The MLB offseason is rolling along, and while it hasn’t exactly been a whirlwind of blockbuster deals, the AL East has quietly become the epicenter of activity. From big-name acquisitions to savvy positional upgrades, these five teams are making moves - and first base has become one of the more intriguing battlegrounds in the division.
For the Toronto Blue Jays, the outlook is promising. They’re coming off a deep postseason run and have bolstered a roster that came within striking distance of a championship.
But as the calendar inches toward 2026, the rest of the division isn’t standing still - especially when it comes to first base. Let’s break down how Toronto stacks up at the position compared to their AL East rivals.
5. Ben Rice - New York Yankees
The Yankees have been searching for long-term stability at first base for a while now, and Ben Rice is the latest to step into the spotlight. The 25-year-old showed flashes of serious potential last season, slashing .255/.337/.499 with 26 homers and 65 RBIs across 138 games. He split his time between DH, first base, and catcher - and that versatility is no small asset in today’s game.
Rice even delivered a postseason moment to remember, homering on the very first pitch he saw in October. That’s the kind of flair that can win over a Bronx crowd quickly.
But the big question is consistency. Can he replicate - or even build on - that production over a full season while handling the pressure cooker that is New York?
The tools are there. He’s got pop, plate discipline, and defensive flexibility. But until he proves it over 162, he slots in at the bottom of the division’s first base rankings.
4. Willson Contreras - Boston Red Sox
Boston took a creative route to address first base, swinging a trade with the Cardinals to bring in veteran Willson Contreras. It’s a notable shift for a player who spent most of his career behind the plate, but the Red Sox are betting on his bat translating to his new position.
Contreras hit .257/.344/.447 with 20 home runs and 80 RBIs last season, good for a .791 OPS. That’s solid production, and with Triston Casas still rehabbing from a serious knee injury, Contreras gives the Sox a stable bridge - and maybe more.
There’s some risk here. Contreras is still adjusting to the defensive demands at first base, and it’s unclear how much range or reliability he’ll bring on that side of the ball.
But offensively, he’s a proven commodity. Boston had its eyes on Pete Alonso before he landed elsewhere, but Contreras is a respectable fallback who can keep the lineup competitive.
3. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. - Toronto Blue Jays
Now we get to the heart of the conversation - and for Blue Jays fans, this is where things start to get fun.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. reminded everyone why he’s the face of the franchise in 2025. He posted a .292/.381/.467 slash line with 23 homers and 84 RBIs, earned his fifth All-Star nod, and - maybe most importantly - finally delivered in October. His ALCS MVP performance erased any lingering doubts about his postseason chops.
No, it wasn’t quite the jaw-dropping 48-homer campaign from 2021, but this version of Vladdy is more complete. He’s matured as a hitter, cut down on bad swings, and become a more reliable run producer. And at just 26, there’s still room for him to level up even further.
If Guerrero can maintain this balance of power and plate discipline, the Blue Jays are in excellent shape at first base - not just for 2026, but for years to come.
2. Jonathan Aranda - Tampa Bay Rays
Don’t sleep on Jonathan Aranda.
The 27-year-old quietly emerged as one of the most productive first basemen in the league last season, slashing .316/.393/.489 over 106 games. He started 86 of those at first base and added 10 more as a DH, giving the Rays a steady left-handed bat with sneaky pop and elite contact skills.
Aranda’s breakout was briefly interrupted by a wrist injury in late July, but he returned for a short stint at the end of the season - and promptly homered in his first at-bat back. That kind of instant impact speaks volumes about his feel for the game.
He’s not the prototypical slugging first baseman, but Aranda’s bat-to-ball skills and on-base ability make him a nightmare matchup, especially in a Rays lineup that thrives on versatility and matchup exploitation. If he stays healthy, he could be a thorn in the side of every AL East pitching staff - including Toronto’s.
Yandy Díaz remains a potential power option at the position as well, assuming the Rays don’t move him this winter. But Aranda looks like the guy going forward.
1. Pete Alonso - Baltimore Orioles
There’s no debate at the top.
The Orioles made the loudest move of the offseason by landing Pete Alonso on a five-year, $155 million deal - and it’s hard to overstate what that means for a team that desperately needed a middle-of-the-order hammer.
Alonso’s 162-game average includes 42 homers, and he’s hit the fourth-most home runs in the league since 2021. That’s elite, and now he’s playing half his games at Camden Yards, a park that’s far more hitter-friendly than Citi Field.
Baltimore struggled to generate consistent power last season, finishing 75-87 with underwhelming production at first base. Alonso doesn’t just solve that problem - he transforms the lineup. Pitchers in the division now have to game-plan around his bat, and that changes everything for the Orioles' offensive identity.
He’s the best first baseman in the AL East right now, and it’s not particularly close.
The Bottom Line
The AL East is shaping up to be a slugfest in 2026, and first base is one of the key battlegrounds. Toronto’s in a good spot with Guerrero Jr., who’s entering his prime and finally putting it all together when it matters most.
But the competition is fierce. Alonso brings superstar power to Baltimore, Aranda is blossoming into a high-contact machine in Tampa, and both Boston and New York have intriguing - if unproven - options.
The offseason isn’t over yet, but one thing’s clear: if the Blue Jays want to keep pace in this division, they’ll need Vladdy to keep being Vladdy - and maybe even take it up another notch.