MVP: Giancarlo Stanton, OF, Marlins
Cy Young: Cole Hamels, SP, Phillies
Star on the Rise: Matt Harvey, SP, Mets
Star in Decline: Jayson Werth, OF, Nationals
Player to watch: Domonic Brown, OF Phillies
Atlanta Braves
2012 Record: 94-68, 2nd in NL East | Manager: Fredi Gonzalez (3rd season)
Key Additions: OFs B.J. Upton, Justin Upton, 3B Chris Johnson, RHP Jordan Walden
Key Losses: 3B Chipper Jones, OFs Michael Bourn, Martin Prado, RHPs Tommy Hanson, Randall Delgado
Top Prospect: Julio Teheran, RHP (#44 in Baseball America’s Top 100 Prospects); ETA: 2013
Projected Opening Day Rotation (with 2012 stats):
1. Tim Hudson: 16-7, 3.62 ERA, 1.21 WHIP
2. Kris Medlen: 10-1, 1.57 ERA, 0.91 WHIP
3. Paul Maholm: 13-11, 3.67 ERA, 1.22 WHIP
4. Mike Minor: 11-10, 4.12 ERA, 1.15 WHIP
5. Julio Teheran (minor league stats): 7-9, 5.08 ERA, 1.44 WHIP
Projected Opening Day Lineup:
C- Brian McCann: .230, 20 HR, 67 RBI
1B- Freddie Freeman: .259, 23 HR, 94 RBI
2B- Dan Uggla: .220, 19 HR, 78 RBI
3B- Juan Francisco: .234, 9 HR, 32 RBI
SS- Andrelton Simmons: .289, 3 HR, 19 RBI
LF- Justin Upton: .280, 17 HR, 67 RBI
CF- B.J. Upton: .246, 28 HR, 78 RBI
RF- Jason Heyward: .269, 27 HR, 82 RBI
Quick outlook:
Atlanta made a huge splash over the winter by acquiring two top tier outfielders, and, oh yeah, they’re brothers. This lineup could be deadly, filled with a surplus of power. While the home runs are bound to come, so are the strikeouts. Five of Atlanta’s nine projected starters struck out more than 120 times last season. The pitching staff is mediocre at best, lacking a true ace. Tim Hudson is not an ace, but Kris Medlen looks like he will be one in a few years. The bullpen is their biggest strength. If their opponent is trailing in the late innings, it will be extremely tough for them to rally back against Kimbrel, O’Flaherty, and Venters. Kimbrel, just 24 years old, saved 42 games last season, posted a 1.01 ERA, and struck out 112 batters in 62.2 innings.
Miami Marlins
2012 Record: 69-93, 5th in NL East | Manager: Mike Redmond (1st season)
Key Additions: OF Juan Pierre, 3B Placido Polanco, RHP Henderson Alvarez
Key Losses: 3B Hanley Ramirez, SS Jose Reyes, RHPs Josh Johnson, Heath Bell, LHP Mark Buehrle, IF Emilio Bonifacio, C John Buck, 1Bs Gaby Sanchez, Carlos Lee
Top Prospect: Jose Fernandez, RHP (#5 in Top 100); ETA: 2014
Projected Opening Day Rotation:
Ricky Nolasco: 12-13, 4.48 ERA, 1.37 WHIP
Henderson Alvarez: 9-14, 4.85 ERA, 1.44 WHIP
Wade LeBlanc: 2-5, 3.67 ERA, 1.31 WHIP
Nate Eovaldi: 3-7, 4.43 ERA, 1.54 WHIP
Jacob Turner (minor league stats): 7-3, 2.58 ERA, 1.25 WHIP
Projected Opening Day Lineup:
C- Rob Brantly: .290, 3 HR, 8 RBI
1B- Logan Morrison: .230, 11 HR, 36 RBI
2B- Donovan Solano: .295, 2 HR, 28 RBI
3B- Placido Polanco: .257, 2 HR, 15 RBI
SS- Adeiny Hechavarria: .254, 2 HR, 15 RBI
LF- Juan Pierre: .307, 1 HR, 25 RBI
CF- Justin Ruggiano: .313, 13 HR, 36 RBI
RF- Giancarlo Stanton: .290, 37 HR, 86 RBI
Quick outlook:
The Marlins are a train wreck. The offense is horrendous, even with Giancarlo Stanton. Ruggiano is a decent ball player, but nothing special. Brantly is young, but should develop into an above average catcher in the near future. He’s a good contact hitter, but will provide very little power. The pitching staff is even worse. When Ricky Nolasco is your number one guy, you’re in trouble. Henderson Alvarez and Jacob Turner have the tools to become solid number two starters, but that will take some time.
