The American League East is typically one of the most competitive divisions in baseball. The New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox have deep pockets and are always on the forefront when it comes to signing high priced free agents each off season, which make them perennial favorites. The Tampa Bay Rays are one of the best young teams in all of baseball, with a pitching staff that has not had a starting pitcher over the age of 30 in almost 4 years. The Toronto Blue Jays and the Baltimore Orioles round out the A.L. East, and while each has some exciting players, they just don’t have the pocketbook or young talent to compete with the Yankees, Red Sox, and Rays.

In 2011, the Yankees won the A.L. East by six games over the Rays, who won the A.L. Wild Card by just one game over the Red Sox. So, who will win the American League East in 2012? The Yankees will have to deal with questions surrounding their age and starting pitching. Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez are no longer in their prime and both dealt with injury in 2011, so we will have to wait to see what 2012 will bring for them. C.C. Sabathia is still dominant on the mound, but after that there are some serious questions about the Yankees rotation. The Red Sox have parted ways with long time manager Terry Francona, with rumors of clubhouse problems, so they will have to deal with a new manager in 2012. Free agency will once again, impact these two clubs. The Rays, with so many young stars and just the right amount of veteran leadership, are poised to be a dominant force in baseball for years to come and are my pick for who will win the American League East next season.