Back when he ran the Rays, and ran circles around the rest of the American League East in the dollars-per-win department, Andrew Friedman developed a favorite saying for interviews.

“In our opinion,” Friedman stated often, “this is probably the toughest division in all of professional sports.”

It was true at the time Friedman, now trying to get the Dodgers to their first World Series since 1988, said it. Most certainly, it is not accurate now. At best, a year after just one AL East team (Baltimore) qualified for the playoffs, the division stands about even with its Central and West counterparts. At worst, the AL East could be the junior circuit’s weak link.

The Yankees sure could use the relaxed standards as they try to rebound from two straight October vacations. So how does it look for them? With a month to go before pitchers and catchers report, let’s take the temperature of the East’s occupants. We’ll rank them from most improved to least improved.

Last year: 71-91, last place

Additions: RHP Justin Masterson, LHP Wade Miley, RHP Rick Porcello, OF Hanley Ramirez and 3B Pablo Sandoval

Subtractions: OF Yoenis Cespedes, RHP Rubby De La Rosa and RHP Allen Webster

VegasInsider.com odds to win 2015 World Series: 12-1

Oscar nominee that best captures the team’s condition: “Whiplash,” from trying to keep up with all of their changes.

Strengths: The starting rotation and lineup should be boosted considerably by the imports.

Weaknesses: The Sawx appear to have too many outfielders, with Jackie Bradley Jr., Allen Craig and Shane Victorino residing among the excess. The team also lacks a bona fide ace in its rotation after failing to lure Jon Lester back.

Bottom line: The Red Sox are most improved because they had gutted their team through trades (including Lester to Oakland) by the end of last year. Plenty still could go wrong here. Or they could continue their odd pattern of last-first-last by jumping back atop this division.

Last year: 83-79, third place

Additions: 3B Josh Donaldson, C Russell Martin, OF Michael Saunders and 1B Justin Smoak

Subtractions: OF Melky Cabrera, IF Brett Lawrie and OF Colby Rasmus

Odds to win 2015 World Series: 20-1

Oscar nominee that best captures the team’s condition: “The Imitation Game,” as the Blue Jays ramp up similarly to how they did two years ago (when they wound up in last place).

Strengths: Toronto can boast the best offense in the division, and the highly regarded former Yankee Martin should help the pitchers, too.

Weaknesses: The Jays are looking at virtually the same pitching staff, as of now, that underwhelmed in 2014.

Bottom line: They might be the most fun team in the East. They’re likely to add a reliever before camp starts.

Last year: 84-78, second place

Additions: RHP David Carpenter, RHP Nathan Eovaldi, SS Didi Gregorius, LHP Andrew Miller, 3B Alex Rodriguez, LHP Chasen Shreve and RHP Justin Wilson

Subtractions: C Francisco Cervelli, RHP Shane Greene, SS Derek Jeter, RHP Hiroki Kuroda, RHP Brandon McCarthy, RHP David Phelps, IF/OF Martin Prado, RHP David Robertson and OF Ichiro Suzuki

Odds to win 2015 World Series: 25-1

Oscar nominee that best captures the team’s condition: “The Theory of Everything,” as no team has a greater range of outcomes, from everything going right to everything going wrong.

Strengths: The infield defense and bullpen are both better.

Weaknesses: Both the offense and the starting rotation are relying upon bounce-backs from folks who were injured, inept or both in 2014.

Bottom line: To steal from Winston Churchill, the Yankees are a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma. It’s just too bad Churchill never met A-Rod.

Last year: 96-66, first place

Additions: None of consequence

Subtractions: DH Nelson Cruz, OF Nick Markakis and LHP Andrew Miller

Odds to win 2015 World Series: 18-1

Oscar nominee that best captures the team’s condition: “Birdman.” You know, because they’re the Orioles.

Strengths: The O’s might have the division’s best defense, and their bullpen looks solid even with Miller gone to join the Yankees.

Weaknesses: The outfield and DH spots have lost some pop with the departures of Markakis and Cruz.

Bottom line: Baltimore’s best bet to stay atop is returns from 1B Chris Davis, 3B Manny Machado and C Matt Wieters, all of whom missed time last year with serious injuries or, in Davis’ case, a suspension for illegal performance-enhancing drug usage.

Last year: 77-85, fourth place

Additions: IF Asdrubal Cabrera, C/DH John Jaso, RHP Kevin Jepsen, C Rene Rivera and OF Steven Souza Jr.

Subtractions: SS Yunel Escobar, OF Matt Joyce, C Jose Molina, OF Wil Myers and IF Ben Zobrist

Odds to win 2015 World Series: 60-1

Oscar nominee that best captures the team’s condition: “Boyhood,” a tribute to the youth movement

Strengths: Tampa Bay still deploys a high-upside starting rotation.

Weaknesses: The Rays lost profound institutional knowledge with the departures of Friedman (replaced by team president Matt Silverman) to the Dodgers and manager Joe Maddon (replaced by Kevin Cash) to the Cubs.

Bottom line: The Rays will require their most surprising overachievement to date in order to stay relevant in the 2015 race.