A look at the rest of the AL East as offseason gets underway

What are the Red Sox' divisional rivals up to as the Hot Stove season heats up? Here's a primer:

BALTIMORE ORIOLES:  The Orioles need starting pitching – and lots of it. They appear to be focused on two free agent options: Lance Lynn and Alex Cobb.  Cobb would seem to appeal more to them, since he’s already been tested in the A.L. East cauldron.

But the Orioles will be dealing with several obstacles in attempting to attract free agent pitchers. One is their ballpark, a hitter’s haven. The other is that the Orioles have traditionally taken a very hard line on medicals, finding physical red flags on prospective acquisitions that other franchises dismiss or are willing to overlook.

There’s also the matter of their two free agents for next winter: third baseman Manny Machado and closer Zach Britton. It’s clear that they’re going to attempt to keep Machado, but Britton could be moved. (The O’s were deep in talks with the Astros at last July’s trade deadline before a deal collapsed).

Clearly, the O’s have to do something to improve their rotation. Their starters ranked dead last in all of baseball last season with a 5.70 ERA.

NEW YORK YANKEES:  First on the Yankees’ to-do list is hiring a manager. They got a late start on that process when they went to Game 7 of the ALCS, then fired Joe Girardi. To date, five candidates have interviewed (Rob Thomson, Aaron Boone, Eric Wedge, Chris Woodward and Hensley Meulens). It’s expected that a final decision will come before the end of the month.

The Yankees have expressed a strong desire to get under the CBT threshold ($197 million) in order to reset their luxury tax, perhaps in anticipation of next year’s huge free agent class. As such, they don’t appear to be in ‘’spend’’ mode this winter.

They’ll be in strong on free agent pitcher/slugger Shoehi Ohtani and, particularly if they miss out on him, will try to bring back free agent CC Sabathia.

They’d love someone to take Jacoby Ellsbury off their hands, which would give them some financial flexibility, with which they could add some corner infield depth.

TAMPA BAY RAYS: Who’s available for trade from the Rays’ roster? How about we make the list shorter and ask: Who’s not available?

After another losing season, their fourth in a row, the Rays find themselves at something of a crossroads. With no new ballpark on the horizon, they’re trapped in an endless cycle of developing homegrown players, only to be forced by economics to deal them off before free agency.

As such, even Chris Archer and Evan Longoria might be made available. Ditto for Kevin Kiermaier and closer Alex Colome. All but Colome are signed to long-term (but affordable) deals, which would shed payroll and allow the Rays to start from scratch.

TORONTO BLUE JAYS: After two straight post-season appearances, the Jays suffered a hugely disappointing season, finishing in fourth place. And having cleaned out their minor league system in recent years to obtain the likes of Troy Tulowitzki and Josh Donaldson, they don’t have a lot with which to make trades.

They could use (deep breath): another run-producer to replace Jose Bautista, starting pitching, late-inning bullpen help, and middle-infield depth. Eduardo Nunez has been mentioned as a possibility for the latter, providing some protection for the aging (and declining) Tulowitzski and the brittle Darwin Barney.

Given their issues -- an aging roster and a thinned out inventory of prospects – it’s difficult to imagine the Jays being contenders in a division that features a resurgent Yankee team and a Red Sox club coming off two straight division titles.

But given the expectations of the marketplace, look for the Jays to be active in free agency.