2021 NL East Season Preview
Apr 2, 2019 14:23:56 GMT -5
Commissioner Erick, Ben_Dodgers, and 1 more like this
Post by dbackhon on Apr 2, 2019 14:23:56 GMT -5
1) New York Mets:
Who they were last year: The Mets finished dead last in an unforgiving NL East and were absolutely devastated by injuries starting with top pitcher on the planet Noah "Thor" Syndergaard getting injured right out of the gate. At many points last season you could have fielded a better starting 9 from the DL than the active roster. The Mets found themselves hurt and in the basement of the NL East.
Offseason Summary: The Mets added some strong pieces to their lineup, acquiring Olrando Arcia from the Brewers, Jason Heyward from the Reds, and signing Mookie Betts to a lengthy deal. These offseason moves make New York's lineup very dangerous from 1 through 9. There aren't any easy outs in the starting lineup with every single starter ranks in the top 12 of the PBA according to OSA, and that isn't including Jason Heyward who is listed as a RF behind Mookie Betts in the OSA scouting report. More importantly however, are who the Mets get back from injury. Noah "Thor" Syndergaard is back and if he stays healthy is the best pitcher in the PBA however there concerns both about his ability to stay healthy and even for his ability to be a starter in the league at this point. Behind Thor are Jacob DeGrom, Matt Harvey, and Zack Wheeler, all of whom missed time last year but comprise the best top-4 SPs when healthy in the PBA.
This roster if they stay on the field is one of if not the best teams in the PBA. but it has been a struggle to keep them together.
On the Farm: The Crown Jewel of the Mets farm system is 22-year-old starter Matt Cleveland. Who alongside SS/3B Luis Torribo look like significant pieces in the Mets future. Each of them could use another year or so in AAA before they are ready for the show but both appear to be solid to strong contributors in the years to come.
Best Case Scenario: Syndergaard can remain a starter, everyone stays healthy and the Mets cruise to a 100+ win season and a title.
Worst Case Scenario: A repeat of last year.
Questions for the GM: If you do have another disappointing and injury riddled year, would you still have optimism that this team can stay healthy again or might you think to sell off the oft-injured stars and try to rebuild?
What measures are you taking as an organization to ensure that Syndergaard stays healthy in the future?
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2) Washington Nationals
Who they were last year: Washington was the 2nd Wild Card team and lost in the NLDS after beating the Rockies in the WC game. The team was led primarily by an otherworldly season by Bryce Harper who set the PBA record in Home Runs, RBI, SLG, and OPS on the way to his second MVP season in the past four years.
Offseason Summary: Two words: Mike Trout... The Nationals signed every-year All-star and former MVP Mike Trout to an earth shattering 8-year $533 million dollar contract this offseason as another mega-star to play alongside Bryce Harper in what has to be the most talented outfield assembled in the history of the PBA and quite possibly in the history of organized baseball. Other than Mike Trout they didn't have a lot of money to spend but were able to sign Eric Thames to a nice $1.5 million dollar deal that will plug in their hole at first base and add another power bat to the lineup on the cheap.
On the Farm: Eric Pena has blossomed into a pitcher with Cy Young level talent, and is easily the crown jewel of the Nationals farm system and possibly of the future of pitching in the PBA. Pena is likely to be named OSA's #1 prospect for the second consecutive year and is currently at Major League Spring training. However is still at least a year if not more away from being PBA ready as he has only recorded a single out above A-ball. After that the Nationals system is pretty dry other than a few promising young players in the low minors like Daniel Flores and Luis Garcia.
Best Case Scenario: Their All-World outfielders carry the team to a division crown and once in the playoffs takes over a few series and win the pennant maybe even a championship.
Worst Case Scenario: One of Trout or Harper gets injured or underperforms, exposing a top-heavy lineup as the Nats fall to 3rd in their division and miss the playoffs.
