NL East Trade Deadline Preview

With the All Star Game officially concluded and the festivities winding down, it’s time to turn our attention to the MLB trade deadline on July 31. The NL East has been a mostly lopsided affair with the Washington Nationals comfortably sitting with a 9.5-game lead on the Atlanta Braves and company.

This season’s trade deadline is one of the most intriguing in recent memory for the NL East. Currently, the Braves, Mets, and Marlins sit within 2.5 games of each other with the Nationals sitting alone at the top. Last year the Nationals easily clinched the division going 95-67, and finishing with an 8 game lead over the New York Mets who finished the season 87-75 following their 2015 World Series appearance.

Fast forward to 2017, and the once pitiful Atlanta Braves now sit at 42-45 and in second place in the division. Yes, that Braves organization that finished 2016 at 68-93 is now toeing the line of .500 baseball. As for the Philadelphia Phillies, well, let’s just say this upcoming trade deadline will be all about the future of the organization.

The second half of the season is going to be filled with pure drama and emotion, and all five teams will be looking for certain pieces to either push for the playoffs or stake their claim as a threat in 2018.