Analysis of Movement in the National League East Division
The analysis of the offseason activity in the National League East begins with what has happened and what hasn’t in New York.
Mets’ president of baseball operations, David Stearns, set out to make significant changes this winter after a frustrating season. The option of keeping the same team was not viable. The result has been a whirlwind winter with big changes and a dose of drama.
On other fronts, the Atlanta Braves addressed their biggest needs, the Philadelphia Phillies retained two important pieces, the Miami Marlins continue to accumulate young talent to take another step forward in 2026, and the Washington Nationals remain in a deep rebuild.
Let’s take a look at each team’s activity in the offseason and what might come next.
Furthermore, we have assigned each team an urgency rating, from one to five, depending on how much each needs to achieve before showing up at camp:
- 1: Your work is (basically) done.
- 2: They are having a solid winter, but more would help.
- 3: We will judge your winter based on how it progresses from here.
- 4: We are waiting…
- 5: It has been a disaster. Can they turn it around?
Atlanta Braves
Key Additions
- UTL Mauricio Dubón
- RHP Robert Suarez
- OF Mike Yastrzemski
What they’ve accomplished so far: The Braves entered the offseason needing to address shortstop and left field after ranking among the league’s worst in production at those two positions last season. Re-signing Ha-Seong Kim after a 24-game cameo in September and adding Yastrzemski checks those boxes. On top of that, they added Dubón for defensive versatility and landed Suarez, one of the top relievers on the free-agent market, and re-signed Raisel Iglesias, to bolster the bullpen.
What they still need to do: In addition to improving the shortstop, left field, and bullpen, the Braves began the offseason with the intention of strengthening the starting rotation. That still hasn’t happened. Atlanta’s rotation has potential with Chris Sale, Spencer Strider, and Spencer Schwellenbach at the top. But each of those three pitchers missed a significant amount of time due to injuries last season, Sale is entering his 37-year-old campaign, and the established depth behind them is thin.
As things stand, Reynaldo López and Hurston Waldrep would likely round out the rotation. A shoulder injury limited López to one start last season. Waldrep, who turns 24 in March, has made 11 career starts. AJ Smith-Shawver could return from Tommy John surgery in the second half, with Bryce Elder, Grant Holmes, and Joey Wentz among the other options.
However, the Braves are already projecting a payroll that exceeds the first competitive balance tax threshold by $18.9 million and is $1.1 million below the second threshold after staying below the first threshold last season.
Urgency Rating: 2
Miami Marlins
Key Additions
- OF Owen Caissie
- RHP Pete Fairbanks
What they’ve achieved so far: For the second time in 18 months, the Marlins traded a quality starting pitcher with multiple years of team control for a package headlined by a young outfielder. Last winter, they sent Jesús Luzardo to the Phillies. This time, it was right-hander Edward Cabrera, whom they sent to the Chicago Cubs for Caissie and two other prospects. Then, this week, they traded another talented pitcher, sending Ryan Weathers to the New York Yankees for four prospects. However, Miami hasn’t just offloaded, but also signed closer Fairbanks to a one-year, $13 million contract.
What they still need to do: Sandy Alcantara, the former Cy Young winner, has been the subject of trade rumors for two years. The right-hander is under contract for $17.3 million this season with a team option of $21 million for 2027. He recovered from a disastrous start last season to post a 3.13 ERA in his last 12 starts. He could help a contender. But moving both Cabrera and Weathers means that trading Alcantara probably won’t happen during the offseason. Miami, looking to improve on its 79-win season in 2025, has the option of waiting until the trade deadline.
Fairbanks helps the bullpen, but teams could always use more help in that department. The lineup is full of potential, but first base is a place that could use an upgrade. Currently, Graham Pauley, who hit four home runs with an OPS of .678 in 62 games, is projected as Miami’s starting first baseman. Low-cost options are still available in free agency.
