"Pick to Click" Series: NL East

Pick to click! How about some NL East love?

Braves

• Pick to click - Jason Heyward
• Never underestimate the power of a much-hyped prospect that everyone writes off as a bust too early. As a 20 year old rookie, Heyward put up an on-base percentage of .393 and an OPS of .839. A huge bounce back candidate....HUGE.

Marlins

• Pick to click - Logan Morrison
• All of the crazy players will probably prosper under Ozzie... so logically the craziest will prosper the most. In a clubhouse full of candidates, I'm singling out Logan Morrison as the most crazy. (However, we excluded Carlos Zambrano because I'm expecting him to get arrested for stabbing someone by about mid-May. If not for his propensity for stabbing, he would have been picked to click.)
  

Mets

• Pick to click - Johan Sant....just kidding. Ike Davis
• Davis finished the year strong after returning from injury, but it will be interesting to see what he is capable of if given another full major league season. His rookie season in 2010 looked good, last year was essentially lost, so we'll see how he bounces back. I'm projecting around 30 home runs even in the middle of a terrible lineup.
• (Seriously though, the only clicking for Johan Santana is the sound his arm makes when he tries to throw a baseball.)

Nationals

• Pick to click - Prince Fielder
• Let's not get hung up on the details like, "He hasn't signed with them yet." or "His body mass index is close to 50." or "They created a third type of diabetes when he broke into the majors in 2005." (Which is true, by the way....look it up.)
• Trust me. Prince will sign with the Nationals, and their lineup will look excellent with him in the middle. He will click. They will click. It's suddenly a pretty deep lineup - Espinosa, Zimmerman, Fielder, Morse, Ramos, Werth etc.
• Prince will also be featured in our upcoming series "Picks to Stay Thick." Also in that series, we'll give a nod to Pablo Sandoval and relievers Ray King and Dennys Reyes. That's Dennys. Like the restaurant.

Phillies

• Pick to click -John Mayberry, Jr. and/or Dominic Brown
• Both have the potential to be productive everyday players. Mayberry was a good offensive player in a limited role last year, and thus far Brown has been underwhelming in his brief time in the majors. The injury to Howard will give one of these players an opportunity to get regular at bats, and there might also be a spot in the outfield if they both start playing well since no one wants to see Laynce Nix out there every day. Double pick to click!

"If I Were General Manager..." Series: NL East

Atlanta Braves

• Assuming they can get over the trauma of one of the biggest collapses in baseball history, the Braves are actually in pretty good shape.  Lots of talented youth and not a lot of holes.
• With Tyler Pastornicky slotted in to start at shortstop, look for a veteran backup in case he struggles.  Guys like Nick Punto, Jack Wilson, Ronny Cedeno all fit the bill.
• Keep Martin Prado around, with the plan of having him and Uggla split second/third base when Chipper inevitably retires/gets hurt.
• Add some mash potential by signing a corner outfielder.  These guys are easily found this offseason--Josh Willingham, Ryan Ludwick, Luke Scott, Michael Cuddyer, Carlos Beltran.
• Keep rotation intact for now.  That means the top four guys (Hudson, Hanson, Jurjjens, Beachy), plus whichever young stud grabs a hold of the fifth spot.  Jurjjens and Hanson have both been fairly fragile, and will need fill-ins.  Use this year to figure out which of the prospects are "boom" and which are "bust."  Then trade those who are "bust" before anyone else realizes they are not that good. 
• Also, make sure to frequently tell Craig Kimbrall that he is still really good.

Philadelphia Phillies

• The Phils have a lot of money committed to guys who are about to get really old, really fast.  With that in mind, the strategy is do whatever we can to "win now" without getting rid of any young players.
• Go hard after Michael Cuddyer.  He can fill in for Howard while he is hurt, and can then start in a corner outfield spot when Howard returns.  Perfect fit.
• In the theme of winning now, while going younger, look into trading with the Padres for Chase Headley (27) to take Polanco's spot at third.  Headley's power has always been suppressed, but in the Philly's park, that power will be exaggerated.  Polanco then becomes a utility infielder
• Do whatever possible to dump Joe Blanton's salary, and replace with someone much cheaper (Paul Maholm? Zach Duke?)
• Re-sign Jimmy Rollins, but not to a five-year deal.  Preferably three.  Then tell him to make a  guarantee about the Phillies winning the World Series.

Miami Marlins

• Agree to a bunch of outrageous free-agent contracts with big name players that will excite fan base.
• Sell season tickets to excited fan base.
• Before first game of season, put a big "Closed Until Further Notice" sign on front of new stadium, and disappear with season ticket-holder money to remote tropical island. 

New York Mets

• The outlook is not good for this year, or the next couple years.  That means full rebuilding mode.
• Trade David Wright for the best collection of prospects that is offered.
• Trade anything else of value (Jason Bay, Mike Pelfrey) for prospects.
• Convince Brian Cashman that Johan Santana is healthy, and then trade him to the Yankees.
• Hang onto Ike Davis as the interim "face of the franchise."  Cash in on as many Ike Davis bobblehead nights as possible.

Washington Nationals

• Looking at the National's roster on paper makes me think that this is a team that could surprise some people.  If nothing else, they are really close.
• Sign Prince Fielder.  He plays first, Mike Morse moves to left, and the heart of the lineup looks like this: Zimmerman, Fielder, Werth, Morse.  Not too shabby.
• Give Bryce Harper a "chance" to earn a starting outfield job in spring training, but unless he blows up, send him back to the minors for one more year of seasoning.
• Look to trade for a center fielder with good OBP to lead off.  Perhaps re-ignite talks with the Twins about Denard Span, as he would be a great fit.
• Look for a seasoned veteran with a good track record of success to lead the staff of young high-upside starters (Strasburg, Zimmermann, Detwiler, etc.).  In terms of free agency, Oswalt fits the bill.  In terms of trading, talk to the Cubs about Garza, the Astros about Wandy/Myers, and maybe the White Sox about Jake Peavy.