National League notes
NL EAST Atlanta Braves
Season snapshot: The Braves were under .500 in early August and had lost star OF Ronald Acuna Jr. for the season because of a torn ACL in his right knee, but they still rallied to win a fourth straight division title. All four infielders topped 25 home runs and 80 RBI to help make up for the loss of Acuna and LF Marcell Ozuna.
What now: The 1995 Braves, the franchise’s most recent World Series champion, also had won a fourth straight division title. This team didn’t enter the playoffs as the favorite, but after going to Game 7 of the NL championship series last year it has hopes of going even further.
Prospects to watch: OF Cristian Pache made the Braves’ opening-day lineup, but a .111 batting average in 68 plate appearances showed he wasn’t ready. Pache doesn’t turn 23 until November, so there will be high hopes again next season. C Shea Langeliers, who turns 24 in November, hit 22 home runs in Class AA.
Miami Marlins
Season snapshot: The Marlins hoped last year’s surprise playoff appearance was a sign of things to come, but instead they fell back to 90-plus losses for the seventh time in the last 10 full seasons. RHP Sandy Alcantara topped 200 innings for the first time and LHP Trevor Rogers will be in contention for NL Rookie of the Year, but injuries hit the Marlins’ depth and they simply weren’t good enough.
What now: General manager Kim Ng, hired last November, will enter her first full offseason with a goal of continuing to add to the talent level.
Prospects to watch: RHP Edward Cabrera got to the big leagues for seven late season starts, but while he was impressive at times he had a 5.81 ERA. RHP Sixto Sanchez missed the whole season because of injuries but should be back in 2022.
New York Mets
Season snapshot: Even with new ownership, it was more of the same for the Mets, who were beset by trouble on and off the field and have zero postseason wins and four sub-.500 seasons since playing in the 2015 World Series. RHP Jacob deGrom had historic numbers through July 7 (1.08 ERA) but missed the rest of the season because of elbow trouble.
What now: The biggest offseason task will be to add a president of baseball operations, but the Mets have fired manager Luis Rojas and must decide the future of quite a few players who were in their everyday lineup.
Prospects to watch: The Mets picked 10th in the July draft, but they ended up not signing Vanderbilt RHP Kumar Rocker after raising concerns about his right elbow. C Francisco Alvarez, 19, hit 24 home runs in 99 games in Class A.
Philadelphia Phillies
Season snapshot: It’s now 10 years without a postseason appearance for the Phillies, but this year’s team came closer than the nine before it and wasn’t eliminated until the final week. OF Bryce Harper could be the National League’s MVP, while RHP Zack Wheeler will get NL Cy Young votes. But more was expected from a team that began the season with the fourth highest payroll in the major leagues.
What now: Dave Dombrowski has made changes since he was hired as president of baseball operations last December, and this year’s finish showed more moves are needed to turn the Phillies back into winners.
Prospects to watch: SS Bryson Stott could join his fellow Las Vegas native and good friend Harper with the Phillies as soon as next season. RHP Mick Abel, the Phillies’ 2020 first-round draft pick, is the only Phillies player listed among MLB.com’s top 100 prospects.
Washington Nationals
Season snapshot: Just two years after winning the first World Series in franchise history, the Nationals were so bad they began the rebuilding process with a major July sell-off that featured the trade of RHP Max Scherzer and SS Trea Turner to the Los Angeles Dodgers. The deals sent the Nats to 90plus losses for the first time since 2010, but the hope is they also brought back players who someday will win another championship.
What now: The big moves were made with the midseason deals. Now it’s a matter of trying to further build the talent base.
Prospects to watch: C Keibert Ruiz and RHP Josiah Gray were the key players in the Scherzer/Turner deal, and both were in the big leagues in September and will be expected to contribute next season.
NL CENTRAL Chicago Cubs
Season snapshot: The Cubs’ window of contention officially slammed shut in late July when stars Anthony Rizzo, Javier Baez, Kris Bryant and Craig Kimbrel were traded. The Cubs finished the season with a mostly nameless and faceless roster and finished 71-91, and their sub-.500 record was their first since 2014.
What now: The Cubs say they do not plan to go into a long rebuild and will be willing to spend in free agency this winter – within reason. RHP Zach Davies and IF Matt Duffy are the most notable players eligible for free agency.
Prospect to watch: The farm system is fallow, but OF Brennen Davis is a toolsy player who finished the season in Class AAA.
Cincinnati Reds
Season snapshot: The Reds were in good position to make the playoffs for the second consecutive year in late August, but a streak of eight straight series losses knocked them out of contention. They did finish with back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 2012-13.
What now: Two of the top relievers, RHPs Mychal Givens and Michael Lorenzen, are eligible for free agency. Givens took over as the closer after being acquired from the Colorado Rockies at the trade deadline, and Lorenzen was used in highleverage situations.
Prospects to watch: SS Jose Barrero has gotten a taste of the big leagues each of the last two years and also can play center field. RHP Nick Lodolo ended the year in Class AAA and could join the big-league rotation next season.