New York Yankees picked as favorites to win AL East over Toronto Blue Jays
Photo credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Despite the Toronto Blue Jays entering 2026 as the defending American League champions, many analysts-including insiders at ESPN-are leaning toward the New York Yankees to reclaim the AL East crown.
That might come as a surprise, considering how thoroughly the Toronto Blue Jays man-handled the New York Yankees last season.
The Blue Jays got the better of the Yankees in both the regular season and the AL Division Series.
Still, it's worth noting that the two teams finished with identical 94-68 records, highlighting just how close the gap really was.
Toronto came within two outs of winning it all, while New York is largely «running it back.» But is that entirely accurate?
The Yankees actually reshaped their roster significantly throughout last season, especially around the trade deadline.
Several regressing players from the first half-like Marcus Stroman and DJ LeMahieu-are no longer in the picture, and Oswald Peraza struggled mightily before being moved.
According to ESPN's Jorge Castillo, the Yankees enter 2026 as the favorites to win the division.
His reasoning centers on their higher floor over a full 162-game season-particularly if three-time MVP Aaron Judge can stay healthy.
Castillo also points to several potential boosts for New York, including Gerrit Cole's expected return, continued development from Ben Rice, and the possibility that flamethrower Carlos Lagrange could make an impact with his 102 mph fastball.
The Blue Jays are facing a different kind of challenge in 2026
After an aggressive offseason that included the addition of Dylan Cease, Toronto is relying on a number of moving parts to come together.
Early concerns have already emerged, with injuries affecting Anthony Santander and three members of the pitching rotation.
The departure of Bo Bichette also looms large-perhaps more than many anticipated.
Replacing his production won't be simple, and it places added pressure on several players to step up.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is expected to carry much of that load. While he was dominant during last year's postseason run, he started slowly in the 2025 regular season.
This time around, the Blue Jays will need him to produce at an MVP level from the outset.
Toronto is also counting on newcomer Kazuma Okamoto and a full season from Addison Barger to help offset Bichette's offensive output.
A healthy Daulton Varsho, entering a contract year, is another key piece expected to elevate his game.
In addition, players like Alejandro Kirk, George Springer, and Ernie Clement are coming off career seasons.
Replicating that level of production will be critical-because if even one or two of them regress, it could significantly impact Toronto's chances of repeating as division champions.
With both teams presenting compelling cases, the AL East race in 2026 is shaping up to be another tight battle.
So, who has the edge-the Blue Jays or the Yankees?
Have your say in the poll below.
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MARS 25|164 ANSWERS New York Yankees picked as favorites to win AL East over Toronto Blue Jays Who do you think has a better chance to win the AL East in 2026? | ||