NL Preview: Braves Will Not Be Able to Reclaim the Title Despite Dodger Dollars
According to Front Office Sports, just one year after major league teams broke the record by spending $3.7 billion on 140 free agents, the majority of owners favored budgetary prudence above securing eight-figure contracts for unproven players.
The Los Angeles Dodgers were the notable exception, luring two-way stud Shohei Ohtani from Anaheim north and using him to draw in Yoshinobu Yamamoto, another prize from the Japanese majors. A cool $1 billion was spent on the pair, however the majority of Ohtani’s money was postponed.
After undergoing elbow surgery, Ohtani, the two-time MVP of the American League, is unable to pitch this season but is able to focus on hitting. He will play as the Dodgers’ designated hitter after leading the league in home runs with 44. He will be the focal point of a potent lineup that already has Freddie Freeman and former MVP Mookie Betts.
The Dodgers and Braves both had triple-digit winning seasons prior to abruptly and unexpectedly folding in the Division Series. It’s unlikely to occur again for either club.
The Arizona Diamondbacks, a wild-card winner who edged out the Texas Rangers, another wild-card team, in the World Series, will have a difficult time defending the National League pennant. A matchup between two division winners is more likely to occur in this year’s Fall Classic.
Last season, Atlanta tied a major-league record with 307 home runs and led the majors with 104 wins. All-around MVP Ronald Acuna, Jr. may struggle to repeat his historic 40/70 season, but he has plenty of help from Matt Olson, who led the majors in RBIs and home runs, as well as from Austin Riley, Ozzie Albies, Marcell Ozuna, and DH. There is no club, not even the Dodgers, that can rival that fivesome. The Braves have the longest ongoing winning streak in the majors—seven division titles—if the pitching performs as predicted. All eyes will be on fellow lefty Chris Sale, a seven-time All-Star signed from Boston, and soon-to-be free agent Max Fried, but Spencer Strider is the ace after leading the majors in strikeouts (20) and victories (20).
According to Cot’s Baseball Contracts, Atlanta’s anticipated payroll of $265.3 million is fourth in the majors, but it is lower than that of the Mets ($329 million) and Dodgers ($321.3 million) in the National League. With $253.3 million, Philadelphia is sixth in the majors but fourth in the NL.
The Braves were 14 games ahead of the Phillies in both of the previous two seasons, but they were easily defeated by them in the postseason. The Phillies boast an intense offense led by Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, Nick Castellanos, and Trea Turner in addition to strong pitching headed by Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola. According to Cot’s, Harper and Turner are both $300 millionaires. Harper, a two-time MVP, is hoping to extend his contract past its expiration in 2031. Seven major league players currently in action earn more.
The New York Mets, located two hours north, are already blowing trumpets to celebrate the return of star closer Edwin Diaz. Diaz’s record-breaking five-year, $102 million contract was cut short after he suffered a serious knee injury during the World Baseball Classic. Working behind a mediocre rotation that is led by journeyman southpaw Jose Quintana and sophomore Kodai Senga, he will see action frequently. The Mets are counting on star shortstop Francisco Lindor and possible free agent slugger Pete Alonso to score more runs than they give up. As long as Francisco Alvarez doesn’t show signs of consistency, third base and catcher are remain open positions. Ronnie Mauricio, an injured infielder, will be missed by the squad, and Alonso may be lost when free agency rolls around at the end of the season.
But Lindor will remain at shortstop thanks to a $341 million, ten-year contract that extends until 2034 (Cot’s).
The purpose of Silent Night was not to describe the Marlins’ winter movements, but rather to be a Christmas song. Due to Tommy John surgery, previous Cy Young Award winner Sandy Alcantara will miss the entire season, making it difficult for the Fish to reach 84 wins once more. The return of Jazz Chisholm, Jr. (toe issues) to the lineup at least helps offset the loss of Jorge Soler (36 home runs) as a free agent. Jazz, in addition to Jake Burger and NL batting leader Luis (Line Drive) Arraez, will need to hold off a lineup that frequently lacks runs. However, his potential is 30/30. The new closer, Tanner Scott, will have to put in a lot of work behind a rotation that is young and inexperienced.
While the Nationals will remain in the division, the thrifty Fish might not succeed, but they should be able to avoid the cellar. According to Cot’s, Miami’s anticipated luxury tax payroll is $134.9 million, which is somewhat more than Washington’s $134.6 million. The final standings ought to reflect that disparity as well.
Once more, Washington will fulfill its mission to be the First in War, the First in Peace, and the Last in the National League. With players like CJ Abrams (47 thefts last year), the Nats will need to scrape by for runs despite the 20-home run potential of Lane Thomas and Joey Meneses. Hunter Harvey, the set-up man, and Kyle Finnegan offer good relief, but Josiah Gray and MacKenzie Gore, two rookie pitchers, are largely responsible.
Braves, Phillies, Mets, Marlins, and Nationals are how they’ll end.
Paul Goldschmidt, the slugger for the Central Division Cardinals Brewers Baseball team in St. Louis, is hoping to guide his team and return to his MVP form… [+]The Associated Press, 2019. All rights reserved. RESERVE ALL RIGHTS.
The once-proud Cardinals acquired three free-agent starters in Sonny Gray, Kyle Gibson, and Lance Lynn after going through their first season with 90 losses since 1990. Together with solid closer Ryan Helsley, workhorse Miles Mikolas, and potential returner Steven Matz, it should be sufficient for a respectable but unspectacular rotation. This fall, as a free agent, Paul Goldschmidt, the former MVP, intends to combine with skillful third baseman Nolan Arenado to provide plenty of punch, in addition to Nolan Gorman and Willson Contreras.
