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We now shift to the NL for offseason previews, starting with the NL east.
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Atlanta Braves
Something the Braves need this offseason is a star pitcher to lead the rotation. Dallas Keuchel was a good stopgap option, but he's a free agent, and not the face of a rotation. Someone like Madison Bumgarner would be good for this rotation not only in the regular season, but because of his ability to pitch on short rest come playoff time. The hitting corps and bullpen are nailed down, so starting pitching is the one thing Atlanta needs this winter.
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Washington Nationals
Stephen Strasburg and Anthony Rendon, two of the biggest stars they have had, are free agents. They want to bring them back, but they may want to look for replacements and begin preparing for a scenario in which they don't come back. Top prospect Carter Kieboom could potentially be Rendon's in house replacement at 3rd base, but there's no clear alternative for Strasburg. They could pursue some mid tier starting pitching to congeal it all together, and they also need to make sure that the bullpen won't be as terrible as it was last year. They also have to replace Howie Kendrick, also a free agent, but they seem to have that worked out already. The big goal in Washington is to get either one or both Strasburg and Rendon.
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New York Mets
The wonder in Queens is if new manager Carlos Beltran is the right guy to lead the Mets. Mickey Callaway had a lot of questionable decisions as manager, but there isn't lots of evidence to suggest he was the problem. On paper, this team should be competing for the division. They need to address who will be the starting 3rd baseman, who will start in center field, how to fix their awful bullpen, and who will replace free agent starter Zack Wheeler. What GM Brodie Van Wagenen does this offseason will be telling as to the future of the Mets.
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Philadelphia Phillies
The Phillies have a lot of talent on the roster. What they need to do is get this talent to mesh and get this team over .500 and into the playoffs. They have everyone back from last year, and they seem poised to go after some top free agents like Rendon and Josh Donaldson to play 3rd instead of the disappointing Maikel Franco. The starting pitching also needs to improve, as there wasn't a consistently reliable starter last year outside of Aaron Nola. Some secondary free agents like Rick Porcello, Mike Moustakas, Didi Gregorius, and Dallas Keuchel may be the answer as well. The Phillies need to seriously compete in 2020, and this offseason will be key to that.
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Miami Marlins
The Marlins just hope to be awful for only a few more years. They have some interesting prospects in the system, but the roster just screams awful. They might still be in trade mode, as they traded quite a bit at the deadline, and that could happen again this year. They won't do anything this offseason, besides maybe trade away a few players or sign a few to minor league deals.
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