Position Battles: AL East

There are plenty of position battles in MLB’s hardest division

We find ourselves in the middle of the spring training schedule, and as usual there are plenty of position battles for each team. The battles have a significant impact on fantasy baseball, and with many drafts coming up in the next few weeks lets take a look at which battles are the most important in the AL East.

AL East

BAL
The Orioles will not win the most expensive division in MLB and they are in the unenviable position of trying to compete in the hardest division while giving their younger players ample playing time.

The O’s picked up Miguel Tejada in the off-season who will battle for playing time at 3B with Ty Wiggington. There is also a battle at the bat rack for the DH spot, as Luke Scott will get the most AB, with Wiggington and starting LF Nolan Reimold also battling.

Wiggington will be playing all over the place this season, as Tejada will start at third, and Luke Scott will get the majority of AB as the DH.

NYY
The only position battles in Yankee land are in LF and for the fifth starter.

Brett Gardner will likely win the LF job over Randy Winn and Marcus Thames due to his speed, defense, and bunting ability.

The Yankees fifth starter has become an issue this season because of the Bo-Sox’s nasty starting rotation and because everyone loves the battle between Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes.

Either Joba or Hughes will likely take over as closer when Mariano retires, and the team will likely start preparing for that this season. Thus far, it looks like Hughes has the upper hand for the fifth starter.

BOS
The Red Sox signed Adrian Beltre to a lucrative contract this season, which all but guarantees his spot in the starting lineup over former starter Mike Lowell. Bill Hall also joins the IF mix while the back end of the rotation is the main story.

The fourth and fifth starting rotation spots are wide open between the $100 million man Daisuke Matsuzaka, and fan favorites Clay Buchholz and Tim Wakefield. There is no doubt management will step in and give Dice-K every opportunity to start this season but the real story is what role will Wakefield have?

Clay Buchholz is the favorite to land the fifth spot and will Wakefield be cut or do the Red Sox want a knuckleballer in the bullpen?

TOR
The Blue Jays, like the Orioles, will not win the AL East this season and are still a few years from being legitimate contenders, but that does not mean there aren’t a few position battles.

For some odd reason the Jays gave Kevin Gregg a contract and he is currently listed as the TOR closer. Ask even the drunkest Cubs fan and they will tell you that is a bad decision. It is only a matter of time before Jason Frasor gets some looks at the end of games.

There are about 12 starting pitchers battling for spots on the Blue Jays roster, but you can never have enough pitchers. The only pitchers that are guaranteed spots in the rotation are Ricky Romero, Mark Rzepczynski, and Shaun Marcum who is coming back from Tommy John surgery. That leaves Brandon Morrow, Brian Tallet, and Brett Cecil all battling for two spots.

TB
The Rays will be battling with the Yankees and Red Sox all season long and will rely on the same things that got them to the World Series only two seasons ago. They can pitch, play defense, and run the bases, and the Rays do not have many position battles, which is a good thing, as consistent lineups are the key to a strong season.

Matt Anaya
Twitter.com/MatAnaya

There are plenty of position battles in MLB’s hardest division March 18, 2010 – Matt Anaya We find ourselves in the middle of the spring training schedule, and as usual there are plenty of position battles for each team. The battles have a significant impact on fantasy baseball, and with many drafts coming up in [...]