Each MLB team's best roster last 25 years: AL East
We've reached the quarter mark of the 2000s. To celebrate, theScore's MLB editors constructed each organization's best 26-man roster from the last 25 seasons. We begin with the AL East and will continue with a new division daily throughout the week.
Most important player: Adam Jones. The outfielder was a key piece of the Orioles' resurgence, helping the organization snap a 14-year postseason drought in 2012 and win an AL East title in 2014 (Baltimore's first since 1997). Jones won four Gold Gloves over a six-year span while leading all Orioles in games played, home runs, runs, RBIs, and fWAR this century.
Best pitcher: Zack Britton. The left-hander was converted to a reliever in 2014 after three underwhelming seasons as a starter. The decision changed the trajectory of Britton's career as he posted a 1.38 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, and 120 saves over the next three seasons.
Most underrated: Nick Markakis. The outfielder didn't make an All-Star team during his nine seasons in Baltimore but was a key contributor to the team's success. Markakis won two Gold Gloves, had two 100-plus RBI seasons, and appeared in at least 155 games seven times.
Best acquisition: Adam Jones. Baltimore landed Jones as part of a five-player package (Chris Tillman, Tony Butler, Kam Mickolio, George Sherrill) for Bedard after he'd only appeared in 73 games with Seattle. Jones was the young player the Orioles needed to build around.
Best homegrown player: Manny Machado. It's very likely Henderson becomes the answer to this question in the future, but he's still got a ways to go to match Machado's accomplishments. Machado was a four-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glove winner, and he finished top five in MVP voting twice.
Toughest omission: Trey Mancini. With Chris Davis at first base and a crowded outfield, Mancini gets squeezed off our roster. He's hit the seventh-most homers for the club this century while playing 701 games. Mancini missed the entire 2020 season after being diagnosed with colon cancer, only to return the following year to hit 21 homers.
Most important player: David Ortiz. The fortunes of the Red Sox changed when Ortiz signed in 2003. He won three World Series titles (2004, 2007, 2013), was a 10-time All-Star and first-ballot Hall of Famer, and he sits second all time in franchise history in home runs.
Best pitcher: Pedro Martinez. While Ortiz changed things offensively, Martinez was the catalyst for the pitching staff. Martinez won the 2000 AL Cy Young and finished top four three other times this century. He was also part of the 2004 World Series team.
Most underrated: Chris Sale. The countless injuries in the later years of Sale's contract put a damper on his Boston tenure, but he was one of the most dominant pitchers in franchise history when healthy. Sale also closed out the 2018 World Series.
Best acquisition: David Ortiz. The Red Sox first signed Ortiz to a non-guaranteed deal in 2003 that ended up paying him $1.25 million.
Best homegrown player: Mookie Betts. Betts developed into a superstar in Boston after Pedroia's presence forced him to move to the outfield. He was a four-time All-Star and four-time Gold Glove winner with the Red Sox while winning the 2018 AL MVP and helping the franchise win the World Series.
Toughest omission: Tim Wakefield. The heartbeat of the Red Sox, Wakefield's thrown the most innings in franchise history. He bounced around between the rotation and bullpen, pitching wherever needed, and he was part of two World Series-winning teams. He made his first and only All-Star Game at age 42.
Most important player: Derek Jeter. The Captain was the face of the Yankees during his tenure, winning two World Series this century and being named to 12 All-Star teams while claiming five Gold Gloves over that span.
Best pitcher: Mariano Rivera. You have to be pretty special to be the first player to be unanimously voted into the Hall of Fame. That was Rivera, arguably the most dominant reliever in MLB history. He converted 523 of 569 (92%) save opportunities this century.
Most underrated: Brett Gardner. The 109th pick in the 2005 draft, Gardner ranks second behind Jeter in games played this century and fourth in fWAR.
Best acquisition: Alex Rodriguez. It wasn't always the most harmonious relationship, but the Yankees' 2004 trade sending Alfonso Soriano to the Rangers for Rodriguez turned out incredibly well for New York. A-Rod claimed the 2005 and 2007 AL MVP while also winning the World Series in 2009.
