Spotrac's MLB Offseason recap series continues with a look at the NL East that features a billion dollar Mets winter, notable additions for the Phillies, a bit of a purge for Atlanta, and continued rebuilding for Washington & Miami.

Atlanta Braves

The Braves won 89 games in 2024, good enough for 2nd in the NL East. They held MLB's 4th ranked tax payroll at $276M, putting them well over the second threshold last season. They enter 2025 a little lighter on the books, projecting toward a $229M Opening Day payroll, $12M or so under the first threshold.

2025 Projections

93 wins, 1st in the NL East

Notable Subtractions

Quite a few notable names left Atlanta this winter, factoring into the decrease in payroll to start the upcoming season.

(C) Travis d’Arnaud
(OF) Ramon Laureano, Adam Duvall, Whit Merrifield
(3B) Gio Urshela, Brian Anderson
(SP) Max Fried, Charlie Morton, Griffin Canning
(RP) AJ Minter, John Brebbia, Luke Jackson

Notable Additions

Despite a long list of subtractions, Atlanta treaded lightly both in free agency and in the trade market, a rare occurrence for this front office. Profar (3 years, $42M) figures to be the opening day left fielder/leadoff man, but all other additions here are slated for depth roles out of the gate. The Braves spent $43.6M in free agency this season, 18th in the league.

Via Free Agency
(OF) Jurickson Profar, $14M
(OF) Bryan De La Cruz, $860k
(RP) Connor Gillispie, $820k

Via Trade
(SS) Nick Allen

Prospects/Farm System

The Braves' farm system currently ranks 28th according to Baseball America, led by top prospect Drake Baldwin (C) and AJ Smith-Shawver (RHP). Atlanta has promoted or traded most of their top prospects in recent offseasons, putting their MLB in division/league contention, but thinning out their minor league system for a few years.

Top 100 Prospects
(C) Drake Baldwin, (SP) Cam Caminiti

2025 Storylines

  • This has been one of the highest projected rosters on paper for years, but injuries & early postseason exits continue to haunt Atlanta. Will this be the year it all comes together?
  • OF Ronald Acuna Jr. and SP Spencer Strider are both on their way back from significant 2024 injuries. They should be able to rejoin the team by Early May, giving Atlanta another boost.
  • 2024 Cy Young Winner Chris Sale refound his old self after years of consistent injuries. Was it a fluke, or is he a legitimate SP1 for this team again in 2025?

Miami Marlins

The 62-win Marlins finished last in the NL East last season, carrying a $121M tax payroll (27th in MLB). They've dialed things back even more this winter, projecting toward a league-low $80M payroll for the upcoming season.

2025 Projections

70 wins, 5th in the NL East

Notable Subtractions

Jesus Luzardo's trade to Philly could prove to be one of the bigger moves of the offseason, while Jake Burger figures to be the everyday 1B on a loaded Texas roster for 2025.

(3B) Jake Burger
(2B) Vidal Brujan
(SP) Jesus Luzardo
(RP) Matt Andriese

Notable Additions

Not much to talk about here. Quantrill should fill in the back of the starting rotation, but 2025 is about clearing out space to let more than a few young players (most of whom were aquired in recent trades) stretch out at the MLB level and try to find their sea legs. The Marlins spent $3.5M total in free agency, 29th in MLB.

Via Free Agency
(SP) Cal Quantrill $3.5M

Via Trade
Minor Prospects

Prospects/Farm System

The Marlins' farm system currently ranks 21st according to Baseball America, led by top prospect Thomas White (LHP). Front office changes have slowed development of this pool from various avenues, and a few rough drafts have set things back a bit, but there are glimmers of hope (and a Sandy Alcantara trade) still yet to come.

Top 100 Prospects
(SP) Thomas White, (SS) Starlyn Caba, (SP) Nobel Meyer

2025 Storylines

  • It's Year 2 of this new front office and the band-aid appears to be almost totally ripped off. Will Miami trade SP Sandy Alcantara and complete the ordeal?
  • Focus has clearly been placed on the next few drafts, which must be successful in order to get this organization engaged in spending again.
  • Will the league allow Miami to bottom out for multiple years?

New York Mets

The Mets put together a blazing second half to finish 2024 with 89 wins, tied for 2nd in the NL East. They posted a league runner-up $347M tax payoll, though $92M of that stemmed from retained/dead salary. New York finds themselves in similar waters to start 2025, projecting toward a $324M payroll, 2nd in MLB.

2025 Projections

86 wins, 3rd in the NL Eeast

Notable Subtractions

Severino is the splashy loss here, signing an historic 3 year, $67M deal with the Athletics. Martinez, Iglesias & Raley all remain available at the time of this piece.

(DH) JD Martinez
(OF) Harrison Bader
(SS) Jose Iglesias
(SP) Luis Severino, Jose Quintana
(RP) Brooks Raley

Notable Additions

Manaea returns to the rotation, while Holmes & Montas come in as replacements for Severino & Quintana. Alonso's return could be short-lived (opt-out after 2025), while Soto's contract ($765M) built a mountain on top of the previous highest paid player mountain. The Mets spent over $1B in free agency, 1st in MLB.

