Sep. 28, 2012; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Justin Upton (10) hits a two run home run in the game against the Chicago Cubs in the fifth inning at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY Sports

Let me preface this by saying: I am not accounting for injuries, unexpected struggles or anything else. I am talking about the teams, on paper, as of today. Can the Braves win the division this year? Sure. But I don’t think they are as good as the Nationals are on paper and until April, that’s really all we have to go by.

Have the Braves improved this off-season? Yes. They have Upton times two and traded a middling starting pitcher for a very good arm in the bullpen. They also lost Chipper Jones and have a question mark at third base, although it does look like a platoon is possible. They are definitely a playoff contender, but to beat the Nationals they will need great seasons from their starting pitchers and although Kris Medlen was great last year, I don’t know if he can do it for another whole year. And you still have Tim Hudson, Mike Minor and Paul Maholm who are anything but sure things. Then you have Brian McCann doubtful for the beginning of the season and a possibility Gerald Laird will be the starter come opening day.

The Nationals, on the other hand, have as solid a rotation as anyone in baseball subject to health of course. Their lineup is heading into Spring Training with no injuries and the biggest hole they had – leadoff and center field – has been filled. Their bullpen has as much depth as the Braves and their own three-headed monster. The Nationals are a team that is hoping for their already established young stars to take another step forward but the truth is, as long as they don’t take a step back they should still be atop the division.

So, all this to say that the Braves are a good team that got better. The Nationals are a very good team (as having the best record in baseball can attest) that got great. Yesterday, I would have said the Nationals would win the division. Today? I still say that. I’m not saying its a foregone conclusion – not by any means – but at least on paper, it’s not as close as it seems.

But, that’s why they play the games. Give us something to talk about. Bring it on.

What do you think? Who is the favorite to take the National League East? Can a third team cause trouble and surprise? Comment below!

March 17, 2012; Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA; Toronto Blue Jays catcher Travis d

Now, the trade itself is not really news. The big names in the trade – Travis d’Arnaud, Noah Syndergaard and Josh Buck going to New York and R.A Dickey and Josh Thole going to Toronto have been known since last Friday, but now the deal is official as is Dickey’s contract extension that will see him paid $30 million for 2013, 2014 and 2015 with a $12 million option for 2016. Mike Nickeas is also going to Toronto and 18-year-old Wuilmer Becerra, a fringe prospect, going to New York to complete the deal.

More good prospects are being divided among the teams expected to be at the bottom of the division as they are gearing up for their next big run. This is good news for the Nationals as the more they can beat the Mets and the Miami Marlins, the better their chances to secure at the worst a second Wild Card spot. But it also gives the Nationals a sense of urgency. With the Mets and Marlins gearing up, and the Philadelphia Phillies and Atlanta Braves never really in a down period, the Nationals have pressure to not only win now, not only develop the prospects in their system now but to make sure they don’t fall behind.

Now, of course, prospects are never a sure thing and the Mets know this better than most teams as the package they sent to the Minnesota Twins for Johan Santana ended up being a bunch of prospects who never lived up to their potential. d’Arnaud has already been traded twice (he was previously involved in the trade from Philadelphia to Toronto for Roy Halladay) and Syndergaard is still several years away, so neither are sure things the way people look at Wil Myers, for instance (who also is not a sure thing).

However, it is a pretty decent package for a team that had a Cy Young winner at its disposal and a team in Toronto desperate enough to gear up for a run in a year where the entire American League East looks set for a down year.

The NL East now looks even more like a three-team race unless the Mets or Marlins pull off a season even the makers of Major League would think was unbelievable.

Minnesota Twins center fielder Denard Span (left) and right fielder Ben Revere (11) wait in the dugout during a rain delay. The two former teammates are now rivals in the National League East. [Photo: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports]

The Nationals had two big moves over the meetings with the first being acquiring Denard Span from the Minnesota Twins for pitching prospect Alex Meyer and agreeing to a deal with Dan Haren on a one-year contract. As of today, the physical has yet to be completed so the deal still has some issues to be resolved but if Haren doesn’t pass his physical, it’s probably not the impact move it would appear to be on the surface.

Turns out the physical was passed and the move was made official.

The Nationals still have some things to do, mainly add pitching depth, but were able to at least keep pace if not extend their “on paper” lead in the NL East.

Atlanta Braves

The Atlanta Braves signed B.J. Upton just prior to the winter meetings and traded starting pitcher Tommy Hanson to the Los Angeles Angels in return for reliever Jordan Walden. It adds depth to a bullpen that needs solid arms in order to take some of the load off of Craig Kimbrel, Jonny Venters and Eric O’Flaherty. Walden does that and allows the Braves to maybe even explore the possibility of selling high on one of their star relievers.

Upton is probably an improvement on Bourn especially since they had been looking for an impact bat from the right side. But for the money and years they are giving him, I think that they are a push with the Nationals and Span if not slightly behind.

Philadelphia Phillies

There aren’t many people that think that Ben Revere was worth what the Phillies gave up, but Revere has the potential to be a solid starter for the Phillies and is definitely better financially than signing a Bourn or Angel Pagan who they were in talks with.

Revere right now seems like a Juan Pierre clone which is fine, but to expect a lot from him isn’t probably the way to go and to to think that they gave up two pitchers as opposed to the one Washington gave up for Span, I don’t think they did themselves any favors with that move.

New York Mets

The Mets made David Wright‘s signing official as well as unveiling a new look. But the big story was what they didn’t do. They didn’t trade R.A Dickey and they didn’t sign him to an extension. With the price being paid for pitchers, they may sign him below actual market value or they can trade him at the height of his value.

The Mets are not set to contend in 2013 but are positioning them nicely to make a Nationals-like run with prospects in a few years.

Miami Marlins

I had initially typed “Florida” instead of Miami. I was in Miami right as the trade with the Blue Jays happened and all the news outlets had outraged fans and I don’t blame them. The new ballpark is really a sight to see as you pass it on the highway and is bigger than a normal baseball stadium from the outside.

The Marlins picked up a couple of players in the Rule 5 draft but I don’t need to tell you that they are planning for the future and got a few solid pieces for their future. They also traded Yunel Escobar, who they received from the Blue Jays to Tampa Bay.