Toronto Blue Jays President and CEO Mark Shapiro didn’t hold back when asked about the state of the American League East - and in particular, the rise of a familiar rival. According to Shapiro, the Boston Red Sox might just be the team to watch over the next half-decade.
“Boston is probably positioned as well as any team in all of Major League Baseball,” Shapiro said during a recent appearance on MLB Network Radio. “I don’t know if there is a team that is positioned for the next five years better than the Boston Red Sox with young talent and flexibility.”
That’s high praise coming from the head of a division rival, especially considering the Red Sox have been steadily reshaping their roster with a blend of youth and savvy veteran additions. This offseason, Boston bolstered its rotation by adding Sonny Gray and Johan Oviedo - two arms that bring both stability and upside to a pitching staff that needed depth.
But the real intrigue lies in the young core that Boston is building around. Roman Anthony, Marcelo Mayer, and Cedanne Rafaela are names Red Sox fans have been buzzing about for some time, and now they’re starting to make their presence felt. Add Garrett Crochet at the top of the rotation as the team’s emerging ace, and you can start to see why Shapiro - a longtime executive with a sharp eye for roster construction - is so bullish on Boston’s future.
This isn’t just about potential, though. The Red Sox reached the postseason last year, and they’re not just trying to make another run - they’re setting themselves up to be a consistent force in the AL. The combination of young, controllable talent and financial flexibility gives them room to maneuver, whether that means adding at the deadline or locking up key pieces long term.
Shapiro’s comments weren’t limited to Boston, either. He acknowledged what many around the league already suspect: the AL East is shaping up to be a gauntlet.
“We already knew Baltimore was going to be better than they were last year,” Shapiro said. “All you have to do is look at them in the second half. They clearly have gotten better with Taylor Ward, with Shane Baz, and others.”
Baltimore’s second-half surge in 2025 didn’t go unnoticed, and their offseason additions suggest they’re not content with just being competitive - they’re aiming to contend. Taylor Ward brings a steady bat, and Shane Baz, if healthy, offers frontline potential. It’s a signal that the Orioles are serious about building on their momentum.
And they’re not alone. Shapiro pointed to the Yankees and Rays as teams that are always lurking.
“The Yankees are clearly, you know, they are not done,” he said. “Tampa is going to be better; they are never bad, they are going to be better.”
That’s the nature of the AL East - no easy nights, no guaranteed wins. Every team in the division is either building or reloading, and the margin for error is razor-thin.
For the Blue Jays, that means staying sharp and continuing to evolve. For the Red Sox, it means capitalizing on a rare moment where a young core is aligning with a front office willing to make bold moves.
It’s not often you hear a division rival speak so openly - and respectfully - about another team’s trajectory. But when a veteran executive like Shapiro gives a nod to what Boston is building, it’s worth paying attention. The Red Sox might not be the consensus favorite just yet, but in a loaded division, they’re making a strong case to be taken seriously - not just this year, but for years to come.