Yankees' Boone excited to battle 'formidable' Orioles

The Baltimore Orioles shocked the baseball world in 2023, winning 101 games and claiming their first AL East title since 2014.

New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Saturday that the Orioles are primed to have another strong season in 2024, but he's eagerly anticipating the challenge.

"I think they'll be really good again," Boone said, according to Greg Joyce of the New York Post. "Looking forward to that challenge. Obviously, they've come fully out of their rebuild and established a really good young core of players.

"It's the American League East. You always look forward to going up against the best, but certainly, they are formidable."

The Orioles added 2021 NL Cy Young winner Corbin Burnes and nine-time All-Star closer Craig Kimbrel in the offseason.

New York went 6-7 against Baltimore last season and 22-30 overall against the AL East.

The Yankees and Orioles open their season series with a four-game set in Baltimore beginning April 29.