Questions for the GM: You have three of the nine players in the league who make more than $30 million dollars per year and in a position with little to no financial inflexibility for the next three years or so. How, without any financial wiggle room, are you looking to improve the team in the coming years?
How do you plan to nurture Eric Pena's development so that when he does arrive in the PBA he fulfills his full potential?
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3) Philadelphia Phillies
Who they were: Fuelled by super rookies Seth Beer and Mickey Moniak the Phillies turned around a middling start into a surprise division title overtaking the Washington Nationals for the division crown. Once in the playoffs Moniak's magical series led the Phillies to beat the heavily favored LA Dodgers in 7-games to advance to the NLCS where they took down an even greater goliath in the 112-win Chicago Cubs in six games to take the NL Pennant before ultimately losing the World Series to Cleveland.
Offseason Review: The most notable change between this year and last years teams is that Seth Beer and Mickey Moniak, the young stars who took the team on their back all the way to the pennant will be playing for the big club for the entire season. Last year the Phillies held a torrid pace from June until October and hope that 2021 they can hold that pace for an entire 162-game season. In terms of offseason acquisitions the Phillies filled in their gaping hole at catcher signing Travis d'Arnaud as well as acquiring SP Ty Blach from the Giants to replace the departing Mike Leake.
On the Farm: With the graduation of Beer and Moniak to major league glory, and others in the high minors like Mason Englert and Franklin Kilome at Phillie spring training with what seems like a good shot of making the roster most of the Phillies talent on the farm is in the low-minors. According to OSA, the top-5 Philly prospects with the most potential are all in A-ball or lower. Among those the brightest potential future star is former first-round pick Marc Eberle, a right handed knuckleballer who has been promoted to the Florida State league after an up and down first season in rookie ball.
Best Case Scenario: Beer and Moniak look like a younger less polished version of Harper and Trout and the Phillies are able to parley last years exictement and momentum into another division title... and we've seen what they can do once they get into the playoffs.
Worst Case Scenario: Beer and Moniak show their youth and are inconsistent throughout the year leaving them with about 85-88 wins and find themselves looking up at the second wild card slot in late September.
Questions for the GM: Are you planning on extending Aaron Nola with the intention that he remains a starter? He is undoubtably talented but has a lot of wear and tear on his arm for such a young pitcher and the OSA are concerned that his future may be in the bullpen.
On the whole you are an extremely young team, led on the field by position players under 25 and an ace that is 22 years old are you concerned that a lack of veteran leadership may lead to inconsistency?
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4) Miami Marlins
Who they were: The younger players played well but the impact of Wilmer Flores was notable as the Marlins team lingered around and below .500 for most of the year.
Offseason Overview: The Marlins had an uncharacteristically aggressive offseason. The marquee acquisition was a 5 year $66 million dollar deal to bring fan favorite Wilmer Flores back to the NL East and back to the Marlins organization after a one year sojourn with the Astros organization. His bat will add a lot to a lineup that struggled to hit home runs last season as well as provide the leadership in the locker room and community engagement that this young roster and city need. However it was not all about Flores, as the Marlins also made a massive trade with the Minnesota Twins sending the talented but so far unproductive outfielder Luis Robert, SP/RP Edward Cabrera, and AA catcher Welbin Bautista to the Twins in exchange for SS Nick Gordon and stud CL Nick Burdi. Gordon and Burdi have proven themselves to be productive PBA players who will remain under team control for several years.
On the Farm: The Marlins farm system is thin on top-end talent. Their AAA club boasts several players who may make the leap from AAAA player to productive major leaguers, but in the lower minors there are a few too many players such as closer Cletus Graves who have some amazing tools but massive flaws in their game that make PBA success unlikely unless coaches can work some magic.
Best Case Scenario: Young Talent takes a step foward, Flores provides veteran leadership and championship experience, the patchwork rotation overperforms and Miami eeks its way above .500 for the first time in franchise history.
