There is an arms race ongoing in the National League East.
And a legs race. And a bats race.
The Phillies, Braves and Mets are engaging in a “can you top this” pattern of player acquisition this winter, swinging big trades and piling up hefty payrolls in an attempt to gain a foothold over one another in the NL East.
It’s clear Atlanta and New York are both still reeling from early postseason exits. Both won 101 games last season, 14 more than the 87-win Phils, and yet it was Philadelphia who advanced to the Fall Classic after the Mets fell to San Diego in the wild card round and the Phils dominated the Braves in the division series.