The American League East is widely considered the best division in Major League Baseball. It’s been that way for a while now. But while the Red Sox, Yankees and Rays battle for supremacy this season, is it possible the division will get even better in 2010 and 2011?
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While the Orioles and Toronto Blue Jays are headed toward losing seasons — in Baltimore’s case No. 11 in a row — there are reasons for each club to hope.
The Orioles have four quality 25-and-under position players already contributing — outfielders Nick Markakis, Adam Jones and Nolan Reimold and catcher Matt Wieters — with a batch of top pitching prospects at Triple-A Norfolk and Double-A Bowie. Baseball America on Thursday rated Orioles minor-leaguers Chris Tillman, 21, and Brian Matusz, 22, the No. 8 and No. 9 prospects in all of baseball. Only one pitcher was rated higher. Jake Arrieta, now pitching at Norfolk, was another Baltimore prospect ranked among the top 50. But is that even enough against the financial giants in New York and Boston, and the depth of young talent stockpiled by Tampa Bay?
“Pitching is going to be the key for Baltimore,” said ESPN baseball analyst Steve Phillips. “That’s the one area that’s still deficient if they want to compete over 162 games in that division. But they are headed in the right direction. You can see some vision starting to be implemented there and a plan.”
Meanwhile, the Blue Jays must figure out if trading ace Roy Halladay this summer — or in the offseason — will bring them enough quality major-league ready prospects to fill several holes on the roster. Halladay, a Cy Young favorite in the American League, is a free agent after the 2010 season. He is at peak trade value now and it doesn’t appear Toronto can contend in the division over the next 15 months.
“But you’re not going to be able to replace a Halladay,” said ESPN analyst Joe Morgan. “He’s a number-one, number-one guy and that’s where you start with winning. To me, if you’ve got one of those guys, you do not get rid of him. The rest of the team has to be built around that.”