Worst Case Scenario: Miami fails to navigate an incredibly tough division and improves their record from last year by a game or two, but still remain well below .500
Questions for the GM: Do you intend to keep Nick Gordon and Burdi for the long term?
What factored into your decision to trade away Luis Robert?
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5) Atlanta Braves
Who they were last season: A decent team with a couple very promising pieces such as young ace Ian Anderson, and perennial gold glover Ozzie Albies that found themselves juuuuuust below .500 at 80-82 finishing above the Mets and Marlins for a respectable 3rd place in the NL East.
Offseason Overview: The Braves didn't lose a ton of important pieces at the major but were able to bring in some marquee talent in LF Max Kepler formerly of the Twins and CL Johnathan Holder from the Yankees. Kepler and Holder will absolutely improve the team but the NL East is going to be an absolutely brutal division where all five teams could and probably maybe would be .500 if they did not have to beat up on each other throughout the year.
On the Farm: From a pure tools perspective the Braves organization has the best minor league system in the entirety of baseball, boasting the #2, #7, #14, #22. and #45 prospects in all of baseball. However many of these players while undeniably talented need quite a bit more time in the minors before they are ready for the major league level and others would be major league ready if not for a major hole in their game. For example, Shane Paz - OSA's #2 prospect - has absolutely electric major league stuff right now but has struggled to find the plate throughout his career with the organization. Andres Chapparo (#7) stuggled quite a bit in AAA last season, and SP Jake Higginbotham (#22) is yet to develop plus-plus off speed pitches to compensate for his subpar fastball.
Best Case Scenario: Young Ace Ian Anderson develops the third pitch he needs to be one of the better pitchers in the league, Max Kepler earns himself big money either with the Braves or elsewhere and the Braves play meaningful baseball in September.
Worst Case Scenario: Ian Anderson fails to develop a third pitch and a weak rotation is a death knell in an NL East with five very strong offensive teams.
Questions for the GM: Are you planning on offering Max Kepler an extension?
What was your thought process behind inviting your top prospects - especially those who have struggled in the minors - to Major League spring training?
Who they were last year: The Mets finished dead last in an unforgiving NL East and were absolutely devastated by injuries starting with top pitcher on the planet Noah "Thor" Syndergaard getting injured right out of the gate. At many points last season you could have fielded a better starting 9 from the DL than the active roster. The Mets found themselves hurt and in the basement of the NL East.
Offseason Summary: The Mets added some strong pieces to their lineup, acquiring Olrando Arcia from the Brewers, Jason Heyward from the Reds, and signing Mookie Betts to a lengthy deal. These offseason moves make New York's lineup very dangerous from 1 through 9. There aren't any easy outs in the starting lineup with every single starter ranks in the top 12 of the PBA according to OSA, and that isn't including Jason Heyward who is listed as a RF behind Mookie Betts in the OSA scouting report. More importantly however, are who the Mets get back from injury. Noah "Thor" Syndergaard is back and if he stays healthy is the best pitcher in the PBA however there concerns both about his ability to stay healthy and even for his ability to be a starter in the league at this point. Behind Thor are Jacob DeGrom, Matt Harvey, and Zack Wheeler, all of whom missed time last year but comprise the best top-4 SPs when healthy in the PBA.
This roster if they stay on the field is one of if not the best teams in the PBA. but it has been a struggle to keep them together.
On the Farm: The Crown Jewel of the Mets farm system is 22-year-old starter Matt Cleveland. Who alongside SS/3B Luis Torribo look like significant pieces in the Mets future. Each of them could use another year or so in AAA before they are ready for the show but both appear to be solid to strong contributors in the years to come.
Best Case Scenario: Syndergaard can remain a starter, everyone stays healthy and the Mets cruise to a 100+ win season and a title.
Worst Case Scenario: A repeat of last year.
Questions for the GM: If you do have another disappointing and injury riddled year, would you still have optimism that this team can stay healthy again or might you think to sell off the oft-injured stars and try to rebuild?