New York Mets
2012 Record: 74-88, 4th in NL East | Manager Terry Collins (3rd season)
Key Additions: RHP Shaun Marcum, C John Buck
Key Losses: RHP R.A. Dickey, OFs Scott Hairston, Andres Torres
Top Prospect: Zach Wheeler, RHP (#11 in Top 100); ETA: 2013
Projected Opening Day Rotation:
1. Johan Santana: 6-9, 4.85 ERA, 1.33 WHIP
2. Jonathon Niese: 13-9, 3.40 ERA, 1.17 WHIP
3. Shaun Marcum: 7-4, 3.70 ERA, 1.27 WHIP
4. Matt Harvey: 3-5, 2.73 ERA, 1.15 WHIP
5. Dillon Gee: 6-7, 4.10 ERA, 1.25 WHIP
Projected Opening Day Lineup:
C- John Buck: .192, 12 HR, 41 RBI
1B- Ike Davis: .227, 32 HR, 90 RBI
2B- Daniel Murphy: .291, 6 HR, 65 RBI
3B- David Wright: .306, 21 HR, 93 RBI
SS- Ruben Tejada: .289, 1 HR, 25 RBI
LF- Lucas Duda: .239, 15 HR, 57 RBI
CF- Kirk Nieuwenhuis: .252, 7 HR, 28 RBI
RF- Mike Baxter: .263, 3 HR, 17 RBI
Quick outlook:
The Mets don’t have many bright spots, but David Wright and Matt Harvey should certainly help ease some of the pain this organization will cause its fans this season. Harvey has a ton of potential and should develop into a solid number one or two starter a few years down the road. Everyone already knows what David Wright is capable of, it’s just a matter of if he can stay healthy. Even if Wright does play the entire season, the Mets still don’t have enough talent to compete. The pitching staff is shaky. Santana is always a question mark and Marcum was a nice addition to the rotation. Niese and Gee are young but are running out of chances to prove themselves. If Wright can’t stay healthy, I don’t see this team winning more than 70 games.
Philadelphia Phillies
2012 Record: 81-81, 3rd in NL East | Manager: Charlie Manuel (9th season)
Key Additions: OFs Ben Revere, Delmon Young, 3B Michael Young, RHP Mike Adams
Key Losses: OFs Shane Victorino, Hunter Pence, RHP Vance Worley
Top Prospect: Jesse Biddle, LHP (#89 in Top 100); ETA: 2014
Projected Opening Day Rotation:
1. Cole Hamels: 17-6, 3.05 ERA, 1.12 WHIP
2. Cliff Lee: 6-9, 3.16 ERA, 1.11 WHIP
3. Roy Halladay: 11-8, 4.49 ERA, 1.22 WHIP
4. Kyle Kendrick: 11-12, 3.90 ERA, 1.27 WHIP
5. John Lannan (minor league stats): 9-11, 4.30 ERA, 1.44 WHIP
Projected Opening Day Lineup:
C- Eric Kratz: .248, 9 HR, 68 RBI
1B- Ryan Howard: .219, 14 HR, 56 RBI
2B- Chase Utley: .256, 11 HR, 45 RBI
3B- Michael Young: .277, 8 HR, 67 RBI
SS- Jimmy Rollins: .250, 23 HR, 68 RBI
LF- John Mayberry Jr.
CF- Ben Revere: .294, 0 HR, 32 RB: .245, 14 HR, 46 RBI
RF- Domonic Brown (minor league stats): .310, 5 HR, 32 RBI
Quick outlook:
The Phillies’ core is old, and the window is closing at an incredibly fast rate. Halladay has been the center of major concern this spring, as his fastball has dipped under 90 miles per hour. If Halladay isn’t his normal self, the Phillies could be in a lot of trouble. Hamels and Lee are two of the best there is, but Halladay is a crucial part to this team’s success, and it showed last season. Domonic Brown has been swinging an awfully hot bat down in Clearwater, and will look to finally prove himself this year. No matter how well Brown plays, the Phillies will still need solid play from Howard, Utley, Rollins, and Young.
Washington Nationals
2012 Record: 98-64, 1st in NL East | Manager: Davey Johnson (3rd season)
Key Additions: RHPs Dan Haren, Rafael Soriano, OF Denard Span
Key Losses: OF Michael Morse, RHP Edwin Jackson
Top Prospect: Anthony Rendon, 3B (#30 in Top 100); ETA: 2014
Projected Opening Day Rotation:
Stephen Strasburg: 15-6, 3.16 ERA, 1.15 WHIP
Gio Gonzalez: 21-8, 2.89 ERA, 1.13 WHIP
Dan Haren: 12-13, 4.33 ERA, 1.29 WHIP
Jordan Zimmerman: 12-8, 2.94 ERA, 1.17 WHIP
Ross Detwiler: 10-8, 3.40 ERA, 1.22 WHIP
Projected Opening Day Rotation:
C- Wilson Ramos: .265, 3 HR, 10 RBI
1B- Adam LaRoche: .271, 33 HR, 100 RBI
2B- Danny Espinosa: .247, 17 HR, 56 RBI
3B- Ryan Zimmerman: .282, 25 HR, 95 RBI
SS- Ian Desmond: .292, 25 HR, 73 RBI
LF- Bryce Harper: .270, 22 HR, 59 RBI
CF- Denard Span: .283, 4 HR, 41 RBI
RF- Jayson Werth: .300, 5 HR, 31 RBI
Quick outlook:
The Nationals took a 98-win team and made it better. They added a solid veteran arm to the rotation in Dan Haren, a shut-down reliever in Rafael Soriano, and a speedy leadoff hitter in Denard Span. Strasburg has the green light this year, and should continue to mow down batters left and right. He and Gonzalez give the Nats one of the best one-two-punches in the league. They have an established lineup, a mix of talented veterans (Zimmerman, Werth, LaRoche) and impressive younger players (Harper, Espinosa, Desmond). The Nationals will find themselves on top of the National League East once again come October.