NL Offseason Report, Part IJason Michael Barker

On Monday I told you which American League teams improved their stock this winter, in addition to those who kept the status quo and those who tried to get better but only got worse. Today we'll look at the top half of the National League, at the eight teams who got better this offseason. To keep things simple, I've only included changes from last year in terms of players added or lost. In other words, no options picked up or free agents re-signed.

Moving from most to least improved, here's a quick look at the National League:

1. Atlanta
In: LHP Paul Assenmacher, OF Bobby Bonilla, 1B Wally Joyner, RHP Rafael Medina, OF Reggie Sanders, 2B Quilvio Veras
Out: 2B Bret Boone, C Jorge Fabregas, SS Jose Hernandez, 1B Ryan Klesko, C Greg Myers, RHP Russ Springer, OF Gerald Williams

Adding Sanders and Veras was a key move for the Braves, because it means there should be runners on base in front of the great Chipper Jones. Last season Chipper drove in "just" 110 runs, and we all know that had nothing to do with his lack of clutch hitting or his not being an "RBI man." I do think the Braves could miss Klesko's power in the middle of the order next season, particularly if Andres Galarraga and Javy Lopez aren't back at full strength (although letting both Myers and Fabregas go would seem to be a good indication that they believe Lopez will be OK).

Oh, and look out for Medina, in a sleeper sort of way -- he was once a highly touted prospect in the Yankees' system, then was dealt to San Diego for Hideki Irabu, then to Florida for Kevin Brown. He's had weight problems throughout his minor league career, but when he's healthy and in shape, he can be very good. If any club out there can turn him into something useful, it's the Braves.

2. Colorado
In: RHP Rolando Arrojo, RHP Manny Aybar, RHP Stan Belinda, OF Darren Bragg, SS Brent Butler, 3B Jeff Cirillo, RHP Rich Croushore, OF Tom Goodwin, OF Jeffrey Hammonds, LHP Butch Henry, RHP Jose Jimenez, RHP Scott Karl, IF Aaron Ledesma, C Brent Mayne, LHP Mike Myers, C Scott Servais, RHP Julian Tavarez, RHP Billy Taylor, RHP Masato Yoshii
Out: IF Kurt Abbott, OF Dante Bichette, C Henry Blanco, 3B Vinny Castilla, LHP Bobby M. Jones, RHP Darryl Kile, RHP Curt Leskanic, C Kirt Manwaring, RHP Dave Veres

The Rockies' biggest move was hiring general manager Dan O'Dowd, who appears to have a good grasp of both on-base percentage and the effects of Coors Field. O'Dowd turned over much of the Colorado roster this winter, and although they have yet to play a game the team looks to be much improved. Trading the overrated Bichette, Castilla and Kile was a great place to start, and in return the Rockies got a top-notch 3B in Cirillo, a good prospect in Butler, and a ton of quality pitchers who might just learn to pitch at Coors. Jimenez, for one, had the third-highest ground ball-to-fly ball ratio in baseball last season.

3. St. Louis
In: RHP Andy Benes, OF Shawon Dunston, RHP Pat Hentgen, RHP Darryl Kile, C Mike Matheny, OF Brian McRae, LHP Paul Spoljaric, RHP Dave Veres, 2B Fernando Viña,
Out: RHP Juan Acevedo, RHP Manny Aybar, RHP Ricky Bottalico, OF Darren Bragg, C Alberto Castillo, RHP Rick Croushore, RHP Jose Jimenez, OF Willie McGee, LHP Darren Oliver, IF Luis Ordaz, RHP Donovan Osborne, RHP Lance Painter

In terms of sheer quantity, the Cardinals might have had the best offseason of any team in baseball, adding three starting pitchers (Benes, Hentgen and Kile), a closer (Veres), and a second baseman (Viña). They did give up three quality arms in Acevedo, Aybar and Jimenez, but the three starters they acquired are more proven commodities at this point. It remains to be seen if Kile can recover from two years in Coors Field or if Hentgen is finally healthy, but if even one of those two things happen the Cardinals will be much better off than they were last season.

