AL East report cards: Grading offseason moves

With spring training fast approaching, theScore's MLB editors hand out their offseason grades for each division. We continue with the American League East.

NL EAST I NL CENTRAL I AL CENTRAL I NL WEST I AL WEST

The AL East may not have produced the champion of the league since the Boston Red Sox appeared in the 2013 World Series, but the division is still considered one of the toughest to play in across baseball.

Boston, Toronto, and Baltimore all made the postseason in 2016 and have the star power to repeat as postseason teams, while the New York Yankees' budding youth movement and Tampa Bay Rays' starting pitching could make them factors in the race for a division crown.

Let's take a look at the offseason of each team, and grade the respective moves made by each organization's front office.

Baltimore Orioles

Trades: 2
Signings: 2
Money spent on FA: $43.5 million
Projected 2017 payroll: $150,962,115
2016 Record: 89-73 (T-2nd)

Key Arrivals: Welington Castillo (FA), Seth Smith (trade), Mark Trumbo (FA), Logan Verrett (trade)

Key Minor-League Signings: Chris Dickerson, Johnny Giavotella, Jesus Montero, Tomo Ohka, Logan Schafer

Key Departures: Pedro Alvarez (FA), Michael Bourn (FA), Brian Duensing (CHC), Yovani Gallardo (SEA), Tommy Hunter (FA), Steve Pearce (TOR), Nolan Reimold (FA), Drew Stubbs (FA), Matt Wieters (FA), Vance Worley (WSH)

Takeaway: Trumbo is back, and the bullpen should be great once again, but the Orioles' lack of starting pitching may keep them from claiming a division crown.

Grade: C

Boston Red Sox

Trades: 3
Signings: 1
Money spent on FA: $5.5 million
Projected 2017 payroll: $189,981,429
2016 Record: 93-69 (1st)

Key Arrivals: Mitch Moreland (FA), Josh Rutledge (Rule 5), Chris Sale (trade), Tyler Thornburg (trade)

Key Minor-League Signings: Brian Bogusevic, Matt Dominguez, Kyle Kendrick, Junior Lake, Steve Selsky

Key Departures: Clay Buchholz (PHI), David Ortiz (Retired), Ryan Hanigan (PHI), Aaron Hill (FA), Bryan Holaday (PHI), Yoan Moncada (CWS), Travis Shaw (MIL), Junichi Tazawa (MIA), Koji Uehara (CHC), Brad Ziegler (MIA)

Takeaway: Adding Sale gives one of the best offensive teams in baseball a dominant front three in the rotation, to go along with what should be a great bullpen after trading for Thornburg.

Grade: A

New York Yankees

Trades: 3
Signings: 2
Money spent on FA: $99 million
Projected 2017 payroll: $184,370,000
2016 Record: 84-78 (4th)

Key Arrivals: Aroldis Chapman (FA), Matt Holliday (FA)

Key Minor-League Signings: Wilkin Castillo, Ji-Man Choi, Jason Gurka, Ruben Tejada, Nick Rumbelow, Donovan Solano

Key Departures: Dustin Ackley (LAA), Billy Butler (FA), Nathan Eovaldi (FA), Nick Goody (CLE), Brian McCann (HOU), James Pazos (SEA), Alex Rodriguez (FA), Mark Teixeira (Retired)

Takeaway: The Yankees didn't make a lot of moves, but adding the best closer in the game, Chapman, and a seasoned veteran in Holliday gives the youth movement in New York some fantastic support.

Grade: B-

Tampa Bay Rays

Trades: 4
Signings: 4
Money spent on FA: $21 million
Projected 2017 payroll: $52,258,334
2016 Record: 69-94 (5th)

Key Arrivals: Jose De Leon (trade), Logan Morrison (re-signed), Wilson Ramos (FA), Colby Rasmus (FA), Mallex Smith (trade), Shawn Tolleson (FA)

Key Minor-League Signings: David Carpenter, Dana Eveland, Michael McKenry, Shane Peterson, Cory Rasmus, Rickie Weeks

Key Departures: Jaff Decker (OAK), Logan Forsythe (LAD), Desmond Jennings (CIN), Kevin Jepsen (FA), Mikie Mahtook (DET), Taylor Motter (SEA), Alexei Ramirez (FA), Drew Smyly (SEA), Bobby Wilson (LAD)

Takeaway: Tampa made a number of moves including the additions of Ramos and Rasmus, but the team doesn't look that much different on paper. The season still revolves around how well the Rays' starters pitch.

Grade: C-

Toronto Blue Jays

Trades: 0
Signings: 5
Money spent on FA: $88.5 million
Projected 2017 payroll: $149,745,238
2016 Record: 89-73 (T-2nd)

Key Arrivals: Jose Bautista (FA), Juan Graterol (waivers), Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (FA), J.P. Howell (FA), Kendrys Morales (FA), Steve Pearce (FA), Glenn Sparkman (Rule 5)

Key Minor-League Signings: Jeff Beliveau, Jonathan Diaz, Gavin Floyd, Lucas Harrell, T.J. House, Dominic Leone, Brett Oberholtzer, Gregorio Petit, Jarrod Saltalamacchia

Key Departures: Joaquin Benoit (PHI), Brett Cecil (STL), Chris Colabello (CLE), R.A. Dickey (ATL), Matt Dominguez (BOS), Edwin Encarnacion (CLE), Scott Feldman (CIN), Junior Lake (BOS), Dioner Navarro (FA), Michael Saunders (PHI)

Takeaway: Re-signing "Joey Bats" will keep the fan base happy, but the loss of Encarnacion's production is a big one that Morales and Pearce may not be able to replicate.

Grade: C