Relying on trim young talent in Elly De La Cruz, Matt McLain, Spencer Steer, and DH Christian Encarnacion-Strand—whose name hardly fits on the back of his uniform—the Reds made up 21 games in the standings last summer. The Reds’ rookie slugger Noelvi Marte has the ability to quickly erase memories of Joey Votto. The Reds will depend on a rotation led by fireballer Hunter Greene, along with young guns Graham Ashcroft, Andrew Abbott, and Nick Lodolo, who is returning from a leg injury, as well as Edwin’s brother but less skilled closer Alexis Diaz.
The overpriced manager Craig Counsell (five years for a record $40,000,000) will attempt to perform miracles on a subpar squad coming off three consecutive dismal seasons after bringing the Brewers to the postseason five times in the prior six years. Christopher Morel, Dansby Swanson, and Nico Hoerner will assist him with hitting, but Cody Bellinger and Jeimer Candelario, who deserted as free agents, will be missed. Shōta Imanaga, brought in from the Japanese majors, provides a boost to the rotation that is led by Justin Steele, Kyle Hendricks, and potential returner Jameson Taillon.
The Milwaukee Brewers have lost twelve players, their manager, and their president of baseball operations. It is unlikely that they will win 92 games and make it back to the postseason. Christian Yelich is also unlikely to revert to his MVP form from 2019. Although William Contreras and youngster Jackson Chourio (eight years, $82 million) lead the assault, signing sluggers Rhys Hoskins and Gary Sanchez helps. Meanwhile, Freddy Peralta and Wade Miley must fill in for sold ace Corbin Burnes and ailing Brandon Woodruff. Devin Williams, at least, is a good closer—possibly the best in the National League.
Despite having the lowest payroll in the league ($89.7 million), Pittsburgh will not be an impotent pushover, even though it may be at the bottom of the division once more, according to Cot’s estimations. The Franchise’s Face KeGold Glove third baseman Bryan Hayes leads an offense that includes towering shortstop Oneill Cruz, who is back from a damaged fibula, former MVP Andrew McCutchen, rookie Rowdy Tellez, switch-hitter Bryan Reynolds, and Hayes. Aroldis Chapman, a former Yankees closer, and starter Martin Perez, a free agent signee, will support a pitching staff that includes All-Star right-hander David Bednar and Mitch Keller. The top pick in the amateur draft and gifted youngster Paul Skenes might go straight from LSU to Pittsburgh.
During their off-season talent search, the Dodgers opted to go big, as in billion, in an attempt to win their first world title in a 162-game season since 1988. They signed James Paxton, Tyler Glasnow, and Yamamoto to fill up the gaps in their rotation. up fact, they paid $325 million over 12 years to entice the 25-year-old right-hander from Japan. Los Angeles signed Ohtani to the largest contract in professional sports history, a $700 million, 10-year contract that was the wealthiest ever offered to a pitcher (Cot’s lists its true value at $460,814,765 when deferred monies are included). Clayton Kershaw, a three-time Cy Young winner, was also retained by Los Angeles, who had him back in the second half following shoulder surgery. Ohtani should pose a threat to Freeman and Betts, who led the team in every hitting category, particularly in the power departments. The supporting cast is led by the healthy-again Gavin Lux, Will Smith, and Max Muncy.
The Diamondbacks, like the Dodgers, need to be superior to the team that captured 84 games the previous season. Unanimous Rookie of the Year Corbin Carroll, a strong 30/30 candidate, receives aid in the lineup from Eugenio Suarez, Christian Walker, Lourdes Gurriel Jr., and versatile Ketel Marte, while pitching aces Veteran lefty Eduardo Rodriguez, who joined as a free agent, gives a pick-me-up to Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly. Paul Sewald reappears in a closer role.
Arizona receives a fantastic return on its investment since it pays its players $190 million, which ranks 14th in the majors, according to Cot’s.
With a club-record 107 victories in 2021, San Francisco was the best team in the west, but they have since struggled, finishing below.500 in the previous season due to poor hitting and pitching. Since then, the Giants have added left-handed line-driver Jung Hoo Lee (who received $113 million to depart the Korean major leagues) and former World Series MVP Jorge Soler. The two players slated to surround Lee in the 2024 outfield, Michael Conforto and Mike Yastrzemski, must recover under new manager Bob Melvin. Starter Logan Webb and closer Camilo Doval are future All-Stars, and rookie lefty Kyle Harrison ought to make the rotation.
The San Diego Padres changed course after their reckless spending spree of the previous winter failed, acquiring veteran Cardinals manager Mike Shildt, trading superstar Juan Soto, and losing All-Stars Blake Snell and Josh Hader to free agency. Returning to lead a staff that also includes new power closer Robert Suarez and starters Michael King and Randy Vasquez are pitchers Yu Darvish and Joe Musgrove. The team’s star players will be Xander Bogaerts, who moved from shortstop to the outfield this season, and Fernando Tatis Jr., who surprised everyone by winning a Gold Glover. Kyle Higashioka, an ex-Yankee, takes over at catcher.
According to Cot’s, the $280,000,000 Bogaerts contract is among the top 20 among active players and is valid until 2033.
In the previous five years, the Colorado Rockies’ 2023 winning percentage (.364) was the lowest. And after a quiet winter in which only groundball pitcher Cal Quantrill replaced Chris Flexen, things won’t get much better. The Rockies last year had the worst earned run average by both rotation and relief corps, which is to be expected from a team that plays half of its schedule at a mile-high elevation. Only Austin Gomber won as many as nine games. After the injury to former star German Marquez, Kyle Freeland takes on a challenging role. With Charlie Blackmon, Hunter Goodman, MVP of the All-Star Game Einar Diaz, and injury-prone slugger Kris Bryant, at least there is hope for baseball fans.
