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NL East: A mid-term front office assessment of the 5 teams

By Bill Felber

Apr 11, 2022; Anaheim, California, USA; Miami Marlins general manager Kim Ng looks on before the game against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 11, 2022; Anaheim, California, USA; Miami Marlins general manager Kim Ng looks on before the game against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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The New York Mets have dominated the NL East, and first-year general manager Billy Eppler’s front office is a big part of the reason why.

Blessed with the game’s largest payroll, Eppler’s front office has created the premier turnaround in the National League through the first half of the 2021 season. Based on data through July 1, Eppler’s moves have improved the Mets by 5.3 games. That means the front office actions have been a large part of the reason why the Mets lead the division by three and one-half games.

The analysis that follows is an assessment of the impact each NL East front office’s personnel decisions since November of 2021 have had on their team’s standing right now.

It is based on the aggregate Wins Above Average of moves made in five areas:

  • Players acquired by trade, purchase or waiver claim.
  • Players signed as free agents or extended for more than one year.
  • Minor league call-ups.
  • Players lost via trade, waiver claim, or sale.
  • Players lost to free agency or released.

Wins Above Average is the preferred metric for this calculation because it is zero-based, meaning that it approximately reflects the number of games by which a front office either helped or hurt its team in the standings.

There was one change of significance to front office leadership in the division this season. That occurred in Queens, where Eppler was brought in by new owner Steve Cohen to handle day-to-day operations from Sandy Alderson, who remains as team president.

Otherwise the roster of front office bosses remains unchanged from 2021:

  • Atlanta: Alex Anthopoulos, president of baseball operations and general manager.
  • Miami: Kim Ng, general manager.
  • Philadelphia: Dave Dombrowski, president of baseball operations; Sam Fuld, general manager.
  • Washington: Mike Rizzo, president of baseball operations and general manager.

In order of effectiveness, here’s how all five NL East front offices have performed thus far in 2022. Also listed are the most significant moves by each front office.

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