Blue Jays' blockbuster makes A.L. East a five team race

11:33 AM ET 11.14 | The New York Yankees have their own issues to deal with this offseason and they will not pay particular attention to what other teams do in a reactionary way. It will however be difficult to ignore the major haul the Toronto Blue Jays pulled off with MLB's most embarrassing franchise, the Miami Marlins, yesterday afternoon. The trade has significant implications in the landscape of the American League East and the Yankees' chances of repeating as division champions. The deal makes the Blue Jays a definite threat in the AL East, a division where a case can be made that each team now has a good shot of reaching the postseason. The Yankees, while in the midst of payroll stability, will be more than talented enough to compete for the division crown. The wild-card winning Baltimore Orioles will be able to spend more this offseason to fill in any gaps they have heading into 2013. The Boston Red Sox look to wipe away two seasons of disappointment and still have a solid base to work with and cash to make adjustments. The Tampa Bay Rays, the only team which will be below the $100 million payroll mark in the AL East, still has arguably the best pitching staff in the division and manager Joe Maddon is among the best at working with less.

Yanks Go Yard