AL East

Coming off a last-place finish last season, their third in the last four years, and armed with a new leader in the front office, next week’s winter meetings figured to be a playground for the money- and prospect-rich Boston Red Sox. 

David Price's path began in Tampa Bay, and it has since passed through Detroit and Toronto. Along the way, he's made five All-Star teams, won a Cy Young and has been generally awesome.

Facing an offseason of change and uncertainty, the Toronto Blue Jays are bringing back first baseman Justin Smoak on a one-year deal for 2016. 

According to Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports, the Blue Jays tendered Smoak a contract worth $3.9 million ahead of Wednesday's midnight deadline for teams to offer contracts to arbitration-eligible players. 

The Baltimore Orioles announced they have acquired first baseman Mark Trumbo and LHP C.J. Riefenhauser from the Mariners for catcher Steve Clevenger.

The guy who used to play there isn't a realistic option, but the New York Yankees clearly need something at second base.

Left-hander J.A. Happ on Friday signed a three-year deal worth $36 million with the Toronto Blue Jays, according to MLB Roster Moves. 

It will be Happ's second stint with the Blue Jays after he spent two-plus seasons in Toronto beginning in 2012.

A few years back, a general manager of a limited-budget team shook his head while talking about the New York Yankees.

"Sometimes it seems like they're trying to operate like us," he said. "If we had their money, we wouldn't operate like us."

Managers love to talk about the flexibility of not having a full-time designated hitter. They can use the spot to give players rest, giving them in effect a half-day off. They can keep guys in the lineup when a minor injury may keep them from effectively playing in the field.

It's all true and it's all great, but there's a much better way to build an American League team:

Have a DH like David Ortiz.

Josh Donaldson had to work just to get to the big leagues. Alex Anthopoulos really had to work to get Josh Donaldson to Toronto.

If nothing else, the story of the American League's 2015 Most Valuable Player is the story of persistence.

You can make it, even if it takes you five years to leave the minor leagues behind. You can trade for a real difference-maker, even if he's "unavailable."

The Baseball Writers' Association of America pared down the list of American League MVP candidates to Lorenzo Cain, Josh Donaldson and Mike Trout, and Donaldson secured the coveted hardware Thursday night to close out a compelling race.