For most teams and divisions the offseason “hot stove” has in some ways already began. The hot stove mainly entails free agents, arbitrations and trade bait. Below is the NL East Offseason Preview.
Atlanta Braves
Free Agents:
Brian McCann
Tim Hudson
Paul Maholm
Luis Ayala
Scott Downs
Eric O’Flaherty
Arbitration Eligible Players:
Jason Heyward
Freddie Freeman
Craig Kimbrel
Chris Johnson
Jordan Walden
Kris Medlen
Brandon Beachy
Jordan Schafer
Jonny Venters
Cristhian Martinez
Potential Free Agent Signees:
Matt Garza
Trade Bait:
Dan Uggla
Mike Minor
The main free agent for the Atlanta Braves is McCann who the Braves will most likely not be able to afford. His price range is looking like it will be in the 100 million dollar range. Other main keys that the Braves will be looking to sign is set up man O’Flaherty who has been just as consistent as Craig Kimbrel in his two plus years in Atlanta. Downs and Ayala will also look to be signed by the Braves as they played pivotal roles in the bullpen last season.
The main players that will avoid arbitration in 2014 is Heyward, Freeman and Kimbrel. They are arguably the three main pieces involved in what the Braves want for the future. The other main player that will look to avoid arbitration is Chris Johnson who had the second highest batting average in the National League in 2013.
Miami Marlins
Free Agents:
Chad Qualls
Placido Polanco
Arbitration Eligible Players:
Giancarlo Stanton
Steve Cishek
Kevin Slowey
Justin Ruggiano
Logan Morrison
Ryan Webb
Mike Dunn
Chris Coghlan
Koyie Hill
Potential Free Agent Signees:
Jose Abreu
Trade Bait:
Steve Cishek
Giancarlo Stanton
The Miami Marlins will be looking to sign veteran Polanco as he was one of the consistent hitters in an otherwise laughable Marlins lineup. The main players that will avoid arbitration are Stanton and Cishek. The funny thing about this is that these two guys could be two players involved in a trade later on in the season.
The likelihood of the Marlins trading Stanton is significantly lower than the chances of Cishek getting the boot. Either way the Marlins are planning for the future and 2014 will likely be a lot like 2013. No one really pays attention to them until every fifth day when the rookie (will be a second year) pitcher Jose Fernandez dazzles.
New York Mets
Free Agents:
David Aardsma
Tim Byrdak
Pedro Feliciano
Frank Francisco
Aaron Harang
LaTroy Hawkins
Daisuke Matsuzaka
Arbitration Eligible Players:
Ike Davis
Dillon Gee
Daniel Murphy
Bobby Parnell
Omar Quintanilla
Ruben Tejada
Justin Turner
Eric Young Jr
Potential Free Agent Signees:
Shin-Soo Choo
The New York Mets are going to have a very interesting offseason due in large part to the arbitration players. The main players they will look to sign are Davis, Gee and Murphy. The Mets are some what in the same boat as the Marlins except they are a bit closer to becoming a contending team. Wright should be healthy for the 2014 season and will be the catalyst of this offense and team in general.
Philadelphia Phillies
Free Agents:
Chase Utley
Carlos Ruiz
Roy Halladay
Arbitration Eligible Players:
Kyle Kendrick
John Lannan
Antonio Bastardo
John Mayberry
Ben Revere
Kevin Frandsen
Roger Bernadina
Casper Wells
The Phillies have a decent amount of players that will be eligible for arbitration like every other team. The one thing about this team is that they have a few players that have not stood up to expectations one of the main people in this list is John Mayberry. When he came up with the Phillies he was expected to be one of the better outfielders in the game which has been completely wrong. He batted .227 last season and will likely not be given an extension when the arbitration hearings are held.
Washington Nationals
Free Agents:
Dan Haren
Arbitration Eligible Players:
Jordan Zimmerman
Ian Desmond
Tyler Clippard
Drew Storen
Stephen Strasburg
Ross Detwiler
Wilson Ramos
The Nationals have a lot of decisions to make in the next couple of months. What do they do with Ian Desmond? Does Tyler Clippard have the “clutch” gene or not? Is Drew Storen going to return? The only thing we do know is that the Nationals without a doubt will be avoiding arbitration with Strasburg who is the centerpiece in Washington.