Position Battles - AL East

We have almost reached the height of draft season and there is so much around the league that remains uncertain. Position battles are afoot and with the WBC taking center stage (and many of the top players away from their rosters) it further muddies the waters for playing time.

This week, the Dynasty Team will be looking into one position battle per team and try to identify some players you need to be prioritizing in your dynasty leagues. Paying attention to roster trends and news items is key this time of year to get a leg up on your competition.

First up, the AL East! Kyle Sonntag (@sonny_108) gives his insight into how he sees some important roster battles shaking out.

Baltimore Orioles - LF/CF/RF

Colton Cowser looks to grab the CF job this spring (Photo Credit:

The Orioles have made a number of moves this offseason, and while they have inarguably become a better team because of it, they have also created an even bigger logjam on the offensive side of the ball than before. They brought in Pete Alonso to play 1B and while nobody is going to challenge him for that job it has created an interesting dynamic at the DH position where Ryan Mountcastle is now likely to see most of his ABs, though he’s only tabbed as a short side platoon bat at the moment because the tandem of Adley Rutschman and Samuel Basallo will likely be splitting time between catcher and DH.

Then we get to the real battle, the outfield. Roster Resource currently lists Taylor Ward as the everyday left fielder, and given his ability to slug either hand of pitcher, that will likely be the case, at least in the early days of the season. Then we’ve got Dylan Beavers listed as the starting right fielder and Colton Cowser listed as the starting center fielder; both are listed on the strong side of a platoon, with Jeremiah Jackson and Tyler O’Neill expected to fill the short-side roles. That leaves their fourth bench spot to…you guessed it, another outfielder in Leody Tavares. That’s already six outfielders for three positions and we haven’t even mentioned Heston Kjerstad, who seems destined for another trip back to Norfolk, or the plethora of non-roster spring invitees, several of which (Ryan Noda, Jose Barrero, Jhonkensy Noel, Will Robertson, and Weston Wilson) already have big league experience, as well as others who could realistically make their big league debuts in 2026 (Enrique Bradfield Jr. and Jud Fabian).

The most likely outcome is exactly what Roster Resource currently notes with Ward, Cowser, and Beavers covering the grass from left to right. Ward should be locked into his everyday role early on, but 2025’s 36 HR campaign was an outlier season for him in many ways, so if he takes a step back, his relative difficulties hitting for average against right-handed pitching could open an opportunity for names further down the pecking order. Cowser has shown strong defense and intriguing power/speed potential, but if he continues to hit below .200, then Bradfield Jr. will be waiting in the wings. He offers similarly strong defense, and although he lacks the same power potential, he does possess a much more highly thought-of hit tool and double-plus speed. Of the starting three, Beavers has the least experience at the big league level, but given his well-rounded skillset and strong minor league track record he might be the most likely to hold down at least the role Roster Resource currently has him projected for or even improve his playing time as the season wears on.

You likely don’t need to pay much attention to the NRIs with previous big league experience, and Fabian has had trouble making enough contact to take advantage of his tools, but Kjerstad could see his way into another big league opportunity, and Bradfield Jr. could be ready for his debut after some further seasoning in Triple-A. The construction of this outfield will be fluid throughout the season, but barring injury, we at least know what things should look like to start the year.

Boston Red Sox - #5 Rotation Spot

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