Juan Soto and Corbin Burnes are gone from the division, and although the Yankees and Orioles can certainly succeed without them, the AL East seems noticeably tougher to predict this year.
In 2023, Baltimore and Tampa Bay won 101 and 99 games, with the rest of the division another 10 games behind. Last year, New York and Baltimore won 94 and 91, and it was again another 10 games back to third place. It would not be a surprise if the top teams were a lot more bunched together this season, and you can make a case for any number of outcomes for the order of finish.
That said, the Yankees and Orioles still have the two best players in the division in Aaron Judge and Gunnar Henderson, and as much as those teams might have questions on the mound, so does everyone else.
How they project
1. New York Yankees. The Yankees entered last season without Gerrit Cole and still ended up winning the division. This year Cole’s injury is even more serious, but New York added left-hander Max Fried in the offseason. That’s the question for the Yankees: Did their series of offseason additions — Fried, Paul Goldschmidt, Cody Bellinger and Devin Williams, to name a few — make up for the loss of Soto to free agency and now Cole to a season-ending injury? There’s plenty that can go wrong, as a spring full of injuries has shown, but Judge is still in his prime and Fried was one of the top pitchers on the market. New York still has to be taken seriously.
2. Baltimore Orioles. It was a fairly boring offseason in Baltimore, so it’s easy to forget what an exciting young core this team still has. Henderson emerged as an MVP candidate last year, Jordan Westburg and Colton Cowser blossomed — and there is still more offensive upside if Adley Rutschman rebounds from a poor second half and Jackson Holliday performs better in his second season. Baltimore may need that hitting improvement because with Burnes in Arizona now — and with Grayson Rodriguez already injured — the pitching staff is a real question mark. The return of closer Félix Bautista, who missed all of 2024, brings some extra upside to the bullpen.
3. Boston Red Sox. While the Yankees and Orioles lost significant stars this offseason, Boston added one in third baseman Alex Bregman. The Red Sox also acquired left-hander Garrett Crochet and righty Walker Buehler. Boston has gone three years without finishing above .500, the first time that’s happened since 1992-94. Now the Red Sox look ready to contend for a playoff spot again, but Bregman’s arrival — and Rafael Devers potentially becoming a designated hitter — doesn’t necessarily solve Boston’s issues in the middle infield. There’s reason to believe the Red Sox are moving in the right direction, but manager Alex Cora has some tricky decisions to make.
4. Tampa Bay Rays. The Rays are always a threat to outpace expectations, but last year their outlook seemed iffy after they traded Tyler Glasnow, and sure enough their win total dropped from 99 to 80. It was their first season under .500 since 2017. Shane McClanahan returns to the mound after Tommy John surgery, but it’s the offense that is the big concern here. With Tampa Bay playing this season in a spring training facility because of hurricane damage — and the team withdrawing recently from a new ballpark project — suffice it to say the vibes aren’t great.
5. Toronto Blue Jays. In the midst of a disappointing 74-win campaign in 2024, the Blue Jays were sellers at the trade deadline — to a degree. They still kept offensive standouts Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette — due to become free agents after this season — and then added slugging outfielder Anthony Santander in the offseason. Still, the clock is ticking in Toronto. The Blue Jays have eschewed a real rebuild so far, but a poor start could make this year’s deadline a lot more seismic in Toronto.
The next generation
Believe it or not, Baltimore’s prospect pipeline still hasn’t run dry, with catcher Samuel Basallo and infielder Coby Mayo ranked in the top 15 by MLB Pipeline. Boston could have even more to be excited about with outfielder Roman Anthony (No. 2), utilityman Kristian Campbell (No. 7) and shortstop Marcelo Mayer (No. 12).
A step back
The division as a whole slipped in 2024, with the five teams averaging 84 wins. That number was 89.8 in 2023 and 87.6 in 2022. Even in 2021, the AL East averaged 85.4 wins despite Baltimore only contributing 52. Last season was the first time since 2017 that the AL East did not have at least three teams above .500.
Dallas Stars left wing Mason Marchment (27) shoots during an NHL hockey game against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Dallas, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)
DALLAS (AP) — Gage Goncalves scored Tampa Bay’s third goal in the fourth round of the shootout and the Lightning beat the Dallas Stars 3-2 on Thursday night.
Brandon Hagel and Anthony Cirelli had a goal and an assist each for the Lightning, who have won three consecutive games. Andrei Vasilevskiy made 22 saves through overtime and two in the shootout.
Oskar Back and Mason Marchment scored for the Stars, whose eight-game home winning streak was snapped. Casey DeSmith tied a season high with 36 saves through overtime but his career-long six-game winning streak came to an end.
Goncalves scored his first shootout goal this season after Vasilevskiy made a glove save on Mikko Rantanen.
Cirelli followed Hagel’s first-period goal scoring on a rebound at 7:20 of the second period to give the Lightning a 2-0 lead. Back’s deflection 38 seconds later started Dallas’ comeback. Marchment tied the score about six minutes later with a jab over the goal line with one second left on a power play.
