Previewing the AL East: Toronto Blue Jays

Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty ImagesThe Blue Jays finished last season 16 games below .500 at 73-89 — good for fourth place in the AL East — with the Orioles acting as the only buffer between them and the division cellar. As far as run differential in 2018, the Blue Jays were in the red (-123).

Since last year, Toronto has slashed its payroll by roughly $44 million, from about $150 million last year to about $106 million this year, according to Spotrac. They also cut ties with manager John Gibbons at the end of the 2018 season after six years running the ship, which doesn’t include the four years he managed the club from 2004-2008.

Expectations don’t seem to be that high this year, seeing as the…