How does the Philadelphia Phillies lineup rank in NL East?
In what resembled at least some normalcy in Major League Baseball since the beginning of the COVID-19 era, the 2021 offseason was unique for the Philadelphia Phillies and the overall league — in that it established a new form of contract negotiations, and new forms of evaluation in terms of player capability.
The National League East was particularly interesting, with the “lightning rod” personified in Steve Cohen absolutely putting his money where his mouth was — en route to multiple major moves made for the New York Mets. The Washington Nationals went young, the Miami Marlins stayed cheap, the Atlanta Braves got better, and the Phillies … well the Phillies seem to be just treading water.
In terms of offensive production, here is how the National League East lineups stack up.
1. New York Mets
Signing Francisco Lindor is a signal to the rest of the league that New York now has two perennial championship contenders for the next five years. Lindor is a top-10 player in this league, with all the offensive tools to produce big numbers in the big apple. He’s averaged nearly 30 homers, 85 RBIs, and 20 steals per 162 games since his debut. And Lindor is only 27, entering the beginning of his prime. Last season was a bit of a stumble, but with constant trade talks and the Indians failing to add supporting talent, that was to be expected.
Aside from Lindor, the Mets went out and got James McCann, another offensively oriented catcher that will add even more production to the lineup. Michael Conforto and Dominic Smith both hit over .300 last season, as did the age-defying Robinson Cano, who was near the top of the league in hard-hit percentage. Brandon Nimmo will likely lead off in this lineup, and he brings all the intangibles along with a low strikeout percentage and an emerging power stroke. There are really no weaknesses in this lineup, and when you think about Yoenis Cespedes and Jonathan Villar coming off of your bench, there’s unmatched depth in this division. Another note: no player in the Mets projected 2021 lineup, aside from the suspended Nano, will begin the year older than 30.