The offseason in the National League East was highlighted by the Philadelphia Phillies, Washington Nationals and New York Mets, who had the top three offseasons of all the NL teams, in that order. The Phillies made the biggest splash, of course, by rebuilding half of their lineup, adding the best overall catcher in baseball last year in J.T. Realmuto; two high on-base average hitters in Jean Segura and Andrew McCutchen; and the game’s top free agent, outfielder Bryce Harper.
Advertisement
The Nationals significantly improved their starting rotation by signing Patrick Corbin, improved their bullpen depth, and made major upgrades behind the plate. The Mets did a fabulous job in rebuilding their own relief corps into one of the game’s best and strengthening their lineup, focusing on better contact rates, balance and depth.
The Braves added Josh Donaldson to the middle of their lineup, but did little else, while the Marlins put themselves in a strong position to pick once again at or near the top of the 2020 and 2021 amateur drafts. Let’s take a closer look.
Atlanta Braves
Grade: B-
Goals: 1. Corner OF 2. Catcher to pair with Tyler Flowers 3. OF Depth
Key acquisitions:
Free agents: 3B Josh Donaldson, 1 year/$23m; RF Nick Markakis, 1 year/$6m; C Brian McCann, 1 year/$2m
Trades: Acquired C Raffy Lopez from Padres in exchange for cash; Traded LHP Adam McCreery to Dodgers for cash considerations
I loved the signing of third baseman Josh Donaldson to a one-year contract. Donaldson is just three years removed from being the AL MVP. He gives the Braves a much needed middle-of-the-order impact bat to help protect Freddie Freeman, and he should come to the plate with lots of traffic in front of him in some combination of Ronald Acuña, Ozzie Albies and Ender Inciarte. Donaldson also brings some much-needed edge and swagger to the Braves’ clubhouse.
The Braves did a good job in waiting out the market place to re-sign Nick Markakis to a club-friendly one-year deal, and filled a need when they signed former Brave Brian McCann to share time behind the plate with Tyler Flowers.
However, aside from those moves, the Braves came up empty this offseason. They did have conversations with the Indians regarding their starting pitching, and even touched base with the Giants on Madison Bumgarner. They tried to land catcher J.T. Realmuto from the Marlins but lost out to the Phillies when they wouldn’t put Austin Riley and/or Ian Anderson in the deal. Although they could use a closer — and, more specifically, another former Brave in Craig Kimbrel — they just didn’t have any interest in a long-term lucrative deal for him or any other reliever.
Advertisement
I did give them credit with this grade for the fact that they held on to all of their top prospects. Atlanta still has money to spend, and prospect depth to trade, so the Braves could still make a significant move or two during spring training, or even once the season gets underway.
Miami Marlins
Grade: C
Goals: 1.Right deal for J.T. Realmuto 2. Offense 3. Bullpen
Key acquisitions:
Free agents: Signed OF Víctor Víctor Mesa and OF Víctor Mesa Jr. to minor-league contracts; 2B Neil Walker, 1 year/$2m; RHP Sergio Romo, 1yr/$2.5m
Trades: Traded C J.T. Realmuto to Phillies for RHP Sixto Sanchez, C Jorge Alfaro, LHP Will Stewart and international bonus slot; Traded LHP Dillon Peters to Angels for RHP Tyler Stevens; Traded 3B Brian Schales to Twins in exchange for RHP Nick Anderson; Traded RHP Kyle Barraclough to Nationals in exchange for international bonus money; Traded RHP Nick Wittgren to Indians for RHP Jordan Milbrath
Waiver claims: RHP Julian Fernández from Giants; RHP Austin Brice from Orioles
The Marlins dealt the final valuable trade asset that current ownership had inherited when they bought the team when they sent catcher J.T. Realmuto to the Phillies in a four-player deal. The Fish did their due diligence and checked with all 29 teams, spending extensive time making sure they got the best prospect, and prospect package, they possibly could. That best prospect was right-handed pitcher Sixto Sanchez, who has been compared at the same age to Hall of Famer Pedro Martínez. The rest of the package included power hitting catcher Jorge Alfaro and an A-ball sinkerball southpaw in Will Stewart, as well as an international bonus slot.
