Over the next few weeks, we here at LWOS will be going from division to division and discussing a move that we believe each team MUST MAKE to improve the most. Today, we present the fifth of six MLB winter previews: the National League East.
The NL East did showcase the pennant-winning New York Mets, but this division was possibly the worst baseball has seen in the last fifteen years. The division featured three of the six worst records in the majors last season and boasted the most underachieving team in all of baseball. However, this seems to be the division of the future for the MLB, with every team aside from the Mets looking to rebuild or retool their clubs.
Atlanta Braves: Trade everyone owed money.
This headline comes from a report FOX Sports’s Ken Rosenthal made on November 15 that says that Atlanta is “shopping everyone owed money“. They’ve already dealt rebound outfielder Cameron Maybin to the Detroit Tigers, and are drawing great interest from championship-contending clubs in contract-controlled starters Julio Teheran and Shelby Miller.
Now, “everyone” does not mean perennial All-Star first baseman Freddie Freeman. Not because they shouldn’t trade him, but because he is coming off his worst season in the majors after missing over forty games from a wrist injury that bothered him for the majority of the season. That, coupled with the $118 million owed on his contract through 2021, will scare away teams from giving what the Braves would want back in a deal for their star slugger.
Atlanta did sign right-handed pitcher Bud Norris to a one-year deal and were mentioned as one of the teams interested in veteran second baseman Ben Zobrist, but don’t expect the Braves to make any deals to add to their team for 2016. Atlanta is in rebuilding mode, focusing on being competitive in 2017, when SunTrust Park opens.
Miami Marlins: Expect more of the same.
Last season, the Marlins did a decent job of overhauling their roster by adding a proven speedster in second baseman Dee Gordon, who won the National League batting title. Yet Miami still finished with one of the worst records in the majors and fired manager Mike Redmond. They replaced him with general manager Dan Jennings, who had zero in-game managing experience. Now the Marlins have a proven manager in Don Mattingly, to go along with budding ace Jose Fernandez and superstar Giancarlo Stanton.
However, Miami is still run by cynical owner Jeffery Loria, who has hurled this team downhill ever since Marlins Park opened in 2012; since its opening season, it has ranked dead last in attendance. Until new ownership is established, expect more of the same from the Marlins: making boom-or-bust deals that as history has shown, won’t work out. There really is no optimism heading into 2016 that this team will compete for a playoff spot.
New York Mets: Don’t fix what isn’t broken.
The Mets enjoyed their most successful season since winning the pennant in 2000, and look to contend again for a championship in a division where they are the only consistent threat for postseason success, as they are surrounded by teams rebuilding or retooling this offseason.
New York boasts the best young rotation in the majors, with four rising pitchers capable of ace status. Don’t expect the Mets front office to trade any of them for bats this offseason.
They are more than likely losing postseason hero Daniel Murphy to free agency, and don’t possess anything more than replacement talent in the infield. But don’t anticipate a huge move to supplant Murphy in the infield. With Ian Desmond’s value taking a hit this offseason, he seems like a legitimate candidate to fill a spot in the Mets infield. However, much of New York’s defensive woes come via the infield, and Desmond is one of the worst defenders at any position in baseball.
Philadelphia Phillies: Hold pat, rebuild for future.
The Phillies greatly replenished their farm system at last season’s trade deadline in the deal that sent long-time ace Cole Hamels to Texas. Philadelphia boasts strong, young talent at every position and in the rotation, so they should look to stand pat with their roster, adding only veteran, mid-market players.
The major area of need is the rotation, with the only constants being youngsters Adam Morgan and Aaron Nola. Philadelphia could give multi-year deals to mid-rotation starters like Yovani Gallardo or Ian Kennedy, but they’re more likely to give one-year deals to starters such as Bartolo Colon or Colby Lewis. They could also resign Aaron Harang, one of the only consistent starters from last year’s rotation.
Washington Nationals: Huge mess to clean up
Although the Nationals were perennial World Series favorites the past four seasons, they never won a playoff series and fired manager Matt Williams a season after winning the NL East. Finding their next manager turned into a fiasco: Bud Black had agreed to join Washington’s staff, until he realized they only wanted to sign him to a one-year deal, which forced him to back out. The Nationals ended up pulling Dusty Baker out of retirement, concluding the mess. The organization has gone through two division titles, resulting in division series losses in 2012 and 2014 and horrible regular seasons in 2013 and 2015. Washington has some serious changes to make, both on the field and in the front office, to get back towards contention.
The Nationals have a solid rotation, which features Max Scherzer and Gio Gonzalez. But Stephen Strasburg is looking more likely to be a trade target in his walk year, and the rest of the rotation comprised of young starters Tanner Roark and Joe Ross. Depth, therefore, is needed. Don’t assume Washington is willing to spend big bucks on the crop of free-agent starting pitching this offseason, as the front office plans to cut roughly $50 million in payroll.
The Nationals could rid themselves of Jonathan Papelbon and Drew Storen and try to acquire all-world closer Aroldis Chapman from Cincinnati, reuniting him with his former manager in Baker. Other than that, Washington will put all their hopes on Bryce Harper and Max Scherzer to try to compete for playoff contention. If moves are to be made, they need to be made fast, as general manager Mike Rizzo is in the last year of his contract. It would more than likely require a pennant-winning club for Rizzo to remain in the nation’s capital in 2017.
What moves would you guys like to see someone in the NL East make? Get in on the conversation in the comments below! Be sure to check back on Wednesday for the AL East division preview!
Previous editions in this series may be found here:
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