Nothing about this week has settled the division. But a lot has started to shape it.
It wasn’t the busiest Meetings the division has ever seen, but it was certainly revealing.
Braves: Weiss expresses confidence, but questions remain
For the Braves, the Meetings were more about clarity than transactions. New manager Walt Weiss spoke confidently about an offense he believes will be improved in 2026, emphasizing baserunning, aggressiveness, and a more dynamic approach on the bases.
Weiss publicly endorsed hitting coach Tim Hyers and noted that the designated hitter spot may be used flexibly—perhaps as a way to keep both catchers in the lineup or distribute rest across the roster.
The most notable detail came at shortstop. Weiss said he is comfortable with Mauricio Dubón as an everyday option, while keeping the door open for an upgrade if the market presents one. Combined with the organization’s ongoing focus on pitching—particularly rotation depth—it was clear the Braves know what their winter needs are. They simply haven’t found a deal that fits yet.
Nationals: A quiet week built around structure and the Rule 5 Draft
The Nationals didn’t produce a headline-grabbing move, but their activity was far from nonexistent.
The Rule 5 Draft on Wednesday delivered right-hander Griff McGarry, a former Phillies prospect who regained form in 2025 and will get a chance to compete for a spot on Washington’s pitching staff. It was the organization’s most concrete roster addition of the Meetings.
Otherwise, the Nationals’ week centered on internal evaluation and longer-term questions, including how best to continue developing CJ Abrams defensively and how new president of baseball operations Paul Toboni wants to shape the front office and pitching infrastructure. Nothing in Orlando suggested a dramatic shift in strategy: Washington remains committed to development, patience, and incremental gains rather than short-term splashes.
Marlins: Focused on one-year deals and 2026
The Marlins entered the Meetings with a clear message, and they stuck to it all week. Club officials reiterated that they are targeting mostly one-year contracts—ideally no commitments beyond 2026—as they continue evaluating their young core.
Team leadership described 2026 as a realistic competitive window, with 2025 serving as another important year to identify long-term building blocks. Miami explored depth moves and low-risk upgrades without blocking prospects or altering its broader timeline. It wasn’t a loud footprint, but it was an intentional one.
So, here’s where things stand as the division leaves Orlando:
The Mets lost both their closer and their home run king in a span of two days, forcing a significant course correction.
The Braves expressed confidence in their internal options but left with their major needs—shortstop and pitching—still unresolved.
The Nationals made their clearest move in the Rule 5 Draft and continued laying organizational groundwork rather than chasing short-term impact.
The Marlins continued their disciplined approach, targeting short-term deals while setting their sights on 2026.
The Phillies made the most significant addition in the division by securing Schwarber and now turn toward a pivotal decision behind the plate.
The Winter Meetings rarely finish the offseason. Instead, they clarify it. And for the NL East, the picture leaving Orlando is unmistakable: every club has work left to do, and the most important moves of the winter are still ahead.
Mets: Two major departures define the week
No club in the division absorbed more change in Orlando than the Mets.
On Monday, word began circulating that Edwin DÃaz had agreed to a three-year, $69 million contract with the Dodgers, ending his run as New York’s late-inning anchor. It was one of the earliest stunners of the week and an immediate blow to a bullpen already in transition.
Barely 24 hours later, reports surfaced that Pete Alonso—New York’s all-time home run leader—was finalizing a five-year, $155 million deal with the Orioles. For a team already bracing for turnover, losing DÃaz and Alonso on back-to-back days left the Mets confronting a significantly different winter than the one they anticipated.
Team president David Stearns acknowledged that the escalating reliever market affected the club’s posture with DÃaz. The Mets now leave the Meetings with two enormous holes: a closer and a middle-of-the-order bat. Their response in the coming weeks will shape the direction of their offseason.
No club in the division absorbed more change in Orlando than the Mets.
On Monday, word began circulating that Edwin DÃaz had agreed to a three-year, $69 million contract with the Dodgers, ending his run as New York’s late-inning anchor. It was one of the earliest stunners of the week and an immediate blow to a bullpen already in transition.
Barely 24 hours later, reports surfaced that Pete Alonso—New York’s all-time home run leader—was finalizing a five-year, $155 million deal with the Orioles. For a team already bracing for turnover, losing DÃaz and Alonso on back-to-back days left the Mets confronting a significantly different winter than the one they anticipated.
Team president David Stearns acknowledged that the escalating reliever market affected the club’s posture with DÃaz. The Mets now leave the Meetings with two enormous holes: a closer and a middle-of-the-order bat. Their response in the coming weeks will shape the direction of their offseason.
