NL East
Philadelphia Phillies
I’m taking the Phillies to win the NL East. This team is still old, dangerous, and very clearly trying to squeeze one more real run out of this core before the window slams shut. They kept Kyle Schwarber, kept J.T. Realmuto, and added Adolis Garcia. As much as people love to talk about their age, they can still beat the hell out of a baseball.
The clock is ticking, no question. But I still think there is enough here for them to win this division. They know exactly what phase they’re in, and for one more year, I think it’s still enough.
New York Mets
I’ve got the Mets finishing second. The talent is obvious, but so is the chaos. They added Bo Bichette, Freddy Peralta, Luis Robert Jr., Marcus Semien, Devin Williams, Jorge Polanco, and Luke Weaver, then somehow came away with a six infielder strategy like they’re trying to win games with a traffic jam.
Maybe that’s just their way of preparing for Juan Soto moving in right field like he’s wearing Timberlands. This team could absolutely win a ton of games if everything clicks. It could also spend half the season trying to figure out what exactly it is. Good team. Plenty of talent. But I like Philly more.
Atlanta Braves
The Braves check in third for me. Still talented. Still dangerous. But this team is already leaking oil before the season even starts.
Ha Seong Kim had finger surgery. Spencer Schwellenbach and Hurston Waldrep had elbow surgeries. Joey Wentz tore his ACL. Jurickson Profar got hit with a 162 game suspension. If healthy, sure, they can absolutely make noise. But right now they are already bleeding, and I think the margin for error is thinner than it should be.
Miami Marlins
The Marlins finish fourth. There are a few interesting names here and a couple pieces that make you stop for a second, but this still feels like a scrappy team more than a serious one.
You can talk yourself into parts of the roster. You cannot really talk yourself into the whole thing. Interesting in spots, serious in none.
Washington Nationals
The Nationals round it out in fifth. They’re still building, but at least now you can see more of the outline than you used to. This team is still way more about development than actual contention.
Not good yet, but at least no longer directionless.
NL East Prediction
Phillies
Mets
Braves
Marlins
Nationals
