Looking ahead to the MLB trade deadline, we preview what each NL East team must accomplish by July 31.
Entering 2018, the NL East appeared to be the weakest division in the senior circuit. The Washington Nationals are a perennial contender, having won the division in each of the previous two seasons. Now under the guidance of Dave Martinez, Joe Maddon‘s right-hand man for the past decade, it was hard to envision anyone other than the Nats winning the division.
The New York Mets appeared to be the Nats’ most significant competitor, but they were far from a sure bet to contend. Injuries have held their talented roster back in recent years, and their aging core would need to be at their best to dethrone the Nats. That is a lot to ask of a team that won just 70 games a year ago.
Other than the Mets, perhaps the two most intriguing teams in the division were the Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies. Each team had struggled over the last few years but had made progress towards returning to contention.
The Braves and Phillies were not expected to compete for a playoff spot, but could easily finish around .500, giving the Nats and Mets a moderate run for their money.
Then, of course, there are the Miami Marlins. After finishing second in the NL East in 2017, the Marlins switched ownership and direction. Despite fielding what was arguably the best outfield in baseball, the Marlins cleaned house.
Giancarlo Stanton, Christian Yelich, Marcell Ozuna, and Dee Gordon were all traded away, leaving J.T. Realmuto as the final star remaining in Miami. Derek Jeter won quite a bit during his career as a Yankee, but it will be a while before his Marlins contend for a championship.
Now that we are about halfway through June, it is acceptable to take a look at the standings. Teams that got off to a hot start could simmer, but there is no longer a small sample size.
To the surprise of many, the NL East is baseball’s most intriguing division. The surging Braves lead the way, with the Nats just behind them. The Phillies have struggled of late, but still, sit five games above .500 and are within striking distance of first place.
Meanwhile, the Mets and Marlins are well below .500 and appear to be out of contention. Each team has shown promising signs, but neither the Mets nor the Marlins have been able to sustain a high level of play.
Other than the All-Star week, the non-waiver trade deadline is the next major event in the MLB schedule. With the deadline just over a month away, rumors are already running rampant.
Let’s take a look at what each NL East team may do at the deadline, beginning with the current leader, the Atlanta Braves.