The AL East is home to the most intense rivalry in sports history- the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees. Neither team made it to one of the most memorable World Series games in history, meaning that both will be looking to up the ante in 2017. The Boston Red Sox are already favorable in eyes of bookmakers, with +800 odds to win the 2017 World Series. Other division rivals will also be vying for their chance at the championship this coming year, as several teams were able to earn their spots in the playoffs. The Baltimore Orioles started off as a longshot last season but were still able to secure playing time in playoffs. They have the farthest odds of winning the next World Series of any playoff team (+2000), but anything is possible. Toronto has something to prove after losing their World Series spot to the Indians, and the current Toronto Blue Jays betting odds are at +1400. After performing at record lows, the Tampa Bay Rays betting odds are at +6600, the worst of any AL East team.
The Red Sox lost a key player going into the 2017 season with the retirement of David Ortiz. Though some would speculate that morale will be lowered with the loss of designated hitter Big Papi, but the Sox will replace the All-Star with another power hitter. It has yet to be seen whether this will be an internal player or a free agent, however, we know that the Sox will continue to have one of the most fully loaded teams in the division. Mookie Betts is fifth in batting average across MLB, and Rick Porcello leads in baseball wins. The potential seen in the 2017 outlook has created a very favorable early betting preview for the Boston Red Sox. These high expectations are justified in the +800 current betting odds for the Boston Red Sox, coming in at second place for the best odds to win the 2017 World Series.
Baltimore Orioles Betting Outlook
The Baltimore Orioles have major decisions to make when it comes to which players will be re-signed. Pedro Alvarez is one of the biggest home run threats on the team, but there has been much speculation as to if the Orioles will actually reacquire the free agent. Mark Trumbo, who had 47 home runs in the most recent season, and Matt Wieters, one of the top MLB defensive catchers, are two other free agents that the club may not be able to finance come winter. The loss of these players would definitely make a noticeable dent in the team roster, but with the millions of dollars already devoted to other players the team is not left with much of a choice. On the other hand, veteran center fielder Michael Bourn played in 113 games during the regular season and may be expected to make a return to the Orioles in 2017. Going off of the Baltimore Orioles betting preview, the odds are as you might expect them to be. The current 2017 odds for the Baltimore Orioles to win the World Series are at +2000, which ties them with one other team in their division.
New York Yankees Chances of Winning
The New York Yankees made a pivotal move by trading Andrew Miller to the Cleveland Indians for top prospect Clint Frazier and three other minor leaguers. Four-time All-Star Aroldis Chapman was also traded to the Cubs in another four-player deal that brought in fresh talent along with previous players. Shortstop Gleyber Torres and outfielder Clint Frazier were two of the most highly-rated acquisitions from the trades. Other movements include the release of veteran pitcher Nathan Eovaldi who is recovering from Tommy John and flexor tendon surgery. With Eovaldi gone, the Yanks will definitely need to sign a reliever and free agent starting pitcher. It is no secret that the Bronx Bombers have one of the largest payrolls across MLB, meaning that they can devote as much capital to free agents as they see fit. The baseball betting preview of the New York Yankees going into the 2017 season is right on par with what is expected during the regular season. Right now, betting odds for the Yankees to win the 2017 World Series are posted at +2000.
Toronto Blue Jays Current Odds
Going into the previous season, the Toronto Blue Jays were thought to have the same odds as the Chicago Cubs to win the World Series. Though this may not have come to fruition, the current +1400 betting odds for the Blue Jays to win the 2017 World Series are still reflective of their efforts. The betting preview for the Toronto Blue Jays shows that right fielder Jose Bautista is still in free agent status, though he is considered to have been a valuable asset to the team. Free agent Edwin Encarnacion has had 5 years in a row with over 30 home runs per season, making him one of the top power hitters in the American League. Though the absence of these key players will be felt if contracts take them elsewhere, the Blue Jays are still considered one of the most well-rounded clubs in the league. The team has stepped forward and signed a three-year contract with Kendrys Morales, a designated hitter that brings a championship win to the locker room.
Tampa Bay Rays Betting Preview
The Tampa Bay Rays have not had the most promising of seasons, but fans everywhere still are optimistic about the future. All-Star Chris Archer was able to improve his home run rate despite the team having one of their worst seasons in recent years. We should see this increase carry over into the 2017 baseball season. You can expect to see veterans like Evan Longoria, Drew Smyly, and Jake Odorizzi because as it stands the Rays have not made many changes to its core. Longoria has been able to set career highs with 36 homers last season, and this is the kind of momentum that the Rays need to keep up in order to be thought of as contenders. Potential can be seen with shortstop Willy Adames and 1B Casey Gillaspie, both of which are developing in the upper minors. With Tampa Bay coming in 28th in the league for batting average, the team will be looking for a new hitter. The Opening Day payroll for the Rays is substantially lower than others in the league, so we will have to wait and see what moves can be made to improve the team. The Tampa Bay MLB betting preview is showing that the odds are much lower than their division counterparts, with the Tampa Bay Rays betting odds to win the 2017 World Series at +6600.