MLB 2022 preview: The Blue Jays, American League power rankings and the best players

The East Division, as usual, is a beast for 2022. Perhaps more beastly than any year in recent memory, with only the perpetually-rebuilding Orioles able to make their October tee times before Opening Day.

That said, two new ballpark factors could help tip the balance of power in this ultra-competitive division. The Orioles made their Camden Yards bandbox significantly more pitcher-friendly, pushing back the leftfield wall another 30 feet and raising its height by six feet. While that won’t keep Baltimore out of the basement, whichever East masher best conquers that ballpark adjustment -- and feasts on the O’s -- could wind up with the deciding edge in the division.

The other home-field advantage has the possibility of being even more profound, but less permanent, and that belongs to the East favorite Blue Jays, as Canada currently does not allow unvaccinated visitors to cross the border. While there is no way of knowing the extent of that unique impact on Toronto’s opponents at Rogers Centre -- or at least until a team reaches that point of the schedule -- it’s a safe bet that a number of high-profile players could still be unable to participate in those games.

Because of that law, at least in part, the Red Sox got a bump in vaccinations ahead of their late-April trip to Toronto, with Xander Bogaerts announcing this spring he got the jab, along with Kevin Plawecki. “At the end of the day, I want to be here for the guys,” the catcher told reporters.

Not that the loaded Jays need any help this season after losing out to the Yankees for the second wild-card berth by just one game a year ago. Despite the notable losses of Marcus Semien, Robbie Ray and Steven Matz, they found some solid replacements in Matt Chapman, Kevin Gausman and Yusei Kikuchi.

As for the Rays, the back-to-back East champs, their biggest free-agent headline this winter being linked to Freddie Freeman, who of course wound up in LA. But Tampa Bay did lock up its young superstar shortstop Wander Franco with an 11-year deal worth $182-million before the lockout hit, and still has plenty around him to make a run for a third straight title.

Over in the Central, it’s looking like the White Sox’s division to lose, especially with centerfielder Luis Robert in the lineup for more than the 68 games (13 HRs, .946 OPS) he was limited to a year ago by a torn hip flexor. Pitching-wise, Carlos Rodon is a big subtraction, but the South Siders still have their fearsome bullpen intact, with the addition of Joe Kelly on a two-year, $17-million deal.

As surprising as it was for Carlos Correa to join Gio Urshela and Gary Sanchez with the Twins in late March on that low-commitment three-year, $105.3-million contract, people forget that it was the Tigers who made him a reported 10-year, $275-million offer before the Dec. 2 lockout. Detroit pivoted to the ex-Met Javier Baez (6 yrs., $140M) for its shortstop needs, and with AJ Hinch starting his second season, hope is starting to materialize in Motown.

Cleveland has a $49-million payroll, putting the team in MLB’s bottom three, which makes the new Guardians a fitting name -- they’re protecting their checkbook rather than spending to support Shane Bieber and Jose Ramirez. The Royals welcome back Zack Greinke, who was KC’s sixth overall pick in the 2002 draft and traded away to the Brewers nearly a dozen years ago.

The West has belonged to the Astros four of the last five seasons and they’ve won the pennant three of those pennants. The buzz (er) in Houston this year is the return of Justin Verlander from Tommy John surgery, as well as eight of the team’s nine regular position players (minus Correa) coming back, so the 'Stros will be hard to topple yet again.

As for the A’s, their usual challengers, that ain’t happening. Not after a fire sale that shipped out Matt Olson, Matt Chapman and Chris Bassit -- with Sean Manaea and Frankie Montas potentially on the block sooner rather than later. The Mariners haven’t been to the playoffs since 2001 (116 wins, ALCS exit) and qualified only four times in 44 seasons, but this could be a legit chance with the addition of free-agent Ray from the Blue Jays along with the March trade for All-Stars Eugenio Suarez and Jesse Winker.

The new “Shohei Ohtani Rule” -- allowing the two-way player to stay at DH after his removal at pitcher -- should be a big benefit to the Angels, who finally will get Mike Trout back after he was sidelined May 17 with a right calf strain. Remember Noah Syndergaard? Thor took his hammer to SoCal, where he’ll see to parlay his one-year, $21-million deal into a longer-term contract.

AL Power Rankings

1. Blue Jays

2. Rays

3. White Sox

4. Yankees

5. Astros

6. Red Sox

7. Mariners

8. Angels

9. Guardians

10. A’s

11. Tigers

12. Rangers

13. Twins

14. Royals

15. Orioles

Best of the best in the AL

1. Shohei Ohtani, Angels: “Best” can be a subjective term. But a rotation ace who can make 23 starts with a 3.18 ERA and 10.8 K/9, then also hit 46 home runs with a .965 OPS, is just playing in a different league. What Ohtani does is unmatched since Babe Ruth, and with the new rule allowing him to stay at DH after being removed as a pitcher, he’ll be even more dangerous.

2. Mike Trout, Angels: Trout didn’t play after May 15 last season because of a right calf strain, but that doesn’t change the fact that he’s the only player in history with 300 homers, 200 stolen bases and a .300/.400/.500 slash line a decade after debut.

3. Vladimir Guerrero, Jr., Blue Jays: Only 22, if not for Ohtani’s two-way prowess, he’d have the ’21 MVP trophy after leading the AL in just about every offensive category (48 HRs, .401 OBP, .601 SLG). He also played 161 games.

4. Jose Ramirez, Guardians: With Cleveland’s thrifty ways, Ramirez could soon end up on a contending team deserving of his MVP-caliber services. In the last five years, he’s placed second, third (twice) and sixth in voting for the award.

5. Aaron Judge, Yankees: If Judge continues to stay healthy as he did a year ago playing 148 games, he gets even more valuable. Adding centerfield to his resume, as he was able to last season, is another big plus.

Best manager: Alex Cora, Red Sox

Best GM: Erik Neander, Rays

Best leadoff hitter: DJ LeMahieu, Yankees

Best power: Vladimir Guerreo Jr., Blue Jays

Best in the clutch: J.D. Martinez, Red Sox

Best baserunner: Whit Merrifield, Royals

Most exciting: Shohei Ohtani, Angels

Best infielder: Matt Chapman, Blue Jays

Best infield arm: Javier Baez, Tigers

Best outfielder: Kyle Tucker, Astros

Best outfield arm: Ramon Laureano, A’s

Best catcher: Salvador Perez, Royals

Best catcher arm: Christian Vazquez, Red Sox

Best starting pitcher: Gerrit Cole, Yankees

Best setup man: Jonathan Loaisiga, Yankees

Best closer: Liam Hendriks, White Sox

Rookie to watch: Bobby Witt Jr., Royals

Best home uniforms: Athletics

Best stadium: Fenway Park

Best mascot: The Oriole Bird

By David Lennon

dave.lennon@newsday.comDPLennon

David Lennon is an award-winning columnist, a voter for baseball's Hall of Fame and has covered six no-hitters, including two perfect games.