All things considered, the National League East looks a lot like it did when the 2026 season wrapped up: the Braves on top, the Phillies hanging around, and the rest of the division trying to close the gap.
Atlanta rebounded from a rough 2025 and won the division, while Philadelphia finished second as its roster got even older. The Nationals, Marlins and Mets, meanwhile, all had trouble keeping up to different degrees. The Mets’ slide may have surprised some people, though that probably says more about who was paying attention than anything else.
But once free agency opens, last season’s order gets wiped clean in a hurry. The Braves are facing the possibility of losing free agents who were central to their run, and the Phillies could take hits of their own. At the same time, the other clubs in the division don’t appear likely to lose much of value, and each could be aggressive in trying to climb the standings.
For now, the early pecking order still starts with Atlanta:
1.) Braves
2.) Phillies
3.) Nationals
4.) Mets
5.) Marlins
Even with the Braves at No. 1, the margin is slim. Atlanta is set to lose some important pieces, but it also looks ready to make multiple moves this offseason and still has plenty of talent on both sides of the ball. Philadelphia’s age is starting to show, and keeping Don Mattingly as their manager is laughable, but expecting the Phillies to completely fall apart may be too much to ask.
The Nationals could be the wild card. If they recognize they have a young team that could make a playoff push with a couple of additions, with or without CJ Abrams, they would not be a shock contender for the division.
The Mets are a mess from a front-office standpoint, but they will at least spend heavily to patch things up, and Carson Benge and Nolan McLean look like the real deal. The Marlins have talent and were solid last season, but it’s hard to see them matching the teams above them, especially if they move Otto Lopez.
That’s the picture right now, and it may not last long. This offseason could reshape the division quickly, and these rankings could look very different once the dust settles.
In Other News...
Braves Add A Familiar Depth Option As Bench Picture Stays Unsettled
The Braves have added a familiar utility option to the organizational mix, signing infielder Vidal Brujn to a minor league contract and sending him to Triple-A Gwinnett. Brujn brings plenty of big league experience for a depth move, having appeared in 271 major league games since 2021 across six teams, and he gives Atlanta another versatile infield name to keep in the pipeline.
For a bench picture that still looks unsettled, the move makes sense as the Braves keep sorting through their infield depth and possible spring options. Brujn could also get a look in Spring Training as a non-roster player, which would give the club a better read on where he fits while the rest of the roster picture continues to take shape. [Read more 🡒]
Braves Prospect Isaiah Drake Is Giving Fans Another Reason To Watch
Isaiah Drake keeps turning heads in the Arizona Fall League, and his latest showing gave Braves fans another reason to keep an eye on Glendale. In a back-and-forth game against Peoria, Drake was a constant presence at the plate while Tate Southisene and Owen Carey also got into the action for the Desert Dogs, with Tyler LaPorte and Logan Samuels handling work on the mound.
The Desert Dogs came out on top 9-8, and the box score had plenty of Braves-related notes to sort through. LaPorte and Samuels each delivered scoreless innings, giving the club some needed stability in a game that stayed tight throughout, while Drakes day stood out as one of the more encouraging individual performances on the roster. [Read more 🡒]
Braves Defense Just Earned A National Stamp Of Approval
Defense has been one of the quieter strengths around the Braves, and now it has a national seal of approval. Matt Olson and Mauricio Dubn were both honored with Rawlings Gold Glove Awards for their work in the 2026 season, giving Atlanta a pair of recognized defenders who made their value felt in different ways across the field.
Olson added another Gold Glove at first base, while Dubn was rewarded for his versatility as a utility player, a reminder that the Braves defensive profile has not rested on one spot or one style. The recognition also puts Atlanta back in a familiar place among the leagues best gloves, with the club now waiting to see whether this kind of all-around excellence can keep stacking up in the seasons ahead. [Read more 🡒]