As things stand now, who do you think will win the AL East?

[Frobby]

Not much more will happen this offseason, it appears, so it seemed like a good time for a poll. Lots of controversy about the Orioles' lack of activity this offseason, but are we still the best team in the AL East?

[Mayor McCheese]

Toronto. Yeah I said it.

[murph]

O's! I always think the O's will win it all. Even for 14 lousy years on opening day, I still believed the O's would win it all. Blind optimism, because you know, it's the O's!

[oriole]

I say Gausman pitches like an ace, Davis and Jimenez bounce back, Jones flirts with MVP consideration, Machado stays healthy and productive, Wieters earns his Mauer with Power proclamation, and Showalter ends world hunger.

[ChuckS]

The Orioles will win this running away on this board.

Boston is probably the best team in the division on paper, but I think every team in the division except for New York can be expected to contend this season. I wouldn't be surprised if Tampa or Toronto won the division either. Boston doesn't have a dominant pitcher in their rotation, but they added several number 3 starter types. Does that set up sound familiar? Their offense is clearly superior to our's, on paper at least. Most objective observers will have them winning the division.

[Spy Fox]

I think it is close between Baltimore, Boston, and Toronto.

Boston has the most star power but right now I still pick the O's because I think we are the most well rounded team. It could easily sway towards one of the others though if Boston acquires an ace or if the Jays young starters stay healthy.

[fearthenoodle]

If you made me pick right now, I'm picking the Orioles. The magnititude of the losses are somewhat overblown.

Boston has proven that it can go worst to first, and Ramirez/Sandoval add a lot more certainty to their line-up, but there are plenty of questions about their pitching staff at this point, even with the additions they made.

Toronto made a couple flashy moves at the start of the off-season, but their pitching staff is thin in the rotation, and a bullpen that wasn't good last year hasn't been addressed (and they lost Janssen).

New York has more-or-less maintained the same team they had for the second half of 2014, and the cloud of Tanaka's elbow will make or break their year.

Tampa Bay is clearly rebuilding, but they have the pitching staff to hang around if things break right.

[Three Run Homer]

I can't pick against the O's. But I'd feel a lot more confident in my choice if the O's had added another quality corner outfielder over the offseason!

[Frobby]

The Orioles will win this running away on this board.

Boston is probably the best team in the division on paper, but I think every team in the division except for New York can be expected to contend this season. I wouldn't be surprised if Tampa or Toronto won the division either. Boston doesn't have a dominant pitcher in their rotation, but they added several number 3 starter types. Does that set up sound familiar? Their offense is clearly superior to our's, on paper at least. Most objective observers will have them winning the division.

I don't know what to make of Boston, given their performance the last three years. 69, 97, 71 wins. 734, 853, 634 runs scored. 806, 656, 715 runs allowed. They've been all over the map in every area. They've also had an awful lot of turnover, so you can't they their past stats give you much of a clue. I think I'll put it this way, I expect their offense to be much better, but I'm not sure their pitching is improved. Buckholz, Porcello, Masterson, Miley, Kelly is a pretty unreliable rotation, though not without potential.

[webbrick2010]

I think Boston wins with their present roster, but I also think they will add another starter by the start of the season and I wouldn't be surprised to see that be Cole Hammels

[jamalshw]

I picked Baltimore because I cannot really say any team stands out above the others (at least amongst Toronto, Boston and Baltimore) and I'm an O's fan so I tie goes to Baltimore.

I don't have faith in NY or Tampa. I like Tampa's rotation well enough, but with Myers and Zobrist gone, I don't think the offense is there. NY could surprise, they have the talent if Beltran, McCann and company rebound and Tanaka's arm doesn't fall off, but I think they are a long shot.

To me, that leaves Boston, Toronto and Baltimore. Even with Cruz and Markakis gone, I think the offense is strong enough with Wieters and Machado returning. I also expect a season at least as strong as 2012 for Davis. As for the pitching, I don't view losing Miller as that big of a loss since he was only on the team for a couple months. His loss is more crucial to the playoffs, not to making it there in my mind. I think the O's have a solid rotation with the opportunity for Jimenez and Gausman to be improved.

On to the O's competition for my vote: Boston is improved, but how much? Sandoval is solid and will put up better numbers in Fenway, but is he really that good? A .739 OPS last year and .758 OPS in 2013. He's a solid bat and a good fielder given his size, but I don't see him making as big of a difference as his salary would indicate. As for HanRam, the issue is health. He's a good bat, when healthy, though his bat plays better at SS than in LF, but still helpful. Their biggest issue, however, is pitching. I like Porcello and Miley and company, but like the O's they lack a top of the rotation arm.

As for Toronto, the heart of the order is the best in the game (Encarnacion, Bautista and Donaldson), but the loss of Melky is significant and the rotation is still a question. Stroman and Hutchinson should improve, but I also expect aging to impact Buehrle and Dickey. The last spot has solid options in Sanchez, Norris, etc, but I still am unsure.

[isestrex]

My heart says Baltimore but my head says Toronto

[SticksandStones]

I honestly believe that the O's have the best pitching staff in the division. With that and an offense that can still be productive, I say we win it again.

[OFFNY]

My heart says Baltimore, but my head says Toronto.

My heart says that the Orioles will win the division by 12 games again.

My head says that the Orioles will win the division by 6 games.

[Tx Oriole]

Not much more will happen this offseason, it appears, so it seemed like a good time for a poll. Lots of controversy about the Orioles' lack of activity this offseason, but are we still the best team in the AL East?

I think so Frobby.