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2022 MLB front office rankings: The American League East

By Bill Felber

Feb 18, 2020; Tampa, Florida, USA;New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman during spring training at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 18, 2020; Tampa, Florida, USA;New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman during spring training at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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As his New York Yankees dominated the American League East in 2022, Brian Cashman dominated the MLB division’s front office bosses in performance.

Cashman’s various deals, signings and player promotions since the end of the 2021 season improved Yankee fortunes by 9.1 games this season. That was not only the best performance by any of the division’s five front offices, it was second-best in all of Major League Baseball.

The analysis that follows is an assessment of the impact each AL East front office’s personnel decisions since November of 2021 have had on their MLB team’s standing right now.

It is based on the aggregate Wins Above Average of moves made in five areas:

  • Players acquired by trade, purchase or waiver claim.
  • Players signed as free agents or extended for more than one year.
  • Minor league callups.
  • Players lost via trade, waiver claim or sale.
  • Players lost to free agency or released.

Wins Above Average is the preferred metric for this calculation because it is zero-based, meaning that it approximately reflects the number of games by which a front office either helped or hurt its team in the standings.

There was one change of significance to front office leadership in the division this season. That occurred in Tampa Bay, where former general manager Erik Neander was promoted to president of baseball operations and Peter Bendix was named general manager.

The division’s four other front office teams remained in place. Those teams are headed by:

  • Baltimore Orioles: Mike Elias, executive vice president and general manager.
  • Boston Red Sox: Chaim Bloom, president; Brian O’Halloran, general manager.
  • New York Yankees: Brian Cashman, senior vice president and general manager.
  • Toronto Blue Jays: Mark Shapiro, president and CEO; Ross Atkins, executive vice president of baseball operations and general manager.

In order of effectiveness, here’s how all five AL East front offices performed in 2022. Also listed are the most significant moves by each front office.

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