Yankees are AL's best team by a wide margin according to MLB execs and scouts

Yankees called best team in AL by execs and scouts

"MLB executives and scouts believe that the New York Yankees are the best tea min the American League, and there's not another team particularly close," Nightengale writes.

This is some very high praise for the Yankees this season. They came into the season as a top World Series contender despite not changing much about the roster.

But, so far in 2026, they look like one of the best teams in baseball. They are 22-11, own a positive 57 run differential, and have Rice and Judge putting up truly MVP-caliber numbers so far this season.

In the American League, who can compare to the Yankees? The 20-12 Tampa Bay Rays aren't far behind the Yankees, but they lack the superstar presence of the Yankees roster, and their six-run differential isn't nearly that encouraging.

More: Aaron Judge makes baseball history never done before by Yankees player

The Detroit Tigers at 17-17 have a positive 12-run differential, which is the top mark of any team in the AL, not the Yankees. They're clearly one of the best teams in baseball, and the rest of the American League is, for the most part, a middle-of-the-road team.

The Toronto Blue Jays have a ton of injury issues, the Boston Red Sox fired Alex Cora, the Houston Astros are a disaster with their pitching staff, and every other team isn't nearly inspiring.

MLB executives and scouts believe the Yankees are far and away the best team in the AL. That isn't that far-fetched. Their competition hasn't been great, is banged up, or lacks the star power of the Yankees.

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