Takeaways
Lightning: They began with 11 forwards and seven defensemen, then lost forward Zemgus Girgensons to a hard hit early in the third period and defenseman Ryan McDonagh in the closing seconds of regulation when he took a puck to the right ear.
Stars: Wyatt Johnston’s 15-game home point streak was snapped one game short of matching the Dallas record held by Mike Modano.
Key moment
Vasilevskiy made a save on a point-blank chance by Johnston with 20 seconds left in regulation.
Key stat
Vasilevskiy is 15-4-3 against Dallas in regular-season play and was in net when the Lightning beat the Stars 4-2 in the 2020 Stanley Cup Final.
Up next
The Lightning will visit Utah on Saturday, when the Stars will host Philadelphia.
Jackson State head coach Deion Sanders glares at his players as they exit the field during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Southern University in Jackson, Miss., Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022. Jackson State won 35-0. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — In a time when programs are rethinking their annual spring football game, Deion Sanders has his own suggestion — bring in another team.
Just like the NFL sometimes does before exhibition games.
The Colorado coach figures with just about everything else changing in college football — transfer portal, name image likeness deals, roster limitations — it’s about time to find a way to make what’s usually an intra-squad scrimmage better for fans and teams alike. Such a change would require the NCAA to alter its rules on spring ball.
“To have it competitive, playing against your own guys kind of gets monotonous,” Sanders said Monday in his first news conference since last season. “You really can’t tell the level of your guys because, it’s the same old, same old — everybody kind of knows each other.”
His concept would be similar to a preseason game in the NFL, where a team comes in for a few days of joint practices before their exhibition game.
“I think the public will be satisfied with that tremendously,” Sanders said. “I think it’s a tremendous idea. I’ve told those personnel who should understand that’s a tremendous idea.”
Nebraska recently announced it is replacing its spring football game with skills competitions and 7-on-7 games at Memorial Stadium on April 26. This comes on the heels of Cornhuskers coach Matt Rhule expressing concerns about other teams scouting players in the scrimmage and possibly poaching them through the transfer portal.
While the spring game remains a big draw, some schools in recent years have started to move away from traditional scrimmages because of smaller rosters and the risk of player injuries. Nebraska, Texas, Ohio State and Southern California are among programs ending the tradition this spring.
Colorado will hold its spring game this season on April 19 at Folsom Field. It will be broadcast on ESPN2.
“We’ve got to sell this thing out and pack this thing because the way the trend is going, you never know if this is going to be the last spring game,” Sanders said. “I don’t believe in that. I don’t really want to condone that. I would like to play the spring game. Actually, I like to play against another team in the spring.”
All in the family
Plenty of mock NFL drafts have QB Shedeur Sanders slipping down in the first round next month after he chose not to throw at the scouting combine and his brother, DB Shilo Sanders, not hearing his phone ring for any of the 257 picks.
Deion Sanders wonders what his own draft experience — he was selected fifth overall by the Atlanta Falcons in 1989 — would have been like in today’s world.
“They receive a lot more ignorance than I did,” Sanders said of his sons. “I received some, but we didn’t have the social media channels and all the different things that’s privy today … I mean, you’ve got to understand, I was a two-sport guy at the time, so you could imagine what it would have been like with all the hate and the naysayers.”
Sanders said he knows his sons can handle any and all flack coming their way as the NFL draft approaches.
“You’ve got to take a shot at somebody and you might as well take a shot at a Sanders,” he said. “We’re built for this.”
Contract extension
Sanders downplayed talk about his contract extension, saying “there may be” discussions. “I don’t know.”
What he’s lobbying for is raises for his staff.
“Let’s get everybody else straight first, then I’m good,” he said,
Sanders signed a five-year, $29.5 million deal before the 2023 season. The Buffaloes went 4-8 that year and 9-4 last season.
Pro days
Deion Sanders plans to attend the Big 12 Pro Day this week in Frisco, Texas. Shedeur and Shilo Sanders, and Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter are among the Buffaloes who are expected to attend. Sanders said some of his players may not participate and wait for Colorado’s pro day — which the Buffs are now calling a “skills showcase” — on April 4.
Livingston’s deal
A top priority for the Buffaloes was retaining defensive coordinator Robert Livingston. They rewarded the architect behind the defensive unit’s turnaround with a new two-year deal that makes him the highest-paid assistant in program history. Livingston will earn $1.5 million next season and $1.6 million in 2026.
“Rob was on everybody’s list to try to secure his services, and he deserves everything he got coming and then some,” Sanders said. “When you win, you expect your staff to be ravaged. You expect that.”
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AP Pro Football Writer Arnie Stapleton contributed to this report.
Women’s college basketball continues to thrive following Caitlin Clark‘s departure to the WNBA.
Numerous players have stepped into the spotlight and are set to showcase their talents on the sport’s biggest stage.
Here are 10 names to watch when the women’s NCAA Tournament begins Friday.