Best homegrown player: Aaron Judge. While Jeter has the rings, Judge has been an elite offensive performer since breaking into the majors in 2016. Not only has Judge won two AL MVPs, but he's also third all time in franchise history in OPS behind Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig.
Toughest omission: Masahiro Tanaka. The Japanese right-hander produced better numbers than Pettitte, but it was too difficult to exclude Pettitte given his workload. Tanaka was a two-time All-Star in New York, and he ranks third in WHIP and fourth in ERA among the team's qualified starters this century.
Most important player: Evan Longoria. The third baseman sits atop the franchise leaderboard in almost every major category: games played, home runs, runs, RBIs, and fWAR. Longoria's AL Rookie of the Year-winning season coincided with Tampa Bay's first postseason appearance and World Series run.
Best pitcher: David Price. One year after taking Longoria third overall, the Rays landed Price with the first pick in the 2007 draft. Price is the first player in Tampa Bay's history to win a Cy Young award and still ranks second in franchise history in wins, innings pitched, ERA, and fWAR.
Most underrated: Carlos Pena. The first baseman broke out with the Rays and ranks second in franchise history in homers. Pena only made one All-Star team during his four seasons in Tampa despite twice finishing in the top 10 in MVP voting.
Best acquisition: Randy Arozarena. The Rays have had an enviable talent for identifying other organizations' underachieving players and turning them into stars, especially in recent years. Arozarena won ALCS MVP in 2020 and Rookie of the Year in 2021 after being acquired from St. Louis for a package that featured Matthew Liberatore.
Best homegrown player: Price and Longoria. Tampa Bay hasn't been great at drafting and developing its own players - especially position players - but the organization nailed its high picks in Price and Longoria, who became cornerstones of the organization.
Toughest omission: Tyler Glasnow. There's an argument to be made that Glasnow's the most talented pitcher in franchise history, but he just couldn't stay healthy enough with Tampa Bay. He ranks first in K/9 and WHIP, third in ERA, and sixth in fWAR among the Rays' qualified starters this century despite throwing only 388 1/3 innings.
Most important player: José Bautista. Not much was expected when the journeyman was acquired in a small deal in 2008, but he broke out with a shock 54-homer campaign the following year and became one of the most feared hitters in MLB over the next six seasons. While Delgado sits ahead of Bautista atop the franchise leaderboards, Joey Bats was the face of a new era.
Best pitcher: Roy Halladay. It's a shame Halladay never pitched a playoff game for Toronto. He was the 2003 AL Cy Young winner and finished top five in voting four other times with the Blue Jays. He's thrown 1,059 more innings than the next-closest pitcher for the franchise this century, and his 47.8 fWAR is more than the next three pitchers combined.
Most underrated: Carlos Delgado. You can find Delgado's name on the Blue Jays' Level of Excellence, but it doesn't feel like he received the recognition he deserved league-wide. Delgado posted five straight seasons with at least 32 homers and 99 RBIs this century with the Blue Jays. He also posted a .997 OPS over those 756 games. Despite this, he was only an All-Star twice.
Best acquisition: Josh Donaldson. The Bautista trade was a game-changer for the organization, though the deal that brought in Donaldson from Oakland forged the best roster this century for the franchise. Donaldson became just the second player in team history to win AL MVP in his first season in Toronto and finished fourth the following campaign. Donaldson's arrival coincided with the Blue Jays snapping a 22-year playoff drought and back-to-back ALCS appearances.
Best homegrown player: Roy Halladay. The 17th pick in 1995 leads all pitchers in fWAR from that draft class and is second among all players behind only Carlos Beltrán.
Toughest omission: Justin Smoak. It was hard enough having Guerrero on the bench, so finding a way to squeeze in another first baseman in Smoak wasn't possible. The slugger blasted 117 homers - the eighth most for the franchise this century - while posting a 114 wRC+ and .796 OPS across 684 games.