Here’s an in-depth look at the Mets’ NL East foes:
Nationals
Manager: Dusty Baker (second season)
Spring training site: West Palm Beach, Fla.
Biggest additions: Adam Eaton was acquired in a trade with the White Sox for three prospects to give the Nationals another bat in the outfield. Stephen Drew was signed as a free agent to provide infield depth.
Biggest losses: Wilson Ramos departed through free agency, signing with Tampa Bay. Mark Melancon, who arrived at the trade deadline last year, departed through free agency. Danny Espinosa was traded to the Angels for two prospects, allowing Trea Turner to move full-time to shortstop. Ben Revere left through free agency.
Spring training storylines to watch: The Nationals tried desperately to land a marquee closer in the offseason, but whiffed. Shawn Kelley will get first crack at handling ninth-inning duties, but team brass is on the lookout for other options. Eaton’s arrival from the White Sox adds another quality bat to a lineup that includes Bryce Harper, Daniel Murphy and Anthony Rendon.
Marlins
Manager: Don Mattingly (second season)
Spring training site: Jupiter, Fla.
Biggest additions: Dan Straily arrived in a trade with the Reds and Edinson Volquez and Jeff Locke were signed as free agents to give the Marlins veteran arms in the rotation. Brad Ziegler was signed as a free agent to replace Fernando Rodney, who departed through free agency, in the closer’s role.
Biggest losses: Lefty reliever Mike Dunn departed to the Rockies after receiving a three-year contract worth $19 million. Andrew Cashner was signed as a free agent by Texas.
Spring training storylines to watch: Jose Fernandez’s death in a September boating accident left a gaping hole in Mattingly’s rotation, but the Marlins are hopeful new arrivals Straily, Volquez and Locke can compensate. The Marlins hunted Kenley Jansen in the offseason to fill the closer’s role that opened with Rodney’s departure, and went to Plan B in Ziegler, who had a strong 2016 season for Arizona.
Braves
Manager: Brian Snitker (second season)
Spring training site: Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
Biggest additions: R.A. Dickey, Bartolo Colon and Jaime Garcia were signed to free-agent contracts, accounting for 60 percent of the Braves’ new rotation. Kurt Suzuki was signed as a free agent to give the Braves a veteran catcher.
Biggest losses: Mallex Smith was traded to the Mariners for two prospects.
Spring training storylines to watch: The Braves still are in rebuild mode, but could be a sleeper in the NL East after adding three quality veteran starting pitchers behind ace Julio Teheran. The continued development of young pitchers such as Aaron Blair and Matt Wisler will be crucial as the Braves prepare to make a legitimate strides toward contending in 2018.
Phillies
Manager: Pete Mackanin (third season)
Spring training site: Clearwater, Fla.
Biggest additions: Howie Kendrick arrived in a trade with the Dodgers for Darin Ruf and Darnell Sweeney. Joaquin Benoit was signed to a one-year contract worth $7.5 million to bolster the bullpen. Clay Buchholz was acquired in a trade with the Red Sox for Josh Tobias. Michael Saunders was signed as a free agent to provide a lefty bat.
Biggest losses: Ryan Howard was not re-signed, following the completion of his five-year contract worth $125 million. Outfielder Peter Bourjos left through free agency, as did catcher A.J. Ellis.
Spring training storylines to watch: The last link to the team’s most recent glory years, Howard, has departed, leaving the Phillies to continue their rebuild with more financial flexibility. Maikel Franco is among the team’s young players with a healthy upside, and Buchholz’s addition adds a veteran presence to a young rotation that will look for improvements from the likes of Aaron Nola and Jerad Eickhoff.