The 2026 MLB season is knocking on the door, and nowhere is the noise louder than in the American League East. As teams finalize their rosters for an unusually early Opening Day, the gap between a wild-card berth and a watching-from-home October is thinner than ever. That’s why we are opening the doors to the executive suite once again. In this edition of Front Office Insights, former GM Jim Bowden and fantasy impact expert Howard Bender cut through the beat-writer speculation to deliver the definitive forecast for baseball’s toughest division. From the Yankees’ latest roster maneuvering to the Orioles’ young core reaching maturity, Bowden and Bender break down the finalized lineups, rotation battles, and "GM-eye-view" realities that will define the AL East in 2026.

Baltimore Orioles

Boston Red Sox

New York Yankees

Tampa Bay Rays

Toronto Blue Jays