NL East Division Preview
The NL East was arguably the most exciting division in baseball last season. The Braves and the Mets both posted101-win campaigns in a regular season race that came down to the final weekend, while the Phillies shocked the world with a near-miracle run that saw them advance to Game 6 of the World Series. Here is a preview of what is shaping up to be another competitive year for the division.
5. Nationals (2022 record: 55-107)
2023 shapes up to be yet another rebuild year for Washington, as the team largely opted to invest in the development of its young players rather than chase proven talent. From prospects acquired in the blockbuster Juan Soto trade with San Diego such as James Wood, Robert Hassell III, and CJ Abrams; to the trio of promising young pitchers of MacKenzie Gore, Josiah Gray, and Cade Cavalli, the team is taking a gamble that is risky but carries potential for the future. Admittedly, though, that investment will likely not pay off anytime this year, and the Nationals might shape up to be sellers at the deadline, given some aging talent such as Joey Meneses and Jeimer Candelario, who will be turning 31 and 30 this year and will likely not be a part of the team’s next October push.
4. Marlins (2022 record: 69-93)
With the addition of reigning AL batting champion Luis Arráez to pair with free-agent signings Johnny Cueto and Jean Segura, Miami has signaled that it looks to be a competitive team in 2023. The biggest question mark for this team, however, is whether or not the explosion of young star (and MLB The Show cover athlete) Jazz Chisholm onto the MLB scene can be sustained over a whole season. And with the loss of Pablo López from the team in the Arráez trade, the rotation will desperately need to rely on contributions from relatively younger talent such as Sixto Sánchez and Trevor Rogers, both of whom have yet to piece together a solid, complete season. Ultimately, the Marlins show promise but may likely fall short due to their overall lack of experience.
3. Phillies (2022 record: 87-75)
The addition of Trea Turner might be exactly what this team needs. Discourse about the longevity of his contract aside, the superstar shortstop will without a doubt show up at an elite level for the entirety of the next few seasons. Taijuan Walker and other arms bolster a bullpen and provide some much-needed depth, and the combination of the fourth-highest payroll in baseball paired with last October’s Cinderella run means that expectations are high for the City of Brotherly Love. That being said, Philadelphia will without a doubt feel the loss of linchpin Bryce Harper, who is projected to miss at least the first half of the season with Tommy John surgery. Overall, the team does not look much better on paper than it did last year, but the Phillies could shock the world once more.
2. Braves (2022 record: 101-61)
The defending NL East champs started the offseason off strong with the addition of Sean Murphy, who will complement Travis D’Arnaud in what is arguably the best catcher duo in the league. The extension of Spencer Strider is also in line with Atlanta’s philosophy of investing in its young core to create a team that will be scary for years to come. On the other hand, though, the loss of Dansby Swanson will hurt a team that otherwise would bounce back with the returns and resurgences of Ozzie Albies and Ronald Acuña Jr. If any team caught lightning in a bottle again with young talent in Vaughn Grissom, it’s the Braves; however, though the team looks strong, on paper they seem to be outmatched by their rivals in New York.
1. Mets (2022 record: 101-61)
Owner Steve Cohen seems to have taken a page out of his crosstown rivals’ book by injecting a “Championship-or-Bust” mentality into his spending for the team. With arguably the best one-two punch in the league in Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer complemented by Jose Quintana and “ghost fork” hurler Kodai Senga; and an equally scary offensive showing thanks to the likes of reigning home run leader Pete Alonso, perennial batting title contender Jeff McNeil, and elite shortstop superstar Francisco Lindor, the team means business. However, injury concerns from staples such as Brandon Nimmo and Edwin Díaz provide crucial holes for the team to fill, and the top of the rotation must prove that it can hold off Father Time for yet another season. In the end, the only team that seems to be able to stop the Mets, then, is the Mets; after all, the Braves’ division clinch was in equal parts due to a New York implosion in September as it was a late-season surge from Atlanta.