First Base

1. Chris Davis, Orioles
2. Greg Bird/Chris Carter, Yankees
3. Mitch Moreland, Red Sox
4. Logan Morrison, Rays
5. Justin Smoak, Blue Jays

For a supposedly offense-heavy position, the crop of first basemen in the AL East is somewhat uninspiring. Davis is the most prolific slugger of the bunch, swatting 197 homers in the last five years. His best seasons with the Orioles were 2013 and 2015, so maybe the odd-year magic will strike Davis again in 2017.

The other noteworthy home run hitter in the division is Carter, who was non-tendered and unsigned until February despite an NL-leading 41 round-trippers last season. The Yankees got him at a good value — a $3.5 million deal — to serve as the righty-hitting side of a platoon with the young Bird, who’s returning from a torn labrum that cost him a full season.

The other three have had undistinguished careers. Are we completely sure that Moreland and Morrison aren’t the same person? Not much separates them, other than Moreland’s slightly better defense. Then there’s Smoak, whose career .223 average and .700 OPS isn’t up to snuff for a starting first baseman. Former Oriole Steve Pearce might spell him against lefties.

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