The Philadelphia Phillies Are Still The Team To Beat In The NL East

This offseason, there has been a lot of buzz around the Mets fan base with them luring Juan Soto to Queens. However, outside of the Soto signing, the team added no other difference-making players. While going crazy over the team signing Juan Soto, Mets fans seem to have forgotten how formidable the Phillies are. While the Mets may have signed Juan Soto, the Philadelphia Phillies are still the best team in the NL East.

Outside Of Soto, The Mets Made No Impactful Moves

There has been a lot of excitement surrounding the New York Mets this offseason. The team was able to lure 26-year-old superstar Juan Soto to Queens. They signed him to a 15-year, $765 million deal, the largest contract not just in baseball, but in all sports. Overshadowed in all the Soto excitement is how little else the Mets have done to improve this offseason. The only other players the team has added are Clay Holmes, Frankie Montas, Sean Manaea, Griffin Canning, Dylan Covey, and Justin Hagenman. The team wants to convert Holmes into a starting pitcher, something he hasn’t done in eight years. Manaea has a history of inconsistency. Montas is a has-been at this point in his career. Canning has never been good. Covey spent most of the 2024 season on the injured list and Hagenman has had yet to crack the big leagues. These players are hardly difference-makers and won’t move the Mets championship needle.

Mets Fans Are Forgetting Just How Hungry The Phillies Are

While Mets fans have been lost in space over the Soto signing, they have forgotten about the red-and-white tsunami in their division. Last season the Phillies won the NL East, went to the postseason for the third consecutive year, and had eight all-stars. Given the team’s latest letdown in the NLDS, ironically against the Mets, this team is hungry to exorcise their recent postseason woes and win a championship.

Philadelphia’s lineup features Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, Trea Turner, J.T. Realmuto, Alec Bohm, and Nick Castellanos. The team also finished in the top five in many major offensive categories including batting average (.257), runs scored (784), home runs (198), RBI (750), and OPS (.750). Despite having so many power hitters in their lineup, the team only struck out 1,370 times. The only teams that struck out less were the Cubs, Dodgers, Cardinals, Diamondbacks, Nationals, and Padres. The team also added more power to their lineup in former Twins outfielder Max Kepler. Kepler also improves the team defensively as well.

The Phillies Still Have A Dominant Starting Rotation

While the Phillies offense was very potent last season, their pitching staff was very lethal as well. Philadelphia’s starting rotation features Cy Young contender Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, Christopher Sanchez, and Ranger Suarez. Wheeler, Sanchez, and Suarez were all all-stars last season. All four of them combined for an ERA of 3.22 and 719 strikeouts. The team even added to their already strong rotation by acquiring 26-year-old starting Jesus Luzardo from the Marlins.

While Luzardo has had durability issues throughout his career; the 26-year-old is just coming off a two-year stretch where he had a combined ERA of 3.49. He owns a career strikeout rate of 26% and with an explosive offense behind him; Jesus Luzardo is set up to thrive. Acquiring Luzardo also takes out free agent bust Taijuan Walker from the regular rotation. If Luzardo can stay healthy and return to his 2022 and 2023 form, then the Phillies starting rotation could be even more dominant.

A Much Improved Bullpen

Despite strong seasons from Matt Strahm, Jeff Hoffman, and Orion Kerkering, the Phillies bullpen was just mediocre. Jose Alvarado wasn’t the answer to the Phillies closer woes. While trade deadline acquisition Carlos Estevez had success as the closer, the team opted to not bring him back. Hoffman also departed the team and is currently a free agent. The Phillies bullpen completely melted down in the NLDS. It twice blew late-inning leads which ultimately led the Phillies to be eliminated in four games by the Mets. Baseball Operations Head Dave Dombrowski did some retooling in the bullpen. The only returners from last season are Strahm, Kerkering, Alvarado, and Jose Ruiz. Trade deadline acquisition Tanner Banks also returns next season as well. The team added new pitchers Joe Ross and former Blue Jays all-star closer Jordan Romano.

Ross is a pitcher who can either start or pitch out of the bullpen, giving the Phillies options. While Romano had an injury-plagued 2024 season, the two-time all-star had a recent three-year stretch where he was one of the most dominant closers in baseball. During that span, he had an ERA of 2.37 and 95 saves. If the 31-year-old can get back to form, Philadelphia is going to be tough to beat.

The Phillies Will Be Even Better In 2025

While Mets fans have been high off the Juan Soto signing hype, they seem to have forgotten about how dominant the Philadelphia Phillies are. Soto alone is not enough for the Mets to supplant the Phillies as the team to beat in this division. This team still has an explosive lineup, a dominant starting rotation, and their bullpen is much improved heading into 2025. Knowing how aggressive Dombrowski is, this team could make more moves. All the excitement surrounding the Mets has caused Philadelphia to fly under the radar, this is something that could be beneficial for the Phillies and make them more dangerous in 2025. The Mets may have Juan Soto, however, the Philadelphia Phillies are still the better team in the NL East.

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