Last year, the New York Mets ran away with the National League East. The Mets captured the division by seven games over the second place Washington Nationals. However, it wasn't always smooth sailing for the Mets in 2015 as the Nationals held the division lead heading into the last year’s All-Star break.
New York Mets After winning the division in 2015, the Mets made a deep run in the playoffs. New York made it all the way to the World Series before the eventual World Series Champion Kansas City Royals halted them. Even after making it all the way to the World Series, work needed to be done in the offseason as it initially looked as though the Mets were going to lose two of their biggest stars. At the conclusion of the 2015 season, second …show more content…
Although the outlook for retaining both players seemed grim, the Mets were eventually able to bring back Cespedes. Murphy, however, took his talents to the division rival Washington Nationals. To fill the hole that Murphy left at second base, the Mets turned to the trade market. New York traded pitcher Jon Niese to the Pittsburgh Pirates for second baseman Neil Walker. The Mets’ other notable addition came via free agency when they hauled in former Cleveland Indians and Nationals shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera. Returning in the outfield with Cespedes is former New York Yankee Curtis Granderson, who hit 26 home runs last year, and rookie Michael Conforto, who hit .270 in 56 games last season. Lucas Duda will handle duties at first base, while the Mets’ unquestioned captain, David Wright, has manned third base in Flushing, NY since 2004. The strongest part of the Mets roster is the elite pitching staff, which was a large part of their success in both the regular season and playoffs last year. Although their top three pitchers …show more content…
In 2014, Washington captured the NL East by 17 games over the second place Mets and Braves. However, last year, the Nationals finished seven games behind the first place Mets. The Nationals had a flurry of subtractions in the offseason as several of their big pieces departed the team. Washington lost shortstop Ian Desmond and outfielder Denard Span to free agency, and traded third baseman Yunel Escobar to the Los Angeles Angels for reliever Trevor Gott and a minor league prospect. The Nationals’ rotation subtracted two members, ace Jordan Zimmerman and Doug Fister, while the bullpen saw the departures of Drew Storen and Casey Janssen. Washington even fired manger Matt Williams. Certainly, losing as many players as Washington has creates great voids, but the Nationals set out in the offseason with the goal of finding replacements. The Nationals biggest haul was bringing in new manager and former San Francisco Giants, Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds skipper Dusty Baker. On the field, Washington signed second baseman Daniel Murphy who is fresh off a historic playoff performance. To replace Span in the outfield, the Nationals acquired Ben Revere from the Toronto Blue Jays. Next to Revere in the outfield is outspoken slugger Bryce Harper, who hit 42 home runs last year, and right fielder Jayson Werth. On the right side of the infield next to Murphy is Ryan Zimmerman, who is moving
New York Mets After winning the division in 2015, the Mets made a deep run in the playoffs. New York made it all the way to the World Series before the eventual World Series Champion Kansas City Royals halted them. Even after making it all the way to the World Series, work needed to be done in the offseason as it initially looked as though the Mets were going to lose two of their biggest stars. At the conclusion of the 2015 season, second …show more content…
Although the outlook for retaining both players seemed grim, the Mets were eventually able to bring back Cespedes. Murphy, however, took his talents to the division rival Washington Nationals. To fill the hole that Murphy left at second base, the Mets turned to the trade market. New York traded pitcher Jon Niese to the Pittsburgh Pirates for second baseman Neil Walker. The Mets’ other notable addition came via free agency when they hauled in former Cleveland Indians and Nationals shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera. Returning in the outfield with Cespedes is former New York Yankee Curtis Granderson, who hit 26 home runs last year, and rookie Michael Conforto, who hit .270 in 56 games last season. Lucas Duda will handle duties at first base, while the Mets’ unquestioned captain, David Wright, has manned third base in Flushing, NY since 2004. The strongest part of the Mets roster is the elite pitching staff, which was a large part of their success in both the regular season and playoffs last year. Although their top three pitchers …show more content…
In 2014, Washington captured the NL East by 17 games over the second place Mets and Braves. However, last year, the Nationals finished seven games behind the first place Mets. The Nationals had a flurry of subtractions in the offseason as several of their big pieces departed the team. Washington lost shortstop Ian Desmond and outfielder Denard Span to free agency, and traded third baseman Yunel Escobar to the Los Angeles Angels for reliever Trevor Gott and a minor league prospect. The Nationals’ rotation subtracted two members, ace Jordan Zimmerman and Doug Fister, while the bullpen saw the departures of Drew Storen and Casey Janssen. Washington even fired manger Matt Williams. Certainly, losing as many players as Washington has creates great voids, but the Nationals set out in the offseason with the goal of finding replacements. The Nationals biggest haul was bringing in new manager and former San Francisco Giants, Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds skipper Dusty Baker. On the field, Washington signed second baseman Daniel Murphy who is fresh off a historic playoff performance. To replace Span in the outfield, the Nationals acquired Ben Revere from the Toronto Blue Jays. Next to Revere in the outfield is outspoken slugger Bryce Harper, who hit 42 home runs last year, and right fielder Jayson Werth. On the right side of the infield next to Murphy is Ryan Zimmerman, who is moving