NL East Teams At The Start Of Spring Training
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(CBSMiami/AP) – With the beginning of Spring Training just days away, it's time to start taking a look at what's happening in the world of baseball.
Here's a team-by-team look at the National League East entering spring training, including key players each club acquired and lost, and dates of the first workout for pitchers and catchers, and the full squad:
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Washington Nationals
Manager: Matt Williams (second season).
2014: 96-66, first place, lost to Giants in NLDS.
Training Town: Viera, Florida.
Park: Space Coast Stadium.
First Workout: Feb. 21/26.
He's Here: RHP Max Scherzer, INF Yunel Escobar, RHP Casey Janssen, 2B Dan Uggla, 3B Ian Stewart, RHP Heath Bell.
He's Outta Here: 1B Adam LaRoche, 2B Asdrubal Cabrera, RHP Tyler Clippard, RHP Rafael Soriano, LHP Ross Detwiler, OF Nate Schierholtz.
Going campin': There's not much in the way of competition or roster questions heading into spring training for a team that had the best record in the National League for the second time in three seasons — and bowed out in an NL Division Series for the second time in three seasons, too. The biggest intrigue has to do with a couple of cornerstone players who could become free agents after this season: SS Ian Desmond and RHP Jordan Zimmermann. GM Mike Rizzo might decide to trade one or both if long-term contracts can't be reached; he also might let both play out this season to give the Nationals their best chance at finally making some noise in the postseason. Rizzo hedged against the possible departures of either of those two homegrown players by signing Scherzer, the 2013 AL Cy Young Award winner, to a free-agent deal worth about $200 million over seven years, and by trading for Escobar, who for now replaces Cabrera as the starter at second base. Also worth watching in Viera: How Ryan Zimmerman adjusts to his move across the diamond to first base, and who gets all the relief innings that Clippard, Soriano and Detwiler pitched in 2014?
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Atlanta Braves
Manager: Fredi Gonzalez (fifth season).
2014: 79-83, tied for second place.
Training Town: Kissimmee, Florida.
Park: Champion Stadium.
First Workout: Feb. 21/26.
He's Here: RHP Shelby Miller, OF Nick Markakis, LHP Eric Stults, OF Jonny Gomes, RHP Jason Grilli, RHP Jim Johnson, C A.J. Pierzynski, RHP Mike Foltynewicz, INF Alberto Callaspo, OF Zoilo Almonte, RHP Arodys Vizcaino, RHP Michael Kohn, OF Eury Perez, INF Jace Peterson.
He's Outta Here: OF Justin Upton, OF Jason Heyward, C Evan Gattis, RHP Ervin Santana, RHP Aaron Harang, 2B Tommy La Stella, RHP David Carpenter, RHP Jordan Walden, RHP David Hale, C Gerald Laird, C Ryan Doumit, OF Emilio Bonifacio, INF Ramiro Pena, RHP Anthony Varvaro.
Going campin': The Braves fired general manager Frank Wren with a week to go in a disappointing 2014 season and hired John Hart to begin the rebuilding process. He has given the roster a huge makeover, which isn't likely to pay dividends for at least a few years. Restocking the once-mighty farm system was a major priority, which is why Hart dealt three of his top hitters — Upton, Heyward and Gattis — while receiving only one player (Miller) who surely will be in the majors this year. The signing of Markakis indicated the Braves are still making some pretense of contending in the NL East, but it's hard to imagine how a team that already ranked among the worst offenses in baseball is going to turn things around with players such as Gomes, Almonte and Callaspo. Top prospect Christian Bethancourt is set to take over at catcher, while much of the attention this spring will be on another Upton. Justin's older brother, B.J., is coming off two miserable seasons, and the Braves had no chance of getting a team to take him off their hands because he's still got three years left on a $75.25 million contract. B.J. Upton has already been working with new hitting coach Kevin Seitzer in another attempt to turn things around.
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New York Mets
Manager: Terry Collins (fifth season).
2014: 79-83, tied for second place.
Training Town: Port St. Lucie, Florida.
Park: Tradition Field.
First Workout: Feb. 21/26.
He's Here: OF Michael Cuddyer, OF-1B John Mayberry Jr., LHP Sean Gilmartin, C Johnny Monell.
He's Outta Here: OF Eric Young Jr., RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka, OF Bobby Abreu, RHP Gonzalez Germen.
