The AL east race is closer than we all expected heading into the trade deadline. On May 28th, the Yankees heald a 7.5-game lead in the AL east. They now trail the Toronto Blue Jays by 2 games. Here are some notes about each team going into the second half of the season, and my prediction for what they can/should do at the trade deadline.

My one question for the Jays — is this legit? I think we have had a long enough sample size to say it is. The Blue Jays starting staff is awesome. Each game, you can really count on their starters — especially Gausman, Berrios and Bassit — to go out and keep the team in the game. The Toronto bullpen is also solid, but could probably use another arm for some protection to Jeff Hoffman, who can be streaky at times.

The Blue Jays offense has been solid this season as well. The resurgence of George Springer , emergence of Addison Barger and consistency of Alejandro Kirk has allowed this offense to put up solid numbers. Not to mention, Anthony Santander is expected to make a return to the lineup in the second half.

Toronto is over performing expectations, but I think they are a legit threat and have magic on their side. They would benefit from adding a reliever or two, but with Santander returning to the lineup, the lineup should get more powerful, and hopefully pick up the team for the second half.

The Yankees have the easiest remaining schedule in the AL east for the second half, but the Yankees tend to play down to their competition in recent years (like since 2018). The Yankees have a list of needs at the trade deadline, but I have some ideas to make that list shorter.

Since returning from the IL, Marcus Stroman has given up three runs or fewer in all of his starts, and the team is 2-1 in those three starts. I understand it is a small sample size, but keeping your team in the game is all you can ask for if you are the Yankees. Stroman provides the ability to be a number five starter. With the loss of Clarke Schmidt to Tommy John Surgery, the Yankees should go out and get another starter to add to this rotation. Making this rotation as follows: Fried, Rodon, Gil, New Starter, Warren/Stroman. That is a really solid rotation.

The bullpen continues to be a problem for the Yankees. While the Yankees will need to add at least two relievers, the Yankees do have an internal option nobody is talking about, and his name is Cam Schlittler. Schlittler has awesome swing and miss stuff and high velocity making him the perfect candidate to come out of the bullpen and provide relief — hopefully some high leverage if his stomach can handle it.

The Yankees will need to acquire a third basemen. While Eugenio Suarez seems to be the top option, with his high price tag and him being an impending free agent who is primed for a big pay day, better options would be players like Willi Castro or Ke’Bryan Hayes. Castro is a high-risk, high-reward option where if healthy, Castro could be a big impact player down the stretch. If the Yankees want their shot at a fixer-upper, they could opt for Hayes. Hayes is a spectacular defender, it is the offense that has been an issue in his career thus far. If the Yankees believe that they can fix his offensive struggles — which I think they can — then I believe that Hayes is the best option for the Yankees.

Coming into the break on a 10-game winning streak, there is a lot of optimism around the Red Sox. Being 16-9 since the Devers trade, the Red Sox have caught fire and are playing up to the scary team I believed they were coming into the season.

Adding Alex Bregman back into the lineup already bolsters the lineup, but I think the Red Sox still need a first basemen. If the Diamondbacks sell, Josh Naylor would be an awesome option for the Red Sox. A right-handed hitter who plays a solid first base and will play almost every day will provide a level of consistency in the Sox lineup.

The Red Sox could benefit from adding another starter with Hunter Dobbins going on the IL. This does not need to be a number 2 or 3 in the rotation, with Crochet, Bello and Giolito all pitching well. However, none of these three starters have a career of consistency to reference that this performance will hold up for the duration of the second half and into October. Another starter would benefit the ‘Sox down the stretch.

The Rays have been on a downward spin for about two weeks now, but they are very much so still in the race.

It is known that the Rays need bullpen help, and a lot of it. The Rays have already made a trade, acquiring RHP Bryan Baker from the O’s last week. His first appearance was not great, but obviously the Rays pitching lab will help fix his stuff, and when they do, watch out. Pete Fairbanks has also struggled this season against certain teams — like the Red Sox — so getting an insurance policy for him in big games against division rivals would be in the best interest of the Rays. If Emmanuel Clase is available, the Rays should be right on it. Clase is under control till the end of the 2028 season and he is not making too much money. The Rays should take a gamble at acquiring one of the game’s best closers.

I think the Rays lineup is in a good spot, given how strong the starting pitching is. The team needs to place it’s focus on bullpen help.

The Orioles are in an interesting spot. Sitting 11.5 games back of the division and 7.5 games back of a wildcard spot, the O’s should not be buyers, but I don’t think they should be full sellers either.

The O’s should be selling players off who are impending free agents or with one year left of control — like Ryan O’Hearn, Ramon Urias, and Cedric Mullins and a lot of the arms in the rotation and bullpen — to try and get prospects back in return who can make an impact in 2026 and beyond.

The championship window will be open next season for the O’s, with their young core of Gunnar Henderson, Jackson Holliday and Adley Rutschman still under team control. The O’s should not sell off any big pieces and attack the market this offseason for players to build a true contender for the next few years.

(Top Image Credit: Matthew Nethercott)