The Marlins jumped into the international market to land Cuban outfielders Víctor Víctor Mesa and Víctor Mesa Jr. and made a shrewd waiver claim in landing RHP Julian Fernandez from the Giants.
Advertisement
The Marlins have a long way to go before they can contend, and their future will depend almost solely on how well they do going forward in the June amateur draft and international signings. The good news is the trade talks and rumors for all of their star players are now over for a while since they have none left.
New York Mets
Grade: A-
Goals: 1. Right-handed outfielder 2. Closer 3. Bullpen 4. Hire a GM
Key acquisitions:
Front Office: GM Brodie Van Wagenen
Free agents: RHP Jeurys Familia, 3 years/$30m; C Wilson Ramos, 2 years/$19m; Jed Lowrie, 2 years/ $20m; LHP Justin Wilson, 2 years/$10m
Trades: Acquired closer Edwin Díaz, 2B Robinson Canó (and $20m) in exchange for OF Jarred Kelenic, OF Jay Bruce, RHP Justin Dunn, RHP Anthony Swarzak and RHP Gerson Bautista; Acquired OF Keon Broxton from Brewers for RHP Bobby Wahl, RHP Adam Hill and 2B Felix Valerio; Traded C Kevin Plawecki to Indians in exchange for INF Sam Haggerty and RHP Walker Lockett; Acquired INF J.D. Davis and INF Cody Bohanek from Astros in exchange for OF Ross Adolph, 2B Luis Santana and C Scott Manea
Waiver claims: 1B/OF Jordan Patterson from Rockies
The best move the Mets made was in the hiring of GM Brodie Van Wagenen, who immediately changed the face, perception and the future of the team with a whirlwind offseason that included signing four significant free agents and four trades, including one blockbuster.
His biggest trade was the one with the Mariners, when they acquired one of the game’s best closers in Edwin Díaz and All-Star second baseman Robinson Canó in a seven-player deal — one which benefited the Mets significantly, at least in the short term.
In free agency, they landed the Athletics’ best hitter over the last two years in Jed Lowrie, who is expected to see the most time at third base but will be used all over the diamond; his most important role will be hitting second in their order. Wilson Ramos was signed as a big upgrade behind the plate — especially offensively — giving the Mets a much-improved offense.
Advertisement
The Mets’ bullpen moves were probably the most important part of their offseason. Beyond the acquisition of Diaz, they landed both right-hander Jeurys Familia and southpaw Justin Wilson. Adding them to Seth Lugo and Robert Gsellman gives New York one of the best bullpens in the league.
The Mets are relevant again thanks to the hiring of Van Wagenen and his offseason moves.
Philadelphia Phillies
Grade: A+
Goals: 1. Offense 2. Defense 3. LHP 4. Spend “stupid” money
Key acquisitions:
Free agents: OF Bryce Harper, 13 years/$330m; OF Andrew McCutchen, 3 years/$50m; RHP David Robertson, 2 years/$23m
Trades: Acquired C J.T. Realmuto from Marlins for RHP Sixto Sanchez, C Jorge Alfaro, LHP Will Stewart and international bonus slot; Acquired SS Jean Segura, LHP James Pazos and RHP Juan Nicasio from Mariners in exchange for SS J.P. Crawford and 1B Carlos Santana; Acquired LHP José Álvarez from Angels in exchange for RHP Luis García
The Phillies had the best offseason of any team in baseball, capped off by the signing of the game’s most talented free agent from this year’s market in outfielder Bryce Harper, who gives them a perennial MVP candidate for the next decade. In addition, they also made the best offseason trade when they landed J.T. Realmuto from the Marlins. Realmuto was the best overall catcher in the game last year and should be even better in a Phillies uniform because of the ballpark and the strength and depth of the Phillies’ lineup, which will certainly give him the protection he didn’t get in Miami.
