AL East Power Rankings with Aaron Judge back in the picture

By Tim Boyle | Dec 7, 2022

TORONTO, ON - SEPTEMBER 28: Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees runs out his 61st home run of the season in the seventh inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on September 28, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Judge has now tied Roger Maris for the American League record. (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images) /

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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 22: Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees looks on from the dugout during the fifth inning against the Houston Astros in game three of the American League Championship Series at Yankee Stadium on October 22, 2022 in New York City. AL East Power Rankings (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

The AL East Power Rankings with Aaron Judge back on the New York Yankees roster.

Aaron Judge won’t be leaving the AL East just yet. Maybe in the twilight of his career he ends up playing for his hometown San Francisco Giants. For now, he’ll stay with the New York Yankees. What does this major decision do for the AL East Power Rankings?

The AL East has long been one of the best divisions in baseball. There was even a point in 2022 when all five teams were a viable playoff contender until the Boston Red Sox faded in the latter part of the summer.

There is still a lot of offseason left to go. In the meantime, here’s how the AL East Power Rankings stuck up with Judge back on the Yankees and four other teams looking to get better, too.

5) AL East Power Rankings: Boston Red Sox

It’s strange to see the Boston Red Sox this low on the AL East Power Rankings, especially when they aren’t exactly in rebuild mode. The team should be looking to reunite with shortstop Xander Bogaerts. They have added Kenley Jansen to their bullpen which suggests they could indeed bring Bogaerts back. Jansen is a win now type of addition.

Last year’s BoSox finished 78-84 and 21 games out of first place in the division. It was a tale of three teams. They struggled in the beginning, played great baseball in the middle, and then fell back to their losing ways later on.

The Red Sox have a ton of questions on their roster yet remain a competent baseball club. They may be last in the AL East Power Rankings right now. However, they are likely the best of the last-place teams in any division. That should at least earn them a participation trophy of some kind.

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