Teams To Watch In The National League

An Op-Ed By R.J. Henle

1. Cincinnati Reds

The team I’m most excited about in 2019 is the Reds.

Cincinnati had a great off-season, acquiring Yasiel Puig, Matt Kemp, Sonny Gray, Alex Wood and Tanner Roark, among others.

The Reds didn’t have a hitting issue and they’ve only gotten better in that department, adding Puig and Kemp to a lineup of Jose Peraza, Eugenio Suarez, Jesse Winker, Joey Votto and Scooter Gennet.

Former Dodgers’ pitching coach Turner Ward has is probably more excited than most.

But the biggest change for the Reds is that they now have a pitching staff that can stay up to the task, with Gray, Wood and Roark, who add experience to a young staff consisting of Luis Castillo and Tyler Mahle who, while showing why they were so coveted as prospects, failed to live up to expectations last season.

Cincinnati also keeps an excellent bullpen with Amir Garret, David Hernandez and Raisel Iglesias.

The Reds have a good shot to win the NL Central or make the NLWC and, with the seventh-ranked farm system, have the capital to make some solid trades to bring in even more talent.

While their realistic year might be 2020, keep your eyes on the Reds in 2019.

Record Projection: 83-79 | THIRD in the NL Central.

2. Philadelphia Phillies

The Philadelphia Phillies could be the hottest team in baseball right now.

Owner John Middleton was determined to get his team better this off-season after a third-place NL East finish in 2018. To do so, the Phillies have made upgrades by selling off prospects and have attracted top-tier free agent talent to fill out what they hope is a winning roster.

All-Star shortstop Jean Segura is going to bolster a defense that struggled mightily towards the back-end of the 2018 season and he, JT Realmuto and Bryce Harper will add more-consistent bats to the beginning, middle or end of any lineup.

Sending Carlos Santana to the Seattle Mariners was beneficial as the team was able to move rookie standout Rhys Hoskins back to first base, while adding Realmuto in a trade with the Miami Marlins pairs one of the best catchers in baseball with one of the brightest young pitching staffs in the league, headlined by Aaron Nola and now featuring All-Star closer David Robertson.

Adding Harper on a historic contract, though expensive, was icing on the proverbial cake for a franchise primed to secure the NL East crown for the first time since 2011.

Record Projection: 101-61 | SECOND in the NL East

3. Washington Nationals

I don’t necessarily see the Nationals losing Bryce Harper as a bad thing, as the team would have been overpaying for Harper, despite his superstar pedigree.

That doesn’t mean Washington didn’t carelessly open its wallet for anyone, however, as injury-prone pitcher Patrick Corbin’s six-year, $140 million deal is excessive. Corbin was the best pitcher on the market, and he will add value to one of the best rotations in baseball, but the Nationals now have a quarter of a billion dollars invested in just three pitchers.

Washington got much better defensively with Yan Gomes, who caught for Cleveland for the last four seasons, and second baseman Brian Dozier, who was with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2018.

Former Silver Slugger Anthony Rendon becomes more amplified in the lineup and the Nationals are hoping for the breakout of young outfielders Victor Robles and Juan Soto.

They are also banking on the health of Adam Eaton, which isn’t a guarantee. But I love their top three pitchers and their bullpen, so I believe there is a path to the Playoffs and possibly a NLWC win.

Record Projection: 92-70 | THIRD in the NL East

4. San Diego Padres

The Padres shouldn’t be playoff contenders this season, but they have 300 million reasons to make this list.

San Diego landed one of the better stars of this decade in Manny Machado and has one of the best farm systems in baseball.

Eric Hosmer, Franchy Cordero, Manuel Margot, Will Myers, Austin Hedges, Hunter Renfroe and now Machado will surely propel the Padres into second in the NL West and have the potential to put them over the top.

The problem with the Padres is their pitching.

San Diego’s biggest pitching acquisition this off-season was oft-injured and inconsistent Garret Richards, which won’t do the team many favors.

If the Padres can add a few more arms through trading off their better prospects, they could be set to rule the future of the NL West.

Record Projection: 80-82 | SECOND in the NL West

5. Los Angeles Dodgers

With the Rockies’ big acquisition being Daniel Murphy, the Padres being about two years away from contention and the Diamondbacks in rebuild mode, the Dodgers are poised to win the NL West.

With no big splashes in free agency besides the departure of Yasiel Puig and the arrival of reliever Joe Kelly, Los Angeles is back with the same core that has seen them go to the World Series in back-to-back years.

The biggest question marks are if Corey Seager can return to form after Tommy John surgery saw him miss most of 2018 and if AJ Pollock can stay healthy enough to be an effective replacement for Puig.

The availability and effectiveness of both players could make or break the Dodgers in 2019.

Record Projection: 94-68 | FIRST in the NL West

6. New York Mets

The New York Mets had the second-best off-season in the National League, falling just short of the San Diego Padres.

With former agent and new General Manager Brodie Van Wagenen at the helm, the Mets made a flurry of solid, roster-altering moves to bolster their depth.

The biggest deal was a trade with the Seattle Mariners which netted the Mets RHP Edwin ‘Sugar’ Diaz and OF Robinson Cano.

Cano will join an outfield that sports All-Star Michael Conforto, Jeff McNeil and Brandon Nimmo, three young homegrown talents who broke out last season.

Depth is now at a surplus in the Mets outfield with gold glover Juan Lagares and Keon Broxton, two right-handed bats who are slightly below average hitters, but lights-out defensively. They’ll also get back Yoenis Cespedes, who is recovering from heel surgery, after the All-Star break.

The Mets also acquired of 2018 All-Star utility man Jed Lowrie, catcher Wilson Ramos and closer Jeurys Familia and are ready to Pete Alonso, a power hitting first baseman, who hit above .280 with 36 homeruns in the minors last season.

New York is once again among the best in the National League, but it would’ve been the best had it added to its starting pitching rotation.

While the team boasts three true aces in Zack Wheeler, Jacob deGrom and Noah Syndergaard, but the inconsistency of Matz and the ineffectiveness of Jason Vargas could hinder the Mets down the stretch.

There are rumors the Yankees are interested, but Gio Gonzalez would be an excellent addition to the rotation and could be the last piece on a team that has finally put the puzzle together to win its first NL East title since 2015.

Record Projection: 102-60 | FIRST in the NL East

7. Chicago Cubs

The Cubs are on my list for all the wrong reasons.

The future looked so bright just a few years ago, but after two stunning and pathetic home losses in the Playoffs last season, Joe Maddon is on the hot seat.

Kris Bryant and Yu Darvish had miserable 2018 campaigns riddled with injuries and closer Brandon Morrow had an up and down season due to injury as well.

This off-season, the team added Daniel Descalso and Cole Hamels, neither of whom inspire much confidence.

While the core (Bryant, Anthony Rizzo, Kyle Schwarber and Willson Contreras) and starting pitching (Darvish, Hamels, Kyle Hendricks and Jon Lester) remain strong, the Cubs are a house of cards and this might be the season they fall.

Record Projection: 85-77 | SECOND in the NL Central