I thought the Phillies did an excellent job in landing Jean Segura from the Mariners in a deal that improved Philadelphia defensively at three positions. Segura has more range than Scott Kingery at shortstop. The trade also sent first baseman Carlos Santana to the Mariners, which allows them to move left fielder Rhys Hoskins back to his normal position of first base. The Phillies then signed free-agent outfielder Andrew McCutchen, who is a defensive upgrade over Hoskins in left field. McCutchen remains a high on-base percentage player, and his class and leadership will make him a great role model for the team’s young, developing players. In addition, Segura and McCutchen will improve the team’s overall on-base percentage, speed and professional at-bats.
Advertisement
One under-the-radar move that will end up being one of their best decisions was the signing of free-agent reliever David Robertson, who can either close or set up for them. He brings a proven track record and professionalism that should help develop their young relievers like Seranthony Dominguez.
The Phillies had the best offseason of any team, and their GM, Matt Klentak, is the early and heavy favorite to win Executive of the Year. And, by the way, if Phillies fans want to get greedy, they could still use a left-handed starter … and Dallas Keuchel and Gio Gonzalez are still on the open market. If either will take a short-term deal, I wouldn’t put it past the Phillies to land one of them.
Washington Nationals
Grade: A-
Goals: 1. Starting pitching 2. Catching 3. Bullpen
Key acquisitions:
Free agents: LHP Patrick Corbin, 6 years/$140m; RHP Aníbal Sánchez, 2 years/$19m; 2B Brian Dozier, 1 year/$9m; RHP Trevor Rosenthal, 1 year/$7m; 1B Matt Adams, 1 year/$4m; C Kurt Suzuki, 2 years/$10m
Trades: Acquired C Yan Gomes from Indians in exchange for RHP Jefry Rodríguez and OF Daniel Johnson and PTBNL; Acquired RHP Kyle Barraclough from the Marlins in exchange for international bonus money; Traded RHP Tanner Roark to Reds in exchange for RHP Tanner Rainey
The Nationals signed the best free-agent starting pitcher available when they agreed to spend the most money and give the most years of any bidding team for the services of lefty Patrick Corbin. They also upgraded their fourth spot in the rotation when they dealt Tanner Roark to the Reds and decided to sign free-agent Aníbal Sánchez from the Braves to replace him. The Nationals’ rotation of Max Scherzer, Corbin, Stephen Strasburg and Sánchez, if they can stay healthy, is potentially as good as any National League team.
The Nats really improved their catching with the trade for Yan Gomes and the signing of Kurt Suzuki. All you have to do is talk to the Indians’ starting pitchers to realize how good Gomes is at framing, calling a game, blocking and shutting down the running game. He should have a significant impact on Washington’s pitching staff. Suzuki will share the time behind the plate with Gomes, and he’ll provide an improvement offensively as he’s put up a .887 and .776 OPS each of the last two years.
Advertisement
The other improvement to the Nationals was the work they did in improving the set-up relievers when they landed two power arms in Trevor Rosenthal and Kyle Barraclough. Rosenthal, finally healthy after Tommy John surgery, has accumulated 121 saves in his career with a 2.99 ERA. He’s back to throwing 98-100 mph, too. Barraclough saved 10 games last year with the Marlins in 61 appearances, punching out 60 while yielding just 40 hits in 55 2/3 innings.
The Nationals improved second base with the signing of Brian Dozier. He will try to bounce back from his worst season as a major leaguer while serving as a placeholder for Carter Kieboom, who should be ready in 2020. Matt Adams was brought back to provide left-handed power off the bench and share some time at first base with the oft-injured Ryan Zimmerman.
Rookie center fielder Víctor Robles is ready to take over center field for the Nationals and is my favorite to win NL Rookie of the Year.
Despite losing Bryce Harper to the Phillies in free agency, I’ll argue this is a better overall team than last year’s version.
(Top photo of Harper: Kim Klement / USA TODAY Sports)