30 IN 30 - NL EAST PREVIEW

Matteo Ruiz

There’s only 2 days left until the start of the MLB season, and we can’t wait! This time, we’ll explore the NL East – a division that’s been quite a toss-up in the past few seasons. With the reigning champs as the favourite to lead the pack once again, let’s see how the teams stack up after a wild offseason winds down.

BIG CHANGES FOR THE CHAMPS

It was the move nobody wanted to see come true. It still feels wrong to see Freddie Freeman don a jersey other than the one he wore for so many years – the one he wore during his MVP season in 2020 – the one he wore when he caught the throw from Dansby Swanson to secure his first championship. Despite his dedication to the Braves organization, it seemed like a return to Atlanta was unrealistic for Freeman. After intense negotiations between him and the club’s GM Alex Anthopoulos the two couldn’t come to an agreement. Freeman wanted more years and more money than the Braves were willing to offer. After losing him to the deep-pocketed Dodgers, Atlanta pulled off a trade that would bring the Georgia native, Matt Olson, home to play first base in Freeman’s absence. They wasted no time in signing him to an 8-year deal worth almost 170 million dollars.

But the Braves couldn’t call it quits while other teams in the division were stocking up. Re-signing the NLCS MVP Eddie Rosario to pair with bona fide relievers Kirby Yates and Kenley Jansen should help this team remain atop the NL East despite losing key outfield bats in Jorge Soler and Joc Pederson.

With superstar CF Ronald Acuna Jr. scheduled to be back on the field in a month’s time, RF Marcell Ozuna returning from his suspension, and ace-in-waiting Mike Soroka eyeing a late-season return, this Braves team might be better on paper than last year’s champions. In a division that will almost certainly be more competitive than last year, the Braves will need all the help they can get if they want to repeat. If they can hold off their competition until the cavalry arrives, they’ll be in good shape come October.

PHILLY ADDS FIREPOWER

It was a frustrating season for the Phillies. Hovering around the .500 mark, they finished second in a rather weak division with 82 wins. Though they had the National League’s MVP and Cy Young runner-up on the roster, the Phillies floundered when it mattered most.

Ranked 5th worst by ERA, Philadelphia’s bullpen is largely to blame for their failure. In an attempt to compensate for their underperforming relief staff, the Phillies took a flyer on three relievers with a pedigree of success looking to rebuild their value after recent struggles. Brad Hand was borderline unplayable last year – unable to find success in Washington, Toronto, or New York.

The Phillies hope the 3-time All-Star can tap into his stellar performances from his days in San Diego and Cleveland and be a quality back-end reliever. Jeurys Familia is a name that Phillies fans should already be familiar with from his time with the Mets. A consistent reliever that has shown flashes of dominance in the past, Familia looks to provide quality middle-relief innings while pitching in a division that he’s already comfortable in. A healthy Corey Knebel is the real wildcard in this Phillies ‘pen. In 2017, he was one of the MLB’s best relievers, pitching to a 1.78 ERA in a league leading 76 appearances. He’s dealt with a host of injuries since, but a strong 2021 campaign in Los Angeles bodes well for Knebel’s inevitable return to the closer role this season.

Addressing some offensive issues, the Phillies signed a pair of some of the MLB’s best slugging corner outfielders in Boston’s Kyle Schwarber and Cincinnati's Nick Castellanos. Schwarber looks to replace the recently departed Andrew McCutchen in left field while Castellanos will likely assume the role of full-time DH due to his defensive troubles. While the Phillies are undoubtedly a weak team defensively, every ballplayer knows that the best way to make up for an error is to hit a home run… and it’s going to rain home runs in Philadelphia this season.

ACES IN QUEENS

With one of the most aggressive offseasons in baseball, the Mets are determined to contend this season. Having finished as the runner-up to sign both Trevor Bauer and George Springer last offseason, the Mets vowed to spare no expense this time around. From the very beginning, they had their eye on one of this generation’s best pitchers, Max Scherzer. Breaking the single-season salary record for the umpteenth time in his career, he wouldn’t come cheap. If Scherzer can stay on the field and remain consistent as he ages, he’ll be worth every penny. In a deal with Oakland, the Mets also acquired All-Star starter Chris Bassitt from the salary shedding A’s. Together, the two form one of baseball’s best three-headed monsters with Jacob DeGrom. Unfortunately for the Mets, injury strikes again as DeGrom looks to be out for at least the first month of 2022.

On the offensive side, the Mets added outfielders Starling Marte and Mark Canha. Eduardo Escobar solidifies a loaded infield after contributing to the Brewers’ success last year. With star SS Francisco Lindor preparing for a bounce-back season and Robinson Cano returning from his PED suspension, the Mets certainly have an abundance of capable players. Don’t be fooled, we’ve been saying this about the Mets for years. Whether or not the composition of their team translates to the win column, the Mets are a team to keep an eye on… at least until they implode as usual.

THE FISH FLY UNDER THE RADAR

After making the playoffs in the shortened 2020 season, many people thought the Marlins were ahead of schedule. Their enticing young pitching staff and the impending wave of offensive talent that will join them shortly should prove dangerous soon enough. Last year, the Marlins came back down to earth, finishing with a disappointing 67 wins. Before the premature departure of CEO and MLB Hall-of-Famer Derek Jeter late in the offseason, the Marlins looked as though they were making a push to compete in the upcoming season. They shelled out $90 million to acquire two outfielders in the World Series MVP, Jorge Soler and quality veteran, Avisail Garcia. In quite possibly the most understated move of the offseason, the Marlins also traded for defensive specialist, C Jacob Stallings. As one of the best defensive catchers in the sport, Stallings’ presence will give their young pitching staff much needed confidence that will surely aid in their development – in stark contrast with the abysmal defence of the outgoing Jorge Alfaro.

A report from Joel Sherman attributes Jeter’s decision to leave the franchise to disagreements in the front office. Frustrated at the Marlins lack of desire to spend in free agency and their willingness to remain complacent as a mediocre ballclub, one of the most competitive figures in the history of baseball was pushed to his limit. If the goals of management remain divided in Miami, they’ll be a fish out of water in an increasingly competitive NL East. With a little investment, however, the Marlins have the potential to be a National League powerhouse in just a few years.

A REBUILD IN FULL BLOOM

After their Cinderella run to a World Series Championship in 2019, the Washington Nationals have decided to commit to a full-scale rebuild. While Juan Soto may be the best player in baseball, his team is destined to be one of the MLB’s worst in 2022. Having already traded away most of their top-tier talent last season in Trea Turner and Max Scherzer, Soto stands alone in the sea of mediocrity and replacement-level players that surrounds him.

Adding the ageing Nelson Cruz in free agency was a thoughtful effort by the front office, though it ultimately won’t affect their record too drastically. He’ll likely serve as the full-time DH this season as the Nationals look to scrape together a respectable season. If they are to have any hope at being competitive, they’ll need incredible performances from pitchers Stephen Strasburg and Patrick Corbin – the latter of which is extremely unlikely.

The Nats won’t be a good baseball team next year… but tune-in to a game and you might just catch them wearing their new cherry blossom City Connect jerseys. Totally worth it!