What measures are you taking as an organization to ensure that Syndergaard stays healthy in the future?
------------------------------
2) Washington Nationals
Who they were last year: Washington was the 2nd Wild Card team and lost in the NLDS after beating the Rockies in the WC game. The team was led primarily by an otherworldly season by Bryce Harper who set the PBA record in Home Runs, RBI, SLG, and OPS on the way to his second MVP season in the past four years.
Offseason Summary: Two words: Mike Trout... The Nationals signed every-year All-star and former MVP Mike Trout to an earth shattering 8-year $533 million dollar contract this offseason as another mega-star to play alongside Bryce Harper in what has to be the most talented outfield assembled in the history of the PBA and quite possibly in the history of organized baseball. Other than Mike Trout they didn't have a lot of money to spend but were able to sign Eric Thames to a nice $1.5 million dollar deal that will plug in their hole at first base and add another power bat to the lineup on the cheap.
On the Farm: Eric Pena has blossomed into a pitcher with Cy Young level talent, and is easily the crown jewel of the Nationals farm system and possibly of the future of pitching in the PBA. Pena is likely to be named OSA's #1 prospect for the second consecutive year and is currently at Major League Spring training. However is still at least a year if not more away from being PBA ready as he has only recorded a single out above A-ball. After that the Nationals system is pretty dry other than a few promising young players in the low minors like Daniel Flores and Luis Garcia.
Best Case Scenario: Their All-World outfielders carry the team to a division crown and once in the playoffs takes over a few series and win the pennant maybe even a championship.
Worst Case Scenario: One of Trout or Harper gets injured or underperforms, exposing a top-heavy lineup as the Nats fall to 3rd in their division and miss the playoffs.
Questions for the GM: You have three of the nine players in the league who make more than $30 million dollars per year and in a position with little to no financial inflexibility for the next three years or so. How, without any financial wiggle room, are you looking to improve the team in the coming years?
How do you plan to nurture Eric Pena's development so that when he does arrive in the PBA he fulfills his full potential?
-----------------------
3) Philadelphia Phillies
Who they were: Fuelled by super rookies Seth Beer and Mickey Moniak the Phillies turned around a middling start into a surprise division title overtaking the Washington Nationals for the division crown. Once in the playoffs Moniak's magical series led the Phillies to beat the heavily favored LA Dodgers in 7-games to advance to the NLCS where they took down an even greater goliath in the 112-win Chicago Cubs in six games to take the NL Pennant before ultimately losing the World Series to Cleveland.
Offseason Review: The most notable change between this year and last years teams is that Seth Beer and Mickey Moniak, the young stars who took the team on their back all the way to the pennant will be playing for the big club for the entire season. Last year the Phillies held a torrid pace from June until October and hope that 2021 they can hold that pace for an entire 162-game season. In terms of offseason acquisitions the Phillies filled in their gaping hole at catcher signing Travis d'Arnaud as well as acquiring SP Ty Blach from the Giants to replace the departing Mike Leake.
On the Farm: With the graduation of Beer and Moniak to major league glory, and others in the high minors like Mason Englert and Franklin Kilome at Phillie spring training with what seems like a good shot of making the roster most of the Phillies talent on the farm is in the low-minors. According to OSA, the top-5 Philly prospects with the most potential are all in A-ball or lower. Among those the brightest potential future star is former first-round pick Marc Eberle, a right handed knuckleballer who has been promoted to the Florida State league after an up and down first season in rookie ball.
Best Case Scenario: Beer and Moniak look like a younger less polished version of Harper and Trout and the Phillies are able to parley last years exictement and momentum into another division title... and we've seen what they can do once they get into the playoffs.
Worst Case Scenario: Beer and Moniak show their youth and are inconsistent throughout the year leaving them with about 85-88 wins and find themselves looking up at the second wild card slot in late September.
