NL East report cards: Grading offseason moves

With spring training fast approaching, theScore's MLB editors hand out their offseason grades for each division. We begin with the National League East.

NL EAST I AL EAST I NL CENTRAL I AL CENTRAL I AL WEST

The National League East has been dominated by the Washington Nationals and New York Mets over the last three years, with the two clubs sharing division titles by taking advantage of a rebuilding division.

Both the Nationals and Mets are expected to once again compete for top spot in 2017, though things could prove to be a bit more difficult as the rebuilding Philadelphia Phillies and Atlanta Braves have taken steps towards being competitive again, while the perennial middle-of-the-pack Miami Marlins have spent the offseason addressing their pitching staff in hopes of snapping a 14-year playoff drought.

The winter additions to the NL East don't include the same star power seen in other divisions, though there still has been a number of solid additions joining the fold. Here's how each team in the division has fared this winter:

Atlanta Braves

Trades: 6
Signings: 5
Money spent on FA: $34M
Projected 2017 payroll: $113,388,542
2016 Record: 68-93 (5th)

Key Arrivals: Emilio Bonifacio (re-signed), Josh Collmenter (free agent), Bartolo Colon (free agent), R.A. Dickey (free agent), Jaime Garcia (trade), Micah Johnson (trade) Sean Rodriguez (free agent), Kurt Suzuki (free agent)

Key minor-league signings: Andrew Albers, Xavier Avery, Blaine Boyer, Rex Brothers, John Danks, Michael Kirkman, Eric O'Flaherty, Sam Freeman, Kris Medlen, Jordan Walden

Key Departures: Tuffy Gosewisch (SEA), Mallex Smith (SEA), A.J. Pierzynski (FA), Chris Withrow (KC)

Takeaway: The front office added plenty of veterans on short-term deals that could be flipped for future pieces at the deadline. Atlanta, though, is still at least a year away from challenging for a playoff spot.

Grade: B

Miami Marlins

Trades: 2
Signings: 6
Money spent on FA: $57.275M
Projected 2017 payroll: $104,925,000
2016 Record: 79-82 (3rd)

Key Arrivals: A.J. Ellis (free agent), Severino Gonzalez (trade), Jeff Locke (free agent), Dustin McGowan (re-signed), Dan Straily (trade), Junichi Tazawa (free agent), Edinson Volquez (free agent), Brad Ziegler (free agent)

Key minor-league signings: Brandon Barnes, Ramon Cabrera, Scott Copeland, Matt den Dekker, Kyle Lobtein, Caleb Thielbar

Key Departures: Andrew Cashner (TEX), Mike Dunn (COL), Jeff Francoeur (FA), Chris Johnson (FA), Jeff Mathis (ARI), Fernando Rodney (ARI)

Takeaway: The Marlins could never replace Jose Fernandez but the club did do a solid job adding some veteran arms to improve a woeful bullpen. Miami's offense is good enough to make a wild-card run if Giancarlo Stanton can finally stay healthy.

Grade: B

New York Mets

Trades: 1
Signings: 5
Money spent on FA: $133.7M
Projected 2017 payroll: $143,685,000
2016 Record: 87-75 (2nd)

Key Arrivals: Jerry Blevins (re-signed), Yoenis Cespedes (re-signed), Fernando Salas (re-signed), Neil Walker (re-signed)

Key minor-league signings: Cory Burns, Tom Gorzelanny, Ben Rowen

Key Departures: Bartolo Colon (ATL), Alejandro De Aza (OAK), Kelly Johnson (FA), James Loney (TEX), Jonathon Niese (FA), Logan Verrett (BAL)

Takeaway: The Mets spent big money doubling down on Walker and Cespedes and will hope for better health from the pitching staff than they received in 2016. If the arms stay healthy, the Mets have a real shot at the division.

Grade: B+

Philadelphia Phillies

Trades: 5
Signings: 4
Money spent on FA: $36.7M
Projected 2017 payroll: $89,050,000
2016 Record: 71-91 (4th)

Key Arrivals: Joaquin Benoit (free agent), Andres Blanco (re-signed), Clay Buchholz (trade), Jeremy Hellickson (re-signed), Howie Kendrick (trade), Pat Neshek (trade), Michael Saunders (free agent)

Key minor-league signings: Pedro Beato, Sean Burnett, Chris Coghlan, Pedro Florimon, Ryan Hanigan, Bryan Holaday, Daniel Nava, Cesar Ramos

Key Departures: Peter Bourjos (CWS), A.J. Ellis (MIA), Severino Gonzalez (MIA), Ryan Howard (FA), David Hernandez (FA), Charlie Morton (HOU)

Takeaway: The Phillies complimented a young core with a number of veterans, but expect a fifth straight losing season in Eastern Pennsylvania. At least with Howard's mammoth contract off the books, the club will have added financial flexibility moving forward.

Grade: B

Washington Nationals

Trades: 4
Signings: 2
Money spent on FA: $4.9M
Projected 2017 payroll: $147,962,619
2016 Record: 95-67 (1st)

Key Arrivals: Stephen Drew (re-signed), Adam Eaton (trade), Chris Heisey (re-signed), Derek Norris (trade)

Key minor-league signings: Matt Albers, Emmanuel Burriss, Tim Collins, Neal Cotts, Grant Green, Jeremy Guthrie, Joe Nathan, Josh Outman, Brandon Snyder, Jacob Turner, Vance Worley

Key Departures: Lucas Giolito (CWS), Reynaldo Lopez (CWS), Dane Dunning (CWS), Danny Espinosa (LAA), Wilson Ramos (TB), Ben Revere (LAA), Mat Latos (FA), Sean Burnett (PIT), Mark Melancon (SF), Marc Rzepczynski (SEA)

Takeaway: Hoping to land Kenley Jansen, Chris Sale, and Andrew McCutchen this offseason, the Nats struck out on all three, and opted to overpay for Adam Eaton. They're still the best team in the division and Eaton does bolster the lineup, but whether they can get past the LDS without a closer remains in doubt.

Gmrade: B