Spring doesn’t technically begin for another few weeks unless you’re a baseball fan. In which case, spring is in full swing. The Grapefruit and Cactus leagues are underway, and players are showcasing their skills as they battle for positions. Pitchers are getting loose, and battles for rotation and bullpen spots are ramping up as teams prepare for a full 162 games of baseball.
The superstars of the sport have been on the move this winter. Larger-than-life free-agent signings and game-breaking multi-player trades have altered the landscape of the league. And fans are getting their first glimpses of new players in their new uniforms. Some teams have bolstered their already powerful rosters, while others have added key pieces in the hopes of taking that next step. Even teams considered to be “rebuilding” have made shrewd transactions to keep themselves competitive, simultaneously improving their farm systems and giving their fans hope for years to come.
Fans are in the seats, and games are gracing televisions across the country. With such a staggering amount of offseason activity, it seemed logical to break down the league team by team before the regular season begins on April 1st. The following is a brief highlight of each National League team’s significant offseason transactions so far and a description of how those moves may impact each team’s goals for this season. Foremost of which is to win baseball games.
NL East
Atlanta Braves:
The PECOTA projected standings for 2021 currently have Atlanta finishing fourth in their division. The National League East may be considered one of the toughest divisions in the game. That has not stopped Atlanta from winning it the past three seasons. They still feature superstars like 2020 NL MVP Freddie Freeman and young phenom Ronald Acuna Jr. The Braves had made additions to their winning lineup this offseason. Charlie Morton, Drew Smyly, and Josh Tomlin are some of the names added to improve pitching in Atlanta. Max Fried and a return from injury by Mike Soroka makes for strong pitching all the way through the game. Atlanta re-signed Marcel Ozuna this offseason, who will offer his talents as a hitter behind Freeman, and Acuna Jr. The Braves have youth, experience, explosive offense, tight defense, and a great manager in Brian Snitker. The NL East is full packed with playoff-caliber teams, and Atlanta intends to be the best of them for the fourth straight year.
Miami Marlins:
The Marlins finishing second in the NL East in 2020 was one of the biggest surprises of the year. Not because the Marlins have a bad team, but because the other teams in the division were considered to have better ones. Although the length of this season will prove to be a more difficult test, the Marlins should be considered as much a contender in their division. The Marlins did not make a splash in the market this offseason. They received reliever Adam Cimber in a trade with Cleveland, recently signed outfielder Adam Duvall, and traded starter Jordan Yamamoto to the Mets for shortstop Federico Polanco. Duvall joins Starling Marte, Corey Dickerson, and Lewis Brinson in what will be a tight defensive outfield. Marte and first baseman Jesus Aguilar will provide some pop at the plate for Miami. The pitching staff is young but has some strong arms like Sandy Alcantra and Sixto Sanchez. It will be difficult for this young Marlins team to repeat last season’s success in a division full of clubs that are loaded with big names. No one saw them coming last year, and they look to be a much better team than they were in 2020.
New York Mets:
The Mets, under new owner Steve Cohen, have gone all out this offseason. They have assembled one of the best-looking teams in the entire National League The offense, defense, and especially pitching for the Mets is stacked with talent. The rotation will be centered around incumbent ace Jacob DeGrom. DeGrom is now supported by the likes of Carlos Carrasco, who came over in a trade with the Indians along with shortstop Francisco Lindor. Taijuan Walker recently signed with the team, joining another ex-Blue Jay in Marcus Stroman. The staff will also feature the likes of Trevor May, Aaron Loup, Joey Lucchesi, Dellin Betances, and Jeurys Familia. Besides the pitching, and All-Star Francisco Lindor coming to New York, the Mets have brought in catcher James McCann, infielder Jonathan Villar, and outfielder Kevin Pillar to make for a ridiculously deep defensive core. The new faces on the team, plus stars like Pete Alonso, Jeff McNeil, and Michael Conforto, make this an incredibly deep and overwhelmingly talented team. They are the clear-cut favorite to win the division, so long as they play up to their potential.
Philadelphia Phillies:
Phillies fans may look at last season as somewhat of a disappointment, considering they missed the postseason with such a talented team. Philly has a strong lineup featuring Bryce Harper, Jean Segura, and Rhys Hoskins. Shortstop Didi Gregorius and catcher J.T. Realmuto re-signed with the club this offseason, adding some support at the plate and on defense. Aaron Nola and Zack Wheeler headline the starting rotation. Zack Efflin is projected to be the number three starter, but there may be some questions about who will take the mound after that. Philadelphia signed free agent reliever Archie Bradley during the offseason, who will likely be on the bump to close out games. The National League East is fierce this season, but if Philly’s pitching can pull it together and their stars stay on the field, they will be just as good as any of their competitors.
Washington Nationals:
The Nats are only two years removed from their World Series-winning run in 2019, and they still have a solid core of players around from that team. That did not stop them from adding to their roster this offseason. Veteran lefty John Lester signed in January to add some depth behind Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg, and Patrick Corbin. Closer Brad Hand also signed in January to fill the spot vacated by outgoing closer Sean Doolittle. Washington has two powerful first basemen in Josh Bell, who was acquired in a trade with Pittsburgh, and veteran Ryan Zimmerman who signed with the club in January. Kyle Schwarber joins the Nationals outfield along with Juan Soto. Again, the NL East is stuffed to the gills with player talent. The Nationals are no exception. The winner of this division may be up in the air until the end of September, but do not be surprised if the Nationals are it.
