Rays get Guardians in ALCS, AL East roundup

The AL East had a quiet day on the field with no games played, but there was plenty of movement off it, from the Rays’ next playoff opponent being set to renewed scrutiny of long-term deals in Baltimore and the Bronx.

Rays locked in to ALCS matchup with Guardians

CBS Sports reports that the Cleveland Guardians punched their ticket to the American League Championship Series by winning Game 5 against the Chicago White Sox. Gavin Williams shut down Chicago’s lineup and José Ramírez supplied all the offense Cleveland needed, according to CBS Sports. That result finalizes the matchup for the ALCS: the Guardians will take on the AL East–champion Tampa Bay Rays, who finished the regular season 98-64.

As Tampa Bay gears up, MLB Trade Rumors highlights how the Rays assembled key pieces for this ALCS run. The outlet notes that Bryan Baker, Kevin Kelly, Victor Mesa Jr., Liam Hicks, and Nick Martinez all played major roles in Tampa Bay’s push to the league championship series, and details the process the Rays used to identify and acquire those players. It’s another example of how Tampa Bay’s front office continues to lean on scouting and acquisition savvy to build depth around its core.

Orioles’ rotation bets under the microscope

In Baltimore (79-82), MLB Trade Rumors asks whether the Orioles extended the right pitchers. The club signed two starters to long-term deals this year: a five-year, $68MM extension with Shane Baz agreed to shortly before Opening Day, keeping him under contract through 2030, and a five-year, $90MM extension for Kyle Bradish that came together around the All-Star break. Those commitments are now being evaluated as key tests of the Orioles’ projection and risk tolerance with their rotation.

Yankees weighing Stanton’s future

For the New York Yankees (93-68), MLB Trade Rumors explores whether the club could move on from Giancarlo Stanton. The outlet notes that Aaron Judge and Clarke Schmidt are the only current Yankees who have been in the organization longer than Stanton, who has now spent nine seasons in the Bronx after arriving from the Miami Marlins in a three-player trade in December 2017. MLB Trade Rumors frames Stanton’s situation as a major decision point in the Yankees’ roster planning.

Elsewhere in MLB Trade Rumors’ notes, the Boston Red Sox (87-75) and Rays get mentions, along with a historical nod to the St. Louis Cardinals’ first championship 100 years ago, when a caught-stealing play involving Babe Ruth and catcher Bob O’Farrell ended the World Series against the Yankees.