2019 National League All-Acquired Roster

UPDATE #1, as of 12/16/18:

All three of the changes to this lineup were reported last week, but only just became official as of the MLB.com transaction page. The addition of Andrew McCutchen (1,756 fantasy points / 11.3 points per game) to the Philadelphia outfield pushes Johnny Field into the center field platoon picture, even though he only technically qualified as a corner outfielder in 2018. Tanner Roark (1,163 / 37.5) hasn't been a top of the rotation pitcher since 2016, but at this early point in the offseason, he's got a good shot to stick in this rotation. And Jeurys Familia (1,329 / 19.0) will return to his original team in New York, but he won't reprise the closer's role he had for them since 2015, but rather will continue in the setup capacity for which he pitched in Oakland after his mid-2018 trade.


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As I set up in my last post highlighting the American League All-Acquired Roster, the cutoff point for inclusion in this particular update of the 2019 All-Acquired rosters was prior to the week beginning 12/10/18, which will allow us to focus entirely on pre-Winter Meetings action. I don't think I mentioned that I'm using only transactions that have been reported on MLB.com's Transaction page, so let me just clear that up now. With all that said, let's check out the top players having been acquired by National League teams this offseason!


STARTING PITCHER

Image from Arizona Sports

Like its AL counterpart, the NL All-Acquired squad boasts a top of the rotation lefty, although the senior circuit's version came via free agent signing rather than blockbuster trade. The consensus top starting pitcher on the free agent market, Patrick Corbin (2,213 fantasy points / 67.1 points per game) turned in a stellar season with the Diamondbacks, which he parlayed into a six-year, $140 million contract with the Nationals. We'll see whether this financial outlay from the Lerner family prevents homegrown superstar outfielder Bryce Harper from returning to Washington (which would keep him out of the All-Acquired landscape altogether), but at least the Nats have a loaded rotation, even after trading away Tanner Roark in a swap that occurred after the cutoff point.

Unlike its AL counterpart, the NL All-Acquired player pool doesn't even include enough healthy starting pitchers to staff a full rotation, even including the above-mentioned Roark. Going by 2018 fantasy points, the next pitcher on the list is Garrett Richards (696 / 43.5), who the Padres signed to a two-year deal typical for hurlers recovering from Tommy John surgery, but he likely won't be a factor until 2020 at the earliest. Former potential ace in the making Luke Weaver (683 / 22.8) went from the Cardinals to the Diamondbacks in a huge trade that we'll talk about later on. But after those two we have another TJ victim Artie Lewicki (120 / 9.2 with the Tigers, before going to Arizona via waiver claim) and Triple-A starter Mike Hauschild (60 / 30.0 in one start and one relief appearance for the Blue Jays - he signed a minor league deal with the Cardinals).


RELIEF PITCHER

Image from New York Post

In addition to an ace starter, the NL also acquired a star closer in Edwin Diaz (2,672 / 36.6), the top-scoring reliever in all of baseball in 2018. Arguably the key piece in a Mariners/Mets blockbuster that went down right after the start of Hanukkah, Diaz will give New York NL just one year of cheap production before his ludicrous save totals drive his price up in arbitration. In the very first trade of the offseason (or rather of the "post-2018 season," since the playoffs were still going on), the Marlins sent power reliever Kyle Barraclough (625 / 10.2) to the Nationals, in a prelude of pitching acquisitions to come. I'm listing Barraclough above lefty Jose Alvarez (717 / 9.4), who went from the Angels to the Phillies in a curious one-for-one swap, not just due to the slight points-per-game advantage, but also because left-handed specialists with unimpressive peripheral stats just aren't that exciting. Speaking of which, lefty James Pazos (520 / 8.7) went from the Mariners to the Phillies in yet another blockbuster, alongside bounceback candidate Juan Nicasio (189 / 4.1).

