Dave Dombrowski called the NL East in 2023 a ‘gauntlet’ during interview with MLB.com
Dave Dombrowski caught up with MLB.com following the New York Mets’ robbery of the San Francisco Giants by signing Carlos Correa to a 12-year $315M contract.
The Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets have now combined to spend roughly $1.2 billion on free agents this winter. The Atlanta Braves, who won the NL East, are coming off a 101-win season and have young starts all over the field with another move coming to replace Dansby Swanson at shortstop.
NL East Stupid Money
The Mets, who won 101 games in 2022, have spent $807.1 million on nine free agent contracts this winter: Correa, Brandon Nimmo, Edwin Díaz, Justin Verlander, Kodai Senga, José Quintana, Omar Narváez, Adam Ottavino, David Robertson and Danny Mendick. They have been the story of the offseason, even with the Phillies, who won the NL pennant, spending $387 million on Trea Turner, Taijuan Walker and Matt Strahm; and the Braves, who won the NL East, trading for catcher Sean Murphy from the A’s. via MLB.com
Dave Dombrowski via MLB.com
“It’s really been like that since last year,” Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said, referring to the eye-popping moves coming from the NL East since Cohen’s arrival. “When you look at the clubs and what they’re doing and what they’re adding, it’s a powerhouse division. I don’t want to downplay anybody, but if you’re going to win the National League East, you’re going to play really good baseball. It’s a gauntlet.”
Dombrowski on the Phillies “responding” to the Mets signing of Carlos Correa
“No, no, no,” he said. “We’re always trying to put the best club you can on the field, we’re always trying to get better, but we like our club. There’s a lot of times you don’t have to be the top-spending club to be the best club. I feel really good about our club.”
Dombrowski on the Phillies’ Bullpen
“We really feel good with our foundation of Seranthony [Domínguez] and [José] Alvarado,” Dombrowski said. “We’ve got Strahm out there now. We like how [Connor] Brogdon has continued to grow. Bellatti did a really fine job for us. Then we’ve got [Nick] Nelson and [Sam] Coonrod coming back for us. We like some of our young arms, too. There’s an opportunity for them.”
As we all know, the Phillies had a very slow start to the 2022 season but rebounded nicely under Rob Thomson, going 65-46 (.586) to close out the year and earn a Wild Card spot. That’s good for a 95-win pace season and the fourth-best record in the league from June 2nd through the end of the season.
Dombrowski on the Phillies heading into 2023
“I think we’re a better club than we were last year already,” Dombrowski said. “We did play at that pace after the 22-29 start. We showed that we were capable of doing that. Then, of course, we showed that at the end of the year, too, when we were beating clubs with good winning records. You’re beating the best teams in baseball.
“So when you say ‘close the gap,’ I think after the 22-29 mark we closed the gap. Then we’re a better club with the addition of Turner and Walker and Strahm. Every organization is different. The Phillies always had a lot of talent. We needed to learn how to win. They learned how to win, so now you have a different belief in yourself, starting off into the new year.”
Projected NL East Lineups (Healthy)
Atlanta Braves
1. Ronald Acuña Jr, RF (114 OPS+ last season)
2. Ozzie Albies, 2B (95 OPS+)
3. Austin Riley, 3B (142 OPS+)
4. Matt Olson, 1B (122 OPS+)
5. Michael Harris III, CF (135 OPS+)
6. Sean Murphy, C (120 OPS+)
7. Travis d’Arnaud, DH (119 OPS+)
8. Eddie Rosario (64 OPS+)/Jordan Luplow LF (79 OPS+)
9. TBD, SS
New York Mets
1. Brandon Nimmo, CF (130 OPS+)
2. Starling Marte, RF (132 OPS+)
3. Francisco Lindor, SS (125 OPS+)
4. Pete Alonso, 1B (146 OPS+)
5. Carlos Correa, 3B (140 OPS+)
6. Jeff McNeil, 2B (140 OPS+)
7. Mark Canha, LF (122 OPS+)
8. Daniel Vogelbach, DH (139 OPS+)
9. Omar Narváez, C (71 OPS+)
Philadelphia Phillies
1. Kyle Schwarber, LF (130 OPS+)
2. Trea Turner, SS (121 OPS+)
3. J.T. Realmuto, C (129 OPS+)
4. Bryce Harper, DH (145 OPS+)
5. Rhys Hoskins, 1B (122 OPS+)
6. Nick Castellanos, RF (95 OPS+)
7. Bryson Stott, SS (84 OPS+)
8. Alec Bohm, 3B (100 OPS+)
9. Brandon Marsh, CF (116 OPS+)
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