NL Central
Chicago Cubs:
So far, it has difficult to gauge which directions the Cubs plan on going with their team. On one hand, they have a competitive team, in a very win-able division. On the other hand, there are talks of them going into a “soft” rebuild with the trade rumors surrounding Kris Bryant. For now, it seems the Cubs are going to be full steam ahead, as Bryant has stayed put, and a few transactions were made this offseason to improve the team. Starter Yu Darvish and catcher Victor Caratini were traded to the Padres for several players, including righty Zach Davies. Jake Arrieta returns to the north side of Chicago, where he pitched very well in the past. He signed a one-year deal for $4 million (Bastain, ’21 https://www.mlb.com/news/jake-arrieta-cubs-deal) Arrieta, Davies, and Kyle Hendricks will make up the bulk of the rotation for Chicago. Kyle Schwarber elected free agency, leaving the need for a left-handed outfielder with some pop. To fill that need, the Cubs signed outfielder Joc Pederson who will likely start alongside Jason Heyward and Ian Happ. Catcher Austin Romine also signed with Chicago and will look to start behind the plate. The future of the Cubs may be uncertain at this point in time, but they undoubtedly have a team that is good enough to make a push for this division title this season.
Cincinnati Reds:
The Reds should be taken very seriously as a competitor this season. They have powerful arms in the rotation, and in the bullpen, and they have multi-talented position players all around the diamond. Even without Trevor Bauer, Cincinnati’s rotation should be very effective this season. Luis Castillo and Sonny Gray look to continue their success with the Reds at the top of the rotation. Sean Doolittle signed as a free agent this offseason and will be a great compliment to the arms of Amir Garrett and Michael Lorenzen in the bullpen. Eugenio Suarez at third base, Mike Moustakas at second, and gold glover Joey Votto at first give Cincinnati a stout infield defense. Those three, plus outfielders Shogo Akiyama, Aristides Aquino, Nick Castellanos, and Jesse Winker, will make up what could be a very impressive lineup at the plate. The Reds were not as active as some other teams this offseason, but with all the in-house talent they have, it may not have been necessary. Cincinnati may be a little under the radar right now, but they are set up not only to be one of the biggest surprises in their division but in the entire National League.
Milwaukee Brewers:
PECOTA has the Brewers finishing at the top of the NL Central this season. Accomplishing that task will require strong pitching from young starters like Brandon Woodruff and Corbin Burnes. Milwaukee’s bullpen will also be an important part of their success. Josh Hader and Brent Suter will lead that bullpen, along with players like Freddy Peralta and lefty Angel Perdomo. Veteran Brad Boxberger may also be in the mix as he signed a minor league contract with the club, hoping to make the team out of spring training. The addition of Kolten Wong, who signed as a free agent this offseason, adds to an already impressive infield that features Keston Hiura, Luis Urias, and Orlando Arcia. The Brewers may be one of the league’s best defensive teams considering that infield, plus the outfield prowess of Lorenzo Cain, Christian Yelich, and Avasail Garcia, all of whom are also dangerous hitters at the plate. If Miluwakee’s young pitching can hold up, that and their defense could bring them to the top of their division.
Pittsburgh Pirates:
Unfortunately for Pirates fans, the team looks to be in full rebuild mode this season. General Manager Ben Cherrington had a fire sale this offseason, letting go of almost all of Pittsburgh’s big-name players to rebuild the team from the ground up. Pitchers Chris Archer, Keone Kella, and Derek Holland all moved to different teams via free agency. First baseman Josh Bell was traded to Washington, and pitchers Joe Musgrove and Jameson Taillon were traded to San Diego and the New York Yankees, respectively. Pittsburgh received a total of eleven prospects in those three trades, which will give them a massive influx of potential talent for the coming years. Cherrington did sign veterans Todd Frazier and Wilmer Difo, along with catcher Tony Wolters to minor league contracts. This should give a young Pirates team some stability, so long as they make the club out of spring training. While the Pirates might not currently be the most exciting team to watch, they are headed in the right direction.
St. Louis Cardinals:
St. Louis was on the receiving end of arguably the biggest trade this offseason. Superstar third baseman Nolan Arenado was traded to the red birds for a whopping five players, including three pitchers and two infielders. Arenado will play third base across the diamond from first baseman Paul Goldschmidt giving St. Louis the two best corner position players in the National League. Two long-time Cardinals—catcher Yadier Molina and starter Adam Wainwright re-signed with the Cards this offseason. Wainwright will hope to anchor a talented rotation that includes Jack Flaherty, Miles Mikolas, Carlos Martinez, and Daniel Ponce de Leon. The Cardinals batting order will be very tough on opposing teams as it has an eclectic mix of power, speed, and contact. Arenado and Goldschmidt are the headliners, but younger players like Tommy Edman, Paul DeJong, Tyler O’Neil, and Harrison Bader also have plenty to offer. St. Louis has a very well-rounded team this season, and with two of the game’s biggest stars on the corners, they could be a force to be reckoned with in the National League Central.