JuJu Watkins, USC
Watkins will be the face of the sport beyond this season. The Trojans phenom has tallied more points than Clark did through her first two campaigns and is just four 30-point games away from tying Cheryl Miller’s program record of 25. Watkins is a nightmare in transition with her size, speed, and strength. She can pull up on a dime from anywhere on the floor and makes the right pass when defenses swarm her in the paint. The Los Angeles native is also a semifinalist for the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year award, showing great help instincts and often getting a hand in passing lanes.
Paige Bueckers, UConn
Bueckers is the presumptive No. 1 pick in this year’s WNBA draft. The Huskies star was the first freshman to sweep the National Player of the Year awards and has recaptured that form after missing the entire 2022-23 campaign with a torn ACL. Bueckers is an efficient three-level scorer with near 50/40/90 shooting splits this season. She’s an unselfish player who’s always looking to create high-percentage looks for her teammates. Her 3.9 assist-to-turnover ratio leads all players. Bueckers’ defense has steadily improved as she uses her length to contest shots and create turnovers.
Hannah Hidalgo, Notre Dame
Hidalgo may be small in stature, but the 5-foot-6 sophomore guard is Notre Dame’s spark plug on both ends of the floor. She ignites the Fighting Irish’s transition attack with her speed, plays relentless defense, and isn’t afraid to take big shots. Hidalgo ranks fourth in the nation in both scoring (24.2 points per contest) and steals (3.7). She’s shooting the ball significantly better from downtown too, making 40.7% of her 3-point attempts.
Lauren Betts, UCLA
Betts was the driving force for a UCLA squad that spent most of the campaign atop the AP Poll. The 6-foot-7 center is an imposing figure in the paint as both a shot-blocker and low-post scorer. She’s registered the fifth-most swats (85) and is converting 65.6% of her attempts at the rim, per Hoop Explorer. Betts’ newfound playmaking adds another wrinkle to her game. She does a good job passing out of double-teams in the post and has been a weapon in dribble handoffs.
Aneesah Morrow, LSU
Morrow’s strong senior year is building her draft stock. The 6-foot-1 forward is among 15 players on the national ballot for the Wooden Award and is a semifinalist for the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year award. Morrow’s a handful to cover on the glass with her never-ending motor. She’s leading all players in rebounds for the second time in four campaigns and trails only Courtney Paris on the Division I all-time list in career double-doubles after picking up 27 this season.
Madison Booker, Texas
Booker followed up a standout freshman campaign with SEC Player of the Year honors. The versatile second-year wing paces Texas in scoring (16.2) and ranks second on the team in rebounds (6.6), assists (2.8), and steals (1.6). She’s knocking down 13% more threes this season and boasts an elite mid-range game. Booker was the Longhorns’ de facto floor general last season in Rori Harmon’s absence and continues to facilitate the offense at times.
Ta’Niya Latson, Florida State
This list wouldn’t be complete without the country’s leading scorer. Latson is the focal point on the NCAA’s second-highest scoring unit, averaging 24.9 points on 45.1% shooting. The Miami native blows by defenders off the bounce, has the body control to convert difficult finishes at the rim, and frequently draws fouls with her forceful drives. She’s raised her game on the defensive end as well, placing fifth in the ACC with 2.2 steals per contest. Florida State failed to win an NCAA Tournament game in each of Latson’s first two seasons, but it’s only a matter of time until the program breaks through.
Olivia Miles, Notre Dame
Miles is the other half of Notre Dame’s dynamic backcourt. The 22-year-old has been stellar after missing the previous campaign with a torn ACL, tallying a career-high 16.2 points per game and a 2.15 assist-to-turnover ratio. She leads the ACC in assists (5.8) for the third time in four seasons. Miles has also improved arguably her biggest weakness, connecting on 40.9% of her attempts from deep after entering the year as a 24.6% career 3-point shooter. Miles’ return allows Hidalgo to play off the ball and has solidified the Fighting Irish as national contenders.
Sarah Strong, UConn
Strong has looked like anything but a freshman. The top-ranked recruit in last year’s class has immediately provided UConn with a bona fide No. 2 option alongside Bueckers. Strong can carry the ball coast to coast like a guard, pick-and-pop for three, and uses her quick hands to steal the ball from opponents. The Huskies have maximized her passing ability as well, using the 6-foot-2 forward as a playmaking hub in the high post. It’s been nearly a decade since the school captured its last national championship, but Strong might be the missing piece to the puzzle.
Mikayla Blakes, Vanderbilt
Blakes is another player making headlines in her debut season. The high-scoring Vanderbilt guard already has a pair of 50-point games on her resume. Blakes’ 55-point outburst against Auburn last February broke Elena Delle Donne’s Division I women’s freshman record of 54 set in 2010. Blakes led a highly competitive SEC in scoring during conference play, posting 26.9 points on 46.9% shooting, including a 39.8% clip from deep. Her quick shot release, pull-up jumper, movement shooting, and ability to attack downhill have made the Commodores star one of the country’s most lethal scorers.
Honorable mentions: Georgia Amoore (Kentucky), Flau’Jae Johnson (LSU), Hailey Van Lith (TCU), Chloe Kitts (South Carolina)
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