Via Free Agency
(OF) Juan Soto, $51M
(SP) Sean Manaea, $25M
(1B) Pete Alonso, $27M
(SP) Clay Holmes, $12.6M
(SP) Frankie Montas, $17M
(RP) AJ Minter, $11M

Via Trade
(OF) Jose Siri

Prospects/Farm System

The Mets' farm system currently ranks 12th according to Baseball America, led by top prospect Jett Williams (SS). Many of the notable young players in the system battled injuries in 2024, so the upcoming season will be both about rehabilitation & development. With that said, there are 3-4 bats, and 3-4 college-drafted arms nearing promotion in the coming months.

Top 100 Prospects
(SP) Brandon Sproat, (SS) Jett Williams

2025 Storylines

  • Soto's addition will be judged daily, but the 26-year-old has managed expectations about as well as any star MLB in recent memory. The Mets boast one of baseball's best Top 3 in Lindor, Soto, & Alonso.
  • Free agent losses and early injuries have put a lot of pressure on Clay Holmes to be a Day 1, top of the rotation success. Is he up for the challenge?
  • Starling Marte & potentially Jeff McNeil pose buried contracts on an otherwise locked-in Mets roster. Is there a trade or two forthcoming out of Queens?

Philadelphia Phillies

The Phillies won 95 games in 2024, good enough to secure the NL East division while carrying a 7th-ranked $264M tax payroll. Philly found themselves squarely over the 2nd tax threshold last season, and may find themselves in deeper waters this season. Philadelphia currently projects toward a $302M Opening Day payroll, 3rd-most in MLB.

2025 Projections

87 wins, 2nd in the NL East

Notable Subtractions

Hoffman and Estevez are notable losses, but Philly's bullpen has been its achilles heel for the better part of the decade. It's clear that the organization is willing to make this a revolving door situation until they land on something that works.

(OF) Austin Hays
(RP) Jeff Hoffman, Dylan Covey, Carlos Estevez

Notable Additions

Romano figures to open the season as the 9th-inning closer, while Kepler should begin the year as the Opening Day left fielder. Luzardo is the big get this offseason however, as a potential top of rotation arm now joins the Phillies as their #5 starter. The Phillies spent $22.5M in free agency, 21st in MLB.

Via Free Agency
(OF) Max Kepler, $10M
(RP) Jordan Romano, $8.5M
(RP) Joe Ross, $4M

Via Trade
(SP) Jesus Luzardo

Prospects/Farm System

The Phillies' farm system currently ranks 20th according to Baseball America, led by top prospect Andrew Painter (RHP). This is a balanced, albeit not jaw-dropping group of players. But Painter is yet another top arm ready to make an impact at the MLB level. Philadelphia boasts a rotation of riches right now.

Top 100 Prospects
(SP) Andrew Painter, (SS) Aidan Miller, (OF) Justin Crawford, (C) Eduardo Tait

2025 Storylines

  • Is a Romano/Strahm/Kerkering backend of the bullpen a recipe for success? If it doesn't look great early on, don't be surprised to see the front office actively try to bring in competition.
  • Notable expiring contracts: J.T. Realmuto, Kyle Schwarber, Ranger Suarez leave a few question marks as we approach opening day. Suarez likely needs to play out a great 2025 to garner extension discussions, but Schwarber and Realmuto should be locked in before April.
  • Philly currently projects to eclipse the 4th tax threshold in 2025. Will they manuever a bit in-season to get themselves under this top-tier?

Washington Nationals

The Nationals finished 4th in the NL East last season, posting 71 wins against 22nd ranked $140M tax payroll. Despite a good amount of additions this winter, Washington will open up 2025 with a slightly less $134M projected payroll.

2025 Projections

72 wins, 4th in the NL East

Notable Subtractions

Patrick Corbin spent 7 years in Washington, reeling in over $128M over that span. He remains a free agent this winter, while Robert Garcia joins the Rangers on a pre-arb deal.

(SP) Patrick Corbin
(RP) Robert Garcia

Notable Additions

Washington added new blood to the rotation, while Paul DeJong (3B) Josh Bell (DH) and Nate Lowe (1B) figure to be in the Opening Day lineup. The Nationals spent $44M in free agency, 17th in MLB.

Via Free Agency
(SP) Michael Soroka, $9M
(SP) Trevor Williams, $7M
(1B) Josh Bell, $6M
(RP) Jorge Lopez, $3M
(SS) Amed Rosario, $2M
(3B) Paul DeJong, $1M

Via Trade
(1B) Nate Lowe

Prospects/Farm System

The Nationals' farm system currently ranks 14th according to Baseball America, led by top prospect Dylan Crews (OF). Crews is a lock to make the Opening Day roster, which should balance out this system a little bit, though there are a few arms ready to figure into the mix that could quickly turn Washington's tide.

Top 100 Prospects
(OF) Dylan Crews, (P) Travis Sykora, (P) Jarlin Susana

2025 Storylines

  • 25% of the Nats 2025 payroll stems from Stephen Strasburg's retained salary. Another $35M is slated to hit their 2026, further hampering their ability to rebuild.
  • A resolution on the team sale could be around the corner, and should reignite this front office.
  • There are half a dozen prospects looking to crack this starting lineup in 2025. How many can prove their worthy of being a part of the future core?