Questions for the GM: Are you planning on extending Aaron Nola with the intention that he remains a starter? He is undoubtably talented but has a lot of wear and tear on his arm for such a young pitcher and the OSA are concerned that his future may be in the bullpen.
On the whole you are an extremely young team, led on the field by position players under 25 and an ace that is 22 years old are you concerned that a lack of veteran leadership may lead to inconsistency?
----------------------------
4) Miami Marlins
Who they were: The younger players played well but the impact of Wilmer Flores was notable as the Marlins team lingered around and below .500 for most of the year.
Offseason Overview: The Marlins had an uncharacteristically aggressive offseason. The marquee acquisition was a 5 year $66 million dollar deal to bring fan favorite Wilmer Flores back to the NL East and back to the Marlins organization after a one year sojourn with the Astros organization. His bat will add a lot to a lineup that struggled to hit home runs last season as well as provide the leadership in the locker room and community engagement that this young roster and city need. However it was not all about Flores, as the Marlins also made a massive trade with the Minnesota Twins sending the talented but so far unproductive outfielder Luis Robert, SP/RP Edward Cabrera, and AA catcher Welbin Bautista to the Twins in exchange for SS Nick Gordon and stud CL Nick Burdi. Gordon and Burdi have proven themselves to be productive PBA players who will remain under team control for several years.
On the Farm: The Marlins farm system is thin on top-end talent. Their AAA club boasts several players who may make the leap from AAAA player to productive major leaguers, but in the lower minors there are a few too many players such as closer Cletus Graves who have some amazing tools but massive flaws in their game that make PBA success unlikely unless coaches can work some magic.
Best Case Scenario: Young Talent takes a step foward, Flores provides veteran leadership and championship experience, the patchwork rotation overperforms and Miami eeks its way above .500 for the first time in franchise history.
Worst Case Scenario: Miami fails to navigate an incredibly tough division and improves their record from last year by a game or two, but still remain well below .500
Questions for the GM: Do you intend to keep Nick Gordon and Burdi for the long term?
What factored into your decision to trade away Luis Robert?
---------------------------
5) Atlanta Braves
Who they were last season: A decent team with a couple very promising pieces such as young ace Ian Anderson, and perennial gold glover Ozzie Albies that found themselves juuuuuust below .500 at 80-82 finishing above the Mets and Marlins for a respectable 3rd place in the NL East.
Offseason Overview: The Braves didn't lose a ton of important pieces at the major but were able to bring in some marquee talent in LF Max Kepler formerly of the Twins and CL Johnathan Holder from the Yankees. Kepler and Holder will absolutely improve the team but the NL East is going to be an absolutely brutal division where all five teams could and probably maybe would be .500 if they did not have to beat up on each other throughout the year.
On the Farm: From a pure tools perspective the Braves organization has the best minor league system in the entirety of baseball, boasting the #2, #7, #14, #22. and #45 prospects in all of baseball. However many of these players while undeniably talented need quite a bit more time in the minors before they are ready for the major league level and others would be major league ready if not for a major hole in their game. For example, Shane Paz - OSA's #2 prospect - has absolutely electric major league stuff right now but has struggled to find the plate throughout his career with the organization. Andres Chapparo (#7) stuggled quite a bit in AAA last season, and SP Jake Higginbotham (#22) is yet to develop plus-plus off speed pitches to compensate for his subpar fastball.
Best Case Scenario: Young Ace Ian Anderson develops the third pitch he needs to be one of the better pitchers in the league, Max Kepler earns himself big money either with the Braves or elsewhere and the Braves play meaningful baseball in September.
Worst Case Scenario: Ian Anderson fails to develop a third pitch and a weak rotation is a death knell in an NL East with five very strong offensive teams.
Questions for the GM: Are you planning on offering Max Kepler an extension?
What was your thought process behind inviting your top prospects - especially those who have struggled in the minors - to Major League spring training?