Braves: Weiss expresses confidence, but questions remain
For the Braves, the Meetings were more about clarity than transactions. New manager Walt Weiss spoke confidently about an offense he believes will be improved in 2026, emphasizing baserunning, aggressiveness, and a more dynamic approach on the bases.
Weiss publicly endorsed hitting coach Tim Hyers and noted that the designated hitter spot may be used flexibly—perhaps as a way to keep both catchers in the lineup or distribute rest across the roster.
The most notable detail came at shortstop. Weiss said he is comfortable with Mauricio Dubón as an everyday option, while keeping the door open for an upgrade if the market presents one. Combined with the organization’s ongoing focus on pitching—particularly rotation depth—it was clear the Braves know what their winter needs are. They simply haven’t found a deal that fits yet.
Nationals: A quiet week built around structure and the Rule 5 Draft
The Nationals didn’t produce a headline-grabbing move, but their activity was far from nonexistent.
The Rule 5 Draft on Wednesday delivered right-hander Griff McGarry, a former Phillies prospect who regained form in 2025 and will get a chance to compete for a spot on Washington’s pitching staff. It was the organization’s most concrete roster addition of the Meetings.
Otherwise, the Nationals’ week centered on internal evaluation and longer-term questions, including how best to continue developing CJ Abrams defensively and how new president of baseball operations Paul Toboni wants to shape the front office and pitching infrastructure. Nothing in Orlando suggested a dramatic shift in strategy: Washington remains committed to development, patience, and incremental gains rather than short-term splashes.
Marlins: Focused on one-year deals and 2026
The Marlins entered the Meetings with a clear message, and they stuck to it all week. Club officials reiterated that they are targeting mostly one-year contracts—ideally no commitments beyond 2026—as they continue evaluating their young core.
Team leadership described 2026 as a realistic competitive window, with 2025 serving as another important year to identify long-term building blocks. Miami explored depth moves and low-risk upgrades without blocking prospects or altering its broader timeline. It wasn’t a loud footprint, but it was an intentional one.
Phillies: Schwarber deal highlights the week
The Phillies made the NL East’s biggest move of the Meetings when they agreed to a five-year, $150 million contract with Kyle Schwarber, keeping one of the league’s premier power bats in Philadelphia through 2030. It was the headline moment not just of the team’s week, but arguably the Meetings across the division.
From there, the Phillies shifted quickly into decisions still to come. The catching market is thin, and the club remains focused on re-signing J.T. Realmuto while weighing its limited alternatives. Team president Dave Dombrowski pushed back on the notion that bringing back Schwarber—and potentially Realmuto—would amount to “running it back,” pointing to role changes and the emergence of young talent as reasons the 2026 roster will not be a carbon copy of last year.
The Phillies were also active during the Rule 5 Draft, acquiring right-hander Zach McCambley, losing Griff McGarry to the Nationals, and sending reliever Tommy McCollum to Tampa Bay for Yoniel Curet. The flurry of smaller moves added depth to the organization and underscored the front office’s intent to reshape its pitching layers beneath the major-league roster.
The Phillies made the NL East’s biggest move of the Meetings when they agreed to a five-year, $150 million contract with Kyle Schwarber, keeping one of the league’s premier power bats in Philadelphia through 2030. It was the headline moment not just of the team’s week, but arguably the Meetings across the division.
From there, the Phillies shifted quickly into decisions still to come. The catching market is thin, and the club remains focused on re-signing J.T. Realmuto while weighing its limited alternatives. Team president Dave Dombrowski pushed back on the notion that bringing back Schwarber—and potentially Realmuto—would amount to “running it back,” pointing to role changes and the emergence of young talent as reasons the 2026 roster will not be a carbon copy of last year.
The Phillies were also active during the Rule 5 Draft, acquiring right-hander Zach McCambley, losing Griff McGarry to the Nationals, and sending reliever Tommy McCollum to Tampa Bay for Yoniel Curet. The flurry of smaller moves added depth to the organization and underscored the front office’s intent to reshape its pitching layers beneath the major-league roster.
So, here’s where things stand as the division leaves Orlando:
The Mets lost both their closer and their home run king in a span of two days, forcing a significant course correction.
The Braves expressed confidence in their internal options but left with their major needs—shortstop and pitching—still unresolved.
The Nationals made their clearest move in the Rule 5 Draft and continued laying organizational groundwork rather than chasing short-term impact.
The Marlins continued their disciplined approach, targeting short-term deals while setting their sights on 2026.
The Phillies made the most significant addition in the division by securing Schwarber and now turn toward a pivotal decision behind the plate.
The Winter Meetings rarely finish the offseason. Instead, they clarify it. And for the NL East, the picture leaving Orlando is unmistakable: every club has work left to do, and the most important moves of the winter are still ahead.
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