4. Philadelphia
In: RHP Andy Ashby, RHP Chris Brock, RHP Mike Jackson
Out: C Bobby Estalella, RHP Carlton Loewer, RHP Steve Montgomery, RHP Chad Ogea, RHP Yorkis Perez

The Phillies didn't get as nearly as many new players as the Cards or Rockies, but their two big acquisitions -- Ashby and Jackson -- were a number-one starter and a top-notch closer. Most importantly, they didn't give up very much to get Ashby, and nothing for Jackson since he was a free agent. It won't be enough to compete with the Braves and Mets in the NL East, but the Phillies did a good job this winter.

5. Houston
In: OF Roger Cedeño, RHP Octavio Dotel, SS Adam Everett, RHP Dwight Gooden, RHP Mike Maddux
Out: OF Derek Bell, OF Carl Everett, SS Ricky Gutierrez, LHP Mike Hampton, OF Stan Javier, RHP Brian Williams

Losing Hampton hurts quite a bit, but when you consider that he wasn't going to re-sign with the Astros and was coming off a career year, getting Cedeño and Dotel for him is a great deal. They also managed to dump Bell, who was a poor hitter and a malcontent, on the Mets. It was a similar situation with Carl Everett, who was coming off a career year but at age 29 is no spring chicken. I don't think Adam Everett is ready for the majors at this point, but I included him above because he is considered a top prospect and very well may see the majors in 2000.

6. Chicago
In: OF Damon Buford, C Joe Girardi, 3B Willie Green, SS Ricky Gutierrez, RHP Ismael Valdes, RHP Brian Williams, 2B Eric Young
Out: RHP Terry Adams, IF Manny Alexander, RHP Bobby Ayala, SS Jeff Blauser, 3B Gary Gaetti, OF Lance Johnson, 2B Mickey Morandini, RHP Scott Sanders, C Benito Santiago, RHP Dan Serafini, RHP Steve Trachsel

It's been fashionable to call the Cubs the most improved team in the league, much as it has been to say the same thing about the Devil Rays in the American League. To their credit, they did dump a ton of dead weight this offseason -- Alexander, Blauser, Gaetti, Johnson, Morandini and Santiago -- but since this isn't the NBA or NFL it's not as if that gets them room under the salary cap. Their two big additions were Valdes and Young, but Valdes will now move from a pitcher-friendly park to the friendly confines of Wrigley Field, while Young will turn 33 in a few months.

7. Montreal
In: RHP Hideki Irabu, LHP Graeme Lloyd, 2B Mickey Morandini, C Charlie O'Brien
Out: OF James Mouton, OF Orlando Merced

It wasn't a huge offseason in Montreal by any stretch, but any time you add a solid starting pitcher you've improved your team. The Expos did give up a good pitching prospect in Jake Westbrook, but if there's a strength in the Montreal farm system, it's their pitchers. Even though the team isn't going to win the NL East next year, adding both Irabu and Lloyd were important moves coming from new ownership.

8. New York
In: IF Kurt Abbott, OF Derek Bell, LHP Mike Hampton, 3B Charlie Hayes, LHP Bobby M. Jones, OF John Nunnally, LHP Jesse Orosco, RHP Bill Pulsipher, RHP Rich Rodriguez, 3B Todd Zeile
Out: OF Bobby Bonilla, OF Roger Cedeño, RHP Octavio Dotel, OF Shawon Dunston, RHP Orel Hershiser, LHP Chuck McElroy, 1B John Olerud, LHP Kenny Rogers, RHP Billy Taylor, RHP Masato Yoshii

Some people are saying the Mets have gotten much better this winter, but I just don't see it. Other than Hampton, who did they really add this winter? Todd Zeile, whose offense was acceptable at third base but will be far from it at first base. They swapped one problem (Bonilla) for another (Bell), but that's neither here nor there. You can't completely overlook Hampton, however, and for that reason alone the Mets have improved just a little.

Tune in next time, when we'll look at the eight remaining National League teams. Just so it's not a surprise... they all either got worse or stayed about the same. Tell a friend.

about the author

Jason Michael Barker thought he'd try one of them there "denial of service" attacks and put ESPN.com out of commission for a while. Let Jason know that personally e-mailing individual customers to tell them service has been denied isn't how it works at jmb@strikethree.com.