston offense, but they sacrificed a little offense to help build the starting pitching. They traded for Sonny Gray and Johan Oviedo but what put this staff over the top was signing Ranger Suarez to a five-year deal worth $130M.
Suarez has done a great job since becoming a full-time starter in 2022. He’s had an ERA under 4.00 in three of the last four years, with last season being his best across the board. In 26 starts, he had a 3.20 ERA with 151 strikeouts in 157.1 innings, which are all career-bests/highs as a full-time starter. In a rotation headlined by AL Cy Young runner-up Garrett Crochet, the Red Sox now have a better starting staff to compete in the best division in baseball.
New York Yankees – Ryan Weathers
Running it back is what the New York Yankees seem to be doing in 2026. They brought back six free agents, including signing Cody Bellinger to a five-year, $162.5M deal. That was the most important thing that the Yankees could do, keeping his bat a part of this lineup. To the dismay of fans, the Yankees didn’t add much of significance in a division that got better this offseason. While that might be the case, the Yankees still won 94 games last season with a lineup that averaged the most runs per game in the league with 5.24 and hit the most home runs with 274.
The questions lie within the starting rotation, who will be missing three key components to start the season with Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodon, and Clarke Schmidt. The name of the game for that group is health. While they will be missing starters to open up the season, they still have the likes of Max Fried and Cam Schlittler who can carry the load until they get back.
The Yankees also went out and traded for Ryan Weathers, who also fits in this rotation to start the season. When everyone gets healthy, it’s not a guarantee that he stays in the rotation, as he will be in a battle with Luis Gil and Will Warren for the fifth spot. If Weathers stays healthy, he has a good chance as he had a 3.63 in 16 starts in 2024 and a 3.99 ERA in eight starts in 2025.
Tampa Bay Rays – Gavin Lux
No one knows the direction that the Tampa Bay Rays will take heading into any offseason, but that’s kind of the way that they operate. The Rays were involved in a trio of three-way trades that included dealing big pieces in Brandon Lowe and Shane Baz. They did bring in some interesting prospects but it won’t help much for the 2026 season. The Rays also went out in free agency to fill out the roster, and one of those signings was two-time World Series winner Gavin Lux.
He will come into the season looking to take over second base, a position that he’s comfortable and familiar with. Last season with the Cincinnati Reds, they had him playing more between DH and outfield. Lux is excited to get back to where he started, making for a fun season in Tampa Bay. He’s coming off back-to-back 50-RBI seasons and had the best on-base percentage of his career last season in Cincinnati (.350). He’s a former first-round pick and is just 28 years old, giving the Rays a potential decent option to start.
Toronto Blue Jays – Dylan Cease
The Toronto Blue Jays didn’t do what they would’ve liked to do this offseason on offense, especially with the loss of Bo Bichette, but they did get stronger on the pitching side both in the rotation and the bullpen. They attacked the rotation early as they pounced on Dylan Cease, who they signed to a seven-year, $210M deal. He now helps headline a rotation with Kevin Gausman, Trey Yesavage, Shane Bieber, Jose Berrios and Cody Ponce, who they also signed this offseason.
This Blue Jays rotation has the potential to be really good if everyone stays healthy and Cease can get back to his 2024 self as opposed to his 2025 self. The rotation might have to pick up some slack because of what they lost at the plate this offseason. Toronto made it to the World Series last year but lost in crushing fashion in game seven to the Los Angeles Dodgers. They now will have a chip on their shoulder to make it back, and they have a real chance to do so.
Up next: AL Central
Main Image: Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images
