Rating the A.L. East

2.NewYorkYankees

Last year: 91-71, second place (lost to Astros in the ALCS)

Key losses: Chase Headley, Starlin Castro, Todd Frazier, Michael Pineda, Matt Holliday, Jaime Garcia

Key newcomer: Giancarlo Stanton

Best-case scenario: Stanton and Aaron Judge feast on the American League with their home run prowess, and Luis Severino turns into a Cy Young frontrunner.

Worst-case scenario: Aaron Boone struggles in his first season as Yankees manager, the starting rotation struggles with consistency, and the bullpen shows signs of fading.

Hot prospect: Gleyber Torres could give the Yankees back-to-back rookies of the year, filling in at either third or second base.

3.TampaBayRays

Last year: 80-82, third place

Key losses: Evan Longoria, Lucas Duda, Logan Morrison, Alex Cobb

Key newcomers: Christian Arroyo, Denard Span, Ryan Schimpf

Best-case scenario: The Rays, led by young arms such as Chris Archer, put together a strong run at a postseason bid.

Worst-case scenario: Longoria’s leadership is missed, as is the power and production from Duda and Morrison. Hot prospect: Brent Honeywell’s coming-out party will be delayed after undergoing elbow surgery.

4.TorontoBlueJays

Last year: 76-86, fourth place

Key losses: Jose Bautista, Michael Saunders, Ryan Goins

Key newcomers: Jaime Garcia, Yangervis Solarte, Randal Grichuk, Curtis Granderson, Aledmys Diaz

Best-case scenario: The roster tinkering, including the loss of former franchise face Bautista, refreshes the franchise.

Worst-case scenario: The Blue Jays continue to tear down their roster and bottom out.

Hot prospect: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette are potential franchise cornerstones.

5.BaltimoreOrioles

Last year: 75-87, fifth place

Key losses: Welington Castillo, J.J. Hardy, Wade Miley

Key newcomers: Andrew Cashner

Best-case scenario: Manny Machado makes his swan song with the team memorable. He’s likely to leave as a free agent after the season.

Worst-case scenario: The pitching is even worse this year.

Hot prospect: Outfielder Austin Hays could use more seasoning but might be needed this year in Baltimore.

Yonder Alonso joins a strong Tribe squad while J.D. Martinez brings more power to the potent Boston lineup. Manny Machado could be in his swan song for the Orioles.

BY FABIAN ARDAYA

The Giants went shopping this offseason — but it remains to be seen whether the goods they acquired are at or near their expiration date. While the new additions should at least make it interesting, the Dodgers suddenly know how to get somewhere in the playoffs. Los Angeles stood one game — or one Yu Darvish Game 7 start — from its first World Series championship in 29 seasons. After spending almost the entirety of the 2017 regular season as the class of baseball, the Dodgers seem poised to repeat the feat in 2018 — and perhaps finish the job this time. It’s World Series or bust in Hollywood. Arizona surprised many under first-year manager Torey Lovullo and swung for the fences to bring in J.D. Martinez at the trade deadline. Martinez is gone now to Boston, with the lone accomplishment to remember the strong season being an NLDS sweep at the hands of the Dodgers. Even without Martinez, Arizona still has MVP candidate Paul Goldschmidt and former Cy Young Award winner Zack Greinke. The Rockies, aided by a pair of MVP-level performances from Nolan Arenado and Charlie Blackmon, joined Arizona as one of the best stories in baseball by jumping back into the postseason and earning the second NL Wild Card spot. They’ve restocked this offseason, particularly in the bullpen with the signings of Bryan Shaw and Wade Davis. San Diego made the biggest monetary signing of the offseason in bringing in former Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer, but what else is there? The Padres have pieces, sure, including acquiring Freddy Galvis in an offseason deal with the Phillies, but how well do they fit? Here’s a closer look at arguably the deepest division in baseball: