Atlanta Braves
2025 Recap
Final record: 76-86
Division finish: 4th
Biggest Strengths
Catcher and first base were productive. Getting high level offensive production from Drake Baldwin and Sean Murphy behind the plate is a real positive given leaguewide catching averages. Matt Olson bounced back after a down year in 2024.
Biggest Weaknesses
The entire pitching staff was below par, with the rotation ranking 22ⁿᵈ in ERA despite 20 starts from Chris Sale. Spencer Strider was a far cry from the pitcher we saw a couple of years ago.
Key Additions
Robert Suarez and Ian Hamilton bring experience to the bullpen. Mike Yastrzemski should improve a left field spot that struggled in 2025, and infield depth was added in Jorge Mateo, Mauricio Dubon, and Brett Wisely. With Murphy sidelined following surgery, Jonah Heim was signed as Baldwin’s backup.
Prospects Likely to Contribute
With a bottom-five farm system, the Braves don’t have a long queue of players ready to bolster the big-league roster. Top 100 pitching prospects Didier Fuentes and JR Ritchie are the standouts, while Lucas Braun is not far away.
Key Losses
The bullpen lost several arms, including Pierce Johnson and Alexis Diaz. The most notable position player departure was Marcell Ozuna, who penned a one-year deal to be the Pirates’ DH.
Projected Lineup
Ronald Acuña Jr.
Drake Baldwin
Matt Olson
Austin Riley
Jurickson Profar
Ozzie Albies
Mike Yastrzemski
Michael Harris II
Brett Wisely
Projected Pitching Staff
Rotation
Chris Sale
Reynaldo López
Spencer Strider
Bryce Elder
Grant Holmes
Bullpen
Raisel Iglesias
Dylan Lee
Tyler Kinley
Aaron Bummer
Robert Suarez
Ian Hamilton
Joel Payamps
Biggest Question Mark
Will Spencer Strider regain his stuff? Strider had a 96 Stuff+ in 2025 after posting 107 and 120 in previous seasons. Atlanta’s rotation was not good enough last year, and they need Strider to be at least a viable number two behind Sale to contend.
Breakout Candidate
Tyler Kinley has a great slider and a truly elite curveball. He decreased his fastball usage in September and leaned on the curve more frequently. There is a winning formula here for a pitcher who ranked in the 100ᵗʰ percentile in hard hit rate allowed and the 89ᵗʰ percentile in whiff rate in 2025.
Projected record: 83-81
Miami Marlins
2025 Recap
Final record: 79-83
Division finish: 3rd
Biggest Strengths
Miami ranked ninth in outfield wins above average, largely driven by Kyle Stowers and Jesús Sánchez. Sánchez is no longer on the roster, but Heriberto Hernández should get plenty of corner reps after showing offensive upside in 2025.
Biggest Weaknesses
The non-Edward Cabrera starters. Cabrera, who was traded to the Cubs in the offseason, was the only Marlins starter to be clearly above average, contributing to Miami ranking 26ᵗʰ in rotation ERA.
Key Additions
Owen Caissie was the headliner in the Cabrera trade and slots into a corner outfield spot. Pete Fairbanks brings late game experience to the bullpen, Chris Paddack fills out the rotation, and a flyer was taken on Christopher Morel.
Prospects Likely to Contribute
Caissie is a top 45 prospect at Baseball America and MLB Pipeline. He projects as an above average hitter in 2026 after excelling in Triple-A.
Another top 100 prospect, Joe Mack, may not need more than a couple of months in Triple-A before making the jump.
Jacob Berry, a first-round pick in 2022, should get a look at some point. Thomas White and Robby Snelling are also on track to reinforce the rotation.
Key Losses
Trading Cabrera and Ryan Weathers was part of Peter Bendix’s long-term approach, with Miami prioritizing the future despite winning 79 games last year. It was the right call, even if it frustrated some Marlins fans who wanted to contend.
Projected Lineup
Xavier Edwards
Jakob Marsee
Kyle Stowers
Agustín Ramírez
Griffin Conine
Connor Norby
Otto Lopez
Liam Hicks
Owen Caissie
Projected Pitching Staff
Rotation
Sandy Alcantara
Max Meyer
Eury Pérez
Braxton Garrett
Chris Paddack
Bullpen
Pete Fairbanks
Calvin Faucher
Tyler Phillips
Anthony Bender
Cade Gibson
Andrew Nardi
Janson Junk
Biggest Question Mark
Do any Marlins replicate Stowers’ breakout leap? As it stands, he is the only Miami hitter projected for a wRC+ above 101. The rotation should be aided by the arrival of top prospects, but this lineup needs more than one above-average hitter.
Breakout Candidate
Eury Pérez has been labeled a breakout candidate for years. The case is as strong as ever entering 2026. He posted a 118 Stuff+ last season behind a dominant slider and curveball, along with a 3.23 xERA and a 0.68 xwOBA on his changeup. He has the profile of a Cy Young contender.
Projected record: 73-89
New York Mets
2025 Recap
Final record: 83-79
Division finish: 2nd
Biggest Strengths
It’s a toss up between the overall offense, which ranked 5ᵗʰ in wRC+, and the first half as the Mets’ biggest strength. New York went 45-24 before a major collapse that cost them a playoff spot.
Biggest Weaknesses
The Mets ranked 25ᵗʰ in rotation ERA from July 1 onward and got very little production from center field, leaving two clear weaknesses in 2025. The bullpen was far from perfect, but still finished 15ᵗʰ in ERA for the season.
Key Additions
Four everyday hitters were added in Marcus Semien, Bo Bichette, Luis Robert Jr., and Jorge Polanco. Freddy Peralta and Tobias Myers join the rotation and bullpen, respectively, while Devin Williams and Luke Weaver were signed as free agents after stints with the Yankees.
Prospects Likely to Contribute
Nolan McLean, the third overall prospect in baseball, slots into the second spot in the rotation behind Peralta. There’s a good chance Carson Benge breaks camp with the big-league team after excelling in High-A and Double-A last year.
Jonah Tong is one of the top pitching prospects in the sport and had a brief look at the majors in 2025. He’s going to be back before long.
First baseman and corner outfielder Ryan Clifford isn’t far off getting a big-league chance after decent numbers in the high minors. The same goes for A.J. Ewing and Jacob Reimer.
Key Losses
It was an offseason of turnover. Pete Alonso became an Oriole, Edwin Diaz signed a big-money deal with the Dodgers, and Tyler Rogers moved to Toronto. Brandon Nimmo went out the door in the trade that brought in Semien, while Ryan Helsley, Ryne Stanek, Griffin Canning, and Gregory Soto signed elsewhere as free agents.
Projected Lineup
Francisco Lindor
Juan Soto
Bo Bichette
Jorge Polanco
Marcus Semien
Brett Baty
Luis Robert Jr.
Francisco Alvarez
Mark Vientos
Projected Pitching Staff
Rotation
Freddy Peralta
Nolan McLean
Kodai Senga
David Peterson
Clay Holmes
Bullpen
Sean Manaea
Devin Williams
Luke Weaver
Tobias Myers
Luis Garcia
Brooks Raley
Bryan Hudson
Biggest Question Mark
Like so many teams, the Mets are relying on young pitching. It would be easy to identify McLean and Tong as the biggest question marks given how much the rotation struggled in the second half of last season.
Robert’s production is also a fascinating storyline to watch with this team. Center field was a major problem last season, and the former All-Star has an 85 OPS+ over the last two years. In 2023, however, he had a 130 OPS+ and posted 5.3 bWAR.
Breakout Candidate
Still only 24 years old, Francisco Alvarez is very much in breakout territory. He’s made only just over 600 plate appearances across the last two seasons but posted an elite hard-hit rate in 2025.
Alvarez takes a good number of walks and is selective enough to produce big offensive numbers. With high bat speed, he has 20+ homer potential if he rediscovers the higher aerial pull rate from earlier in his career.
Projected record: 95-67
Philadelphia Phillies
2025 Recap
Final record: 96-66
Division finish: 1st
Biggest Strengths
The Phillies had the best rotation in baseball, according to WAA, and ranked second in ERA behind the Rangers. That came despite a difficult year from Aaron Nola and Zack Wheeler being limited to 24 starts due to injury.
Biggest Weaknesses
The corner outfield spots ranked in the bottom 10 for the Phils, with several players underperforming. The bullpen was once again poor, finishing 20ᵗʰ in ERA.
Key Additions
Adolis Garcia fills a corner outfield spot after being non-tendered by Texas. No moves were made to reinforce the rotation, but the bullpen got several new faces in Brad Keller, Jonathan Bowlan, and Zach Pop.
Prospects Likely to Contribute
Starting pitcher Andrew Painter, center fielder Justin Crawford, and shortstop Aiden Miller are the prospects most likely to have a major impact in 2026.
Keaton Anthony had good numbers in the high minors so he also might force his way onto the big-league roster before the break.
Gabriel Rincones Jr. is unlikely to be called up until the second half at the earliest after playing only 22 games at Double-A. Jean Cabrera could get a shot if one of the starters goes on the injured list.
Key Losses
The rotation is markedly weaker after Ranger Suárez signed with the Red Sox. Harrison Bader left Philadelphia for San Francisco on a two-year deal with the Giants. Nick Castellanos’ acrimonious departure ended with the veteran being released before spring training.
Projected Lineup
Trea Turner
Kyle Schwarber
Bryce Harper
Alec Bohm
Adolis Garcia
Brandon Marsh
J.T. Realmuto
Bryson Stott
Justin Crawford
Projected Pitching Staff
Rotation
Zack Wheeler
Cristopher Sanchez
Jesús Luzardo
Taijuan Walker
Andrew Painter
Bullpen
Jhoan Duran
Jose Alvarado
Orion Kerkering
Tanner Banks
Zach Pop
Jonathan Bowlan
Brad Keller
Biggest Question Mark
What does Zach Wheeler look like, and when does he get back?
Philadelphia’s initial timeline has him returning in April or May. He will miss Opening Day, and while things are reportedly progressing well, the key question is how close he will be to his Cy Young-contending best when he returns to the big league roster.
Philly doesn’t have much margin for error in its rotation with Nola’s decline and Suárez’s departure.
Breakout Candidate
An aging roster means the Phillies aren’t exactly loaded with breakout candidates. Carson Benge hasn’t made his MLB debut yet, but there are signs he can hit the ground running when he does. He’s a complete player, even without a single standout tool, and has shown the IQ to adapt throughout his time in the minors.
Projected record: 87-75
Washington Nationals
2025 Recap
Final record: 66-96
Division finish: 5th
Biggest Strengths
There’s not much to tout here, but the play of James Wood pushed the Nationals to 6ᵗʰ in WAA from left field. CJ Abrams also ensured shortstop was solid too.
Biggest Weaknesses
Defense (29th in OAA), bullpen (30th in ERA), and rotation (29th in ERA) were all major problems for the Nationals in 2025. They simply couldn’t prevent their opponents from scoring runs. On offense, they had the worst production in the majors from the corner infield spots.
Key Additions
Harry Ford was the most high-profile addition for Washington this offseason. Most of their other moves came on waivers, including Joey Wiemer, Richard Lovelady, and Gus Varland. Miles Mikolas and Foster Griffin were signed as free agents.
Prospects Likely to Contribute
Ford is the standout here. He has dropped in prospect rankings from where he’s been in the past, but he had a good year at Triple-A and will get plenty of big-league plate appearances.
Keep an eye on Caleb Lomavita and Seaver King to see if they can earn a shot in the majors. Christian Franklin is close to joining the outfield alongside James Wood and Dylan Crews.
Key Losses
Jose A. Ferrer was flipped to the Mariners in the deal that brought Ford to Washington. MacKenzie Gore, the ace of the staff, was sent to the Rangers for five minor leaguers.
Don’t be surprised if the Nats move more veterans to bolster the farm, as they appear headed for another rebuild after never fully emerging from the last one.
Projected Lineup
James Wood
CJ Abrams
Dylan Crews
Daylen Lile
Harry Ford
Luis Garcia Jr.
Brady House
Jacob Young
Nasim Nuñez
Projected Pitching Staff
Rotation
Foster Griffin
Miles Mikolas
Cade Cavalli
Brad Lord
Josiah Gray
Bullpen
Clayton Beeter
Cole Henry
PJ Poulin
Jackson Rutledge
Richard Lovelady
Gus Varland
Griff McGarry
Biggest Question Mark
Does the teardown continue? The Gore and Ferrer trades were good deals in isolation. Washington got plenty of value for a controllable reliever and an inconsistent starter who was on track to reach free agency before the Nationals are ready to contend again.
Still, it’s already been a lengthy rebuild. Does the front office stay on this path and move Abrams? Will Griffin get flipped if he has a strong first half?
Breakout Candidate
Griff McGarry probably profiles best as a reliever given his inconsistent command in the minors. Still, there is nothing preventing a rookie reliever from breaking out.
McGarry posted a 121 Stuff+ in 2025 and was named the Phillies’ Minor League Pitcher of the Year before being acquired by the Nationals in the Rule 5 Draft. He struck out over 35% of hitters he faced last season and has a legitimate four-pitch mix, with the potential to add a fifth if he uses his cutter more regularly.
Projected record: 62-100
If this was your kind of read, you’ll like what’s next. Get The Sandman Ticket, our free, weekly newsletter with picks, insights, and a little bit of everything we love about sports.
