Here’s our analysis of 2021 AL East Futures Bets, including Frank Ammirante’s Best Pick & Sleeper Division Champion. Odds used for 2021 AL East Predictions for the Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, Tampa Bay Rays, and Toronto Blue Jays are provided courtesy of PointsBet, current as of Sunday, Feb. 13.
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2021 AL East Futures Bets: Best Pick & Sleepers
2021 AL East Title Odds
- New York Yankees (-200)
- Tampa Bay Rays (+350)
- Toronto Blue Jays (+350)
- Boston Red Sox (+2000)
- Baltimore Orioles (+5000)
The Yankees are the heavy favorites in the 2021 AL East race.
This is a formidable lineup that ranked fourth in team wRC+ despite getting only 208 combined plate appearances from sluggers Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton. They also acquired injury-prone but high-upside starters Corey Kluber (free agency) and Jameson Taillon (trade with Pittsburgh Pirates) to help bolster the starting rotation.
Furthermore, they’ll be getting Luis Severino (recovery from Tommy John surgery) and Domingo German (end of suspension) back in the fold at some point this season; each would provide a boost. The bullpen remains strong with Aroldis Chapman locking it down in the ninth inning.
This is a stacked roster at every level. So which team has the best chance to challenge the Yankees for the AL East throne?
- The Rays traded Blake Snell, and Charlie Morton signed with the Atlanta Braves, so their pitching is not as strong, but they’ll get a full season from playoff sensation and possible sleeper AL MVP candidate Randy Arozarena and a potential bounce-back from Austin Meadows, making this a strong lineup.
- The Blue Jays project as one of the best lineups in baseball, adding George Springer and Marcus Semien to an already talented group. There are still question marks surrounding their rotation that is quite thin behind Hyun Jin Ryu.
- The Red Sox have a good offense, but they might have the worst pitching in baseball. Eduardo Rodriguez and Nathan Eovaldi have question marks with health, while it’s unclear when Chris Sale (returning from his own TJS) will rejoin the club.
- The Orioles are still rebuilding with not enough talent throughout their roster, so you can forget about their chances at an AL East title in 2021.
2021 AL East Title: Smart Money Prediction
Tampa Bay Rays (+350)
The smart money for the 2021 AL East division winner is on the defending AL champion Rays. This is an organization with a winning culture and a knack for getting the best out of its players.
The loss of Snell and Morton can be mitigated with continued development from Tyler Glasnow and Ryan Yarbrough along with a potential rebound campaign from Chris Archer, Rich Hill, and/or Collin McHugh.
2021 AL East Futures Bets: Best Pick & Sleeper Division Champion. With Tyler Glasnow (pictured) holding down the rotation, the Rays should survive the departures of Blake Snell and Charlie Morton to remain in the thick of the AL East division race. (USA TODAY Sports)
The bullpen remains elite, filled with electric arms like Nick Anderson, Diego Castillo, and Pete Fairbanks. Their offense has upside, ranking eighth in wRC+ last year despite a disappointing season from Meadows. This is a team that should remain a World Series contender, and you’re getting them at a solid value — the same odds as the Blue Jays.
2021 AL East Winner: Sleeper Bet
Toronto Blue Jays (+350)
The Blue Jays are a trendier pick for the division than the Rays. Toronto signed Springer and Semien to beef up their offense while adding Kirby Yates to help out their bullpen, making them a bit overvalued
Having said that, this is still a solid sleeper pick for the AL East division crown. Their questionable rotation can be improved if top prospect Nate Pearson takes the next step in his development. We could also see the team add another piece to help solidify their starting pitching. The offense is stacked, with Springer, Semien, and young studs like Bo Bichette, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Cavan Biggio, Teoscar Hernandez, and Lourdes Gurriel Jr.
We could see Vlad Jr. finally start to recognize his superstar potential, as reports state that he’s in peak physical condition. The Jays need to address their pitching a bit more before they can challenge the Yankees, but they’re definitely a dark horse for the division.
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