NL West
Arizona Diamondbacks:
The Diamondbacks will have to face some stiff competition in their division. Competing against the world champion Dodgers and a new-look Padres team will be a challenge. Arizona signed Tyler Clippard and closer Joakim Soria to bolster the bullpen. Lefty Ryan Buchter joined the team on a minor league contract and could be a difference-maker in the pen so long as he makes the team. The rotation will be headed up by Madison Bumgarner. While Bumgarner may not be the ace he used to be, he will have the arms of Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly, and Luke Weaver behind him, giving Arizona a very strong rotation. The D’back’s are loaded with defensive talent. The versatile Ketel Marte may see time in the outfield, as well as second base, and the duo of Nick Ahmed at shortstop and Eduardo Escobar at third will hold down the left side of the infield. David Peralta will undoubtedly be able to hold down left field. Peralta won the gold glove and defensive player of the year in left field in 2019. The powerful lefty Kole Calhoun is projected to start in right and will add some pop to the Diamondbacks athletic lineup.
Colorado Rockies:
Colorado fans had to bid farewell to one of their most beloved players as Nolan Arenado was traded to St. Louis this offseason. Ryan McMahon is expected to take his place at the hot corner. Even with Arenado gone, the Rockies still have a wealth of talent, including shortstop Trevor Story, second baseman Brendan Rodgers, and outfielder Charlie Blackmon. Everyone knows that the odds are stacked against pitchers at Coors Field, but the trio of German Marquez, Antonio Senzatela, and Kyle Freeland at the front of the rotation are as good as anyone else when pitching in Colorado.
Los Angeles Dodgers:
The Dodgers will look to bring home another world series trophy this season after winning it all last season. The spectacular mix of in-house talent and tremendous offseason acquisitions will give them a very good chance to do so. L.A. is loaded with all-star position players, including Mookie Betts, Cody Bellinger, and A.J. Pollack in the outfield. All of whom are fantastic five-tool players. Justin Turner re-signed with the Dodgers during the offseason and will take his familiar spot at third base alongside Max Muncy, who could see time at first and second base, and shortstop Cory Seager. The Dodgers were most active in bolstering their pitching staff. They added arms in the starting rotation and the bullpen. L.A. signed free-agent relievers Tommy Kahnle and Blake Treinen. L.A. also received righty Corey Knebel in a trade with the Brewers. Those three, along with Kenley Jansen and Joe Kelly, will make for a formidable bullpen. Of course, the biggest deal the Dodgers made this offseason was the signing of free-agent starter Trevor Bauer. Bauer will join an already deep rotation made up of Clayton Kershaw, Walker Buehler, David Price, Dustin May, Julio Urias, and Tony Gonsolin. The Dodgers are arguably the deepest team in all of baseball and have talent at every position. Combine that with the desire to defend a title, and the Dodgers are one of the game’s best teams.
San Diego Padres:
The Dodgers are not the only So-Cal team to keep an eye on this season. The Padres have done an excellent job at turning prospects into talented young major leaguers, and they have made several acquisitions during the offseason that may help them take the next step to becoming a contender in the NL West. In two separate trades, the Padres were able to land starter Blake Snell from Tampa Bay and Starter Yu Darvish and catcher Victor Caratini from the Cubs. San Diego also picked up right-hander Joe Musgrove in a trade with Pittsburgh. Darvish, Snell, and Musgrove join two good right-handed pitchers in Dinelson Lamet and Chris Paddack to form a solid rotation from top to bottom. There is also a chance Mike Clevenger could return from Tommy John surgery and give a boost to an already impressive pitching staff. San Diego has two potential closers in Drew Pomeranz and Emilio Pagan at the backend of the bullpen. Veteran reliever Mark Melancon signed as a free agent this offseason as well. On the left side of the infield, the Padres have Manny Machado at third and Fernando Tatis Jr. at shortstop. Tatis signed a record-breaking 14-year, $340 million dollar contract in February, cementing him as San Diego’s shortstop for a long time. ( https://www.mlb.com/news/fernando-tatis-jr-padres-deal) Tommy Pham and Will Myers are projected to start in the outfield, providing the Padres depth and some extra speed and power in their batting order.
San Francisco Giants:
Baseball Prospectus’ PECTOA algorithm has them winning 74.8 games this season. However, some of the offseason transactions made by the Giants show that they plan to be more competitive than that, even with Los Angeles and San Diego in the same division. San Francisco signed starters Anthony DeSclafani, and Aaron Sanchez to pitch behind Kevin Gausman and Johnny Cueto. Catcher Curt Casali was brought in to back up veteran catcher Buster Posey. And Infielder Tommy La Stella was signed to add some depth to the infield behind Evan Longoria, Brandon Belt, and Brandon Crawford. The Giants do have some stiff competition this season but will likely be more competitive than expected if some of their older players can stay on the field.
To read the American League breakdown, click here.