Urgency Rating: 2
New York Mets
Key Additions
- INF Bo Bichette
- INF Jorge Polanco
- 2B Marcus Semien
- RHP Luke Weaver
- RHP Devin Williams
What they’ve achieved so far: It was a shocking start to the offseason for the fans, who saw the four longest-tenured players on the team land with other clubs and the Mets ultimately fail to land their main offseason target, Kyle Tucker. Brandon Nimmo, Pete Alonso, Edwin Díaz, and Jeff McNeil left, in addition to Tyler Rogers, Gregory Soto, and Ryne Stanek. As of Friday, the replacements included Semien to play second base, Polanco to play first base for the first time in his career, and Weaver and Williams to partner in the back end of the bullpen. Solid, but not enough to satisfy the Mets’ fanbase. Bichette, although not a perfect fit, is a player of a different caliber who strengthens the middle of the lineup.
What they still need to do: The Mets want to acquire a starting pitcher and maybe an outfielder. Who, exactly, is not clear. For the outfield, they wanted Tucker, the top free agent on the market, to whom they offered a competitive short-term contract before he joined the Los Angeles Dodgers, two-time defending World Series champions. They focused on signing Bichette to handle third base, a position he has never played professionally.
The free agent outfielder Cody Bellinger made sense for the Mets, but now that Bichette, and his $42 million average annual value, is on the books, a cheaper alternative is likely, at least while Bellinger is still seeking a seven-year contract. Having Brett Baty, who was previously projected to start at third base, play in left field is a possibility. Other options include Harrison Bader, a former Met, in free agency, or acquiring an outfielder like Lars Nootbaar via trade.
Regarding the rotation, the Mets have expressed interest in the left-handed free agent Framber Valdez and Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Freddy Peralta, who is owed $8 million this season before reaching free agency.
One thing to note with Valdez, Tucker, and Peralta: The Mets’ front office has deep connections to the Astros and Brewers, starting with Stearns. He was an assistant general manager in Houston when the Astros drafted Tucker in the first round and signed Valdez out of the Dominican Republic in 2015. Stearns then became the general manager of the Brewers in September 2015, months before Milwaukee acquired Peralta from the Seattle Mariners, and oversaw Peralta’s development into a Major League mainstay.
Urgency Rating: 3
Washington Nationals
Key Additions
What they’ve accomplished so far: The Nationals’ extended rebuild is under a new regime. The first major move by President of Baseball Operations Paul Toboni at the helm was to trade closer Jose A. Ferrer to the Mariners for prospect Ford and minor league pitcher Isaac Lyon. Otherwise, it’s been a quiet offseason in the nation’s capital.
What they still need to do: With the Nationals still years away from contention in a competitive National League East, the next significant move for Toboni could be to trade left-hander MacKenzie Gore. The former No. 3 overall pick was an All-Star for the first time last season after posting a 3.02 ERA in the first half, before struggling down the stretch. Gore, who turns 27 next month, has two years of team control remaining before reaching free agency.
Moving shortstop CJ Abrams, who, like Gore, was acquired in the highly successful trade with the San Diego Padres for Juan Soto in 2022, is another possibility. An All-Star in 2024, Abrams has shined at times since becoming a starter in 2023, but has been rated as one of the worst defensive shortstops in the majors during that period.
Urgency Rating: 3
Philadelphia Phillies
Key Additions
- OF Adolis García
- RHP Brad Keller
What they’ve accomplished so far: The Phillies handled their top priority early, re-signing their beloved designated hitter, Kyle Schwarber, to a five-year, $150 million contract, but waited until Friday, after losing Bichette, to re-sign catcher J.T. Realmuto to a three-year, $45 million contract. They also signed Garcia, who had been non-tendered by the Texas Rangers, to a one-year, $10 million contract, and gave Keller a two-year, $22 million contract.
What they still need to do: As of Friday, the Phillies had an obvious hole at catcher. The rotation should be a strength when Zack Wheeler returns mid-season, but losing Ranger Suarez, who agreed to a five-year, $130 million contract with the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday, hurts, and the Phillies could look to add depth. Further strengthening the bullpen is always possible with Keller and closer Jhoan Duran, who already give Philadelphia one of the best finishes in baseball.
Urgency Rating: 2
