Visiting the NL East's Cellar

Flickr/MissChatter

Times are tough for the majority of the National League East Division, but we'll tell you what to expect ahead. By Evan Weston 


We’ll be offering extensive coverage of the Philadelphia Phillies and the Atlanta Braves when they start their respective playoff series next week, so before we get lost in Octobermania, we want to take a quick look at what’s ahead for the other three National League East squads, and when we can expect to see them competing.


Washington Nationals: The Nats have a glimmering ray of hope, and his name is Bryce Harper. The number one pick tore up the minors this year to the tune of a .297/.392/.501, mashing 17 homers and swiping 26 bags across high-A and AA. Harper should start in AA next year, and he could see action as a September call-up. Add him to an already potent line-up featuring Michael Morse, Ryan Zimmerman, and a likely-to-rebound Jayson Werth (.282 BABIP is well below his career norms and league average), and the Nats could see playoff contention as early as 2013. Oh, and they have some guy named Stephen Strasburg, too. Word on the street is he’s pretty good.


New York Mets: This offseason, it’s all about Jose Reyes. The Mets absolutely have to re-sign their star shortstop to see contention in 2013 or 2014. Contrary to popular belief, the money is there, as the Mets have only $85 million committed to players next season after figuring in arbitration raises. That means they could sign Reyes for six years at $18 million per and still be comfortably within general manager Sandy Alderson’s $100-110 million payroll range. New York also has a terrific set of young arms moving up through the system, including Matt Harvey, Jeurys Familia, and newly acquired Zack Wheeler. Harvey and Wheeler should be ranked within the top 30 prospects in the game. If either or both turns on their potential, Reyes returns, and the Mets make some shrewd signings, contention isn’t as far off as it seems.


Florida Miami Marlins: That’s right Marlins fans, (wherever you are—we’re still not convinced they exist),your team will have a new name and color scheme when the Marlins take the field in their brand new stadium next April. Other than that, there isn’t much cause for excitement in South Beach. Owner Jeffrey Loria is still as penny-pinching as ever, there aren’t any real prospects coming up, and one of the best young players in the system (Logan Morrison) had an incredibly down year. Until Loria decides he wants to start signing veterans again—and he hasn’t since 2003—the name “Miami Marlins” will become pretty worn down before the Marlins even sniff a Wild Card hunt.