Going campin': The spotlight will be on All-Star ace Matt Harvey as he returns from Tommy John surgery to lead a talented young pitching staff that has the Mets thinking playoffs for the first time in years. Harvey showed up at spring training 10 days early and said he'll accept whatever innings restrictions the team decides on. Coming off their sixth consecutive losing season since moving into Citi Field, the Mets were first out of the gate in free agency last fall, signing Cuddyer to a $21 million, two-year contract that cost them the 15th pick in the June draft. After that aggressive move, though, they stayed quiet all winter. And while the pitching staff is full of promise, the lineup and defense remain question marks. Cuddyer, who turns 36 in March, is longtime pals with captain David Wright and should help at the plate if healthy. Wright is coming off a left shoulder injury that wrecked 2014, and Curtis Granderson must provide more consistent power during his second season with the Mets. The club also hopes Travis d'Arnaud's offseason elbow surgery to remove a bone spur will improve the catcher's throwing. A couple of middle relief jobs could be open, at least until 2013 closer Bobby Parnell is all the way back from his own Tommy John surgery. Wilmer Flores, a young hitter with a suspect glove, figures to get his shot at shortstop — a gaping hole since Jose Reyes left.
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Miami Marlins
Manager: Mike Redmond (third season).
2014: 77-85, fourth place.
Training Town: Jupiter, Florida.
Park: Roger Dean Stadium.
First Workout: Feb. 20/24.
He's Here: RHP Mat Latos, 1B-OF Michael Morse, 2B Dee Gordon, 3B Martin Prado, RHP Dan Haren, OF Ichiro Suzuki, RHP Aaron Crow, RHP David Phelps, RHP Andre Rienzo, RHP Preston Claiborne, INF-OF Don Kelly, RHP Nick Masset, INF Miguel Rojas.
He's Outta Here: 3B Casey McGehee, RHP Nathan Eovaldi, 1B Garrett Jones, RHP Anthony DeSclafani, LHP Dan Jennings, LHP Andrew Heaney, RHP Chris Hatcher, RHP Arquimedes Caminero, RHP Kevin Gregg, INF Kike Hernandez, LHP Brian Flynn.
Going campin': The Marlins were thinking long-term when they signed slugger Giancarlo Stanton to a record $325 million deal, but they want to win now. Three-quarters of the infield will be new following a busy offseason, and the Marlins strengthened an already solid rotation, raising expectations the team can end an 11-season playoff drought. Key questions in camp will include the health of Stanton, the status of Haren and the back end of the rotation. Stanton's season ended Sept. 11 when he was hit in the face by a pitch, and the Marlins are anxious to see that the NL home run champion is fully recovered. Haren, traded to Miami by the Los Angeles Dodgers in December, wants to pitch close to his family in Southern California and has considered retirement. With or without Haren, Redmond must fill out a rotation that will be led by Latos and RHP Henderson Alvarez, with 2013 NL Rookie of the Year Jose Fernandez on schedule to return at midseason from reconstructive elbow surgery.
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Philadelphia Phillies
Manager: Ryne Sandberg (third season).
2014: 73-89, fifth place.
Training Town: Clearwater, Florida.
Park: Bright House Field.
First Workout: Feb. 19/24.
He's Here: RHP Aaron Harang, RHP Clay Billingsley, OF Jordan Danks, INF Odubel Herrera, OF Jeff Francoeur, OF Xavier Paul, RHP Kevin Slowey.
He's Outta Here: SS Jimmy Rollins, RF Marlon Byrd, RHP A.J. Burnett, LHP Antonio Bastardo, RHP Kyle Kendrick, C Wil Nieves, OF Tony Gwynn Jr.
Going campin': The Phillies are in full rebuilding mode after dealing Rollins, Byrd and Bastardo. They've made it clear they want to move Ryan Howard and they're fielding offers for Cole Hamels and Jonathan Papelbon. Cliff Lee could be gone once he proves he's healthy. Chase Utley and Carlos Ruiz might be on the trading block during the season. Even the front office had a shakeup as Hall of Famer Pat Gillick returned as president, replacing David Montgomery. Expectations are low for these Phillies coming off their second straight 73-win year. They have a few young players to watch, including infielder Maikel Franco, third baseman Cody Asche and setup man Ken Giles. Freddy Galvis gets a chance to replace Rollins. Domonic Brown tries to regain his 2013 All-Star stroke and Darin Ruf may finally get a chance to be a regular. Still, fans are more interested in potential trades the Phillies might make than actually watching them play.
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