Although he doesn't appear on my new truncated database, having missed the entire 2018 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery of his own, it's worth mentioning that Washington signed former St. Louis closer Trevor Rosenthal. And looking ahead to deals announced after the start of the Winter Meetings, this already-impressive bullpen will be filled out further by the likes of Jeurys Familia (back to the Mets), Joe Kelly (Dodgers), and Alex Claudio (Brewers).


CATCHER

Sticking with the Nats, they're responsible for both of the top two NL All-Acquired backstops. First, they signed late-blooming Kurt Suzuki (1,015 / 9.7) for his second stint with the team, after he was granted free agency from the Braves, and then they traded for defensive specialist Yan Gomes (1,053 / 9.4) from the Indians. While they both hit right-handed, and thus aren't well suited for a traditional platoon role, the differing skillsets each of them brings to the table should complement each other well. Elsewhere in the NL East, Atlanta reunited with a familiar face in Brian McCann (408 / 6.5) after he had his 2019 option year declined by the Astros.


FIRST BASE

Remember that D-Backs/Cardinals trade I mentioned earlier? The one with Luke Weaver? Well, he was the primary piece going to Arizona in exchange for Paul Goldschmidt (2,196 / 13.9), one of the top first baseman, not just in the last year, but in the last DECADE. Goldy does it all, averaging 31 homers, 105 RBI, and 18 steals per season over his eight-year career, with a .930 OPS (45 percent above league average), six consecutive All-Star appearances, four Silver Slugger awards, and three Gold Gloves. Sure he'll be a free agent after next season, so he's unlikely to make a huge impact to the St. Louis franchise, but adding that type of production to an already-solid lineup makes the Cards a force in an already-crowded NL Central division in 2019.


SECOND BASE

Image from WFAN Radio

Remember when I said that Edwin Diaz was "arguably" the key piece in that Mariners/Mets blockbuster? The main argument against him is Robinson Cano (1,033 / 12.9), who returns to a familiar city, having started his career with the Yankees. Cano has some red flags, as he's playing out the decline years of a megadeal (which was negotiated by Mets GM Brodie Van Wagenen back when he was still Cano's agent at CAA), and he's fresh off an 80-game suspension for performance enhancing drugs. But as his solid per-game numbers indicate, he still has plenty left in his bat, and his defense isn't as bad as people give him credit for, as he's only posted a negative dWAR (according to Baseball Reference Wins Above Replacement) once in the last 10 seasons.


SHORTSTOP

Sticking with middle infielders shipped out by Seattle, the new shortstop in Philadelphia will be Jean Segura (1,749 / 12.1). Why would Mariners GM Jerry Dipoto trade away a 2018 All-Star just one year after signing him to a five-year extension? You mean, beyond Dipoto's compulsion with making any and every trade proposed by an opposing GM? Maybe it has to do with reports of some bad clubhouse chemistry on Segura's part, which would fit with Philly's pursuit of admitted non-hustler Manny Machado. Or maybe it's just a full commitment to the rebuild on the part of the Seattle front office. Either way, Segura is a clear upgrade at SS over incumbent All-Acquired utility infielders Greg Garcia (332 / 2.9) and Erik Gonzalez (331 / 4.1).


THIRD BASE

Image from Meridian Star

If there was ever a candidate for a one-year "pillow" contract it was former AL MVP Josh Donaldson (603 / 11.6), who suffered through an injury-plagued last couple of years with the Blue Jays (and briefly the Indians). With third base prospect Austin Riley waiting in the wings in Atlanta, Braves GM Alex Anthopolous did a good job picking up a near term upgrade at the hot corner while not blocking the path of a youngster who could become a core piece sooner rather than later. Although he only racked up fewer than twice as many points as former Orioles DH/sometimes third baseman Pedro Alvarez (331 / 7.4), the superior talent level on both sides of the ball is clear. As things stand, however, Alvarez is the leading non-catcher candidate to serve as DH if this team were to play in an AL ballpark.


CENTER FIELD

It's a good thing this team has such a star-studded infield mix, because there's nothing much doing at all in the NL outfield market (at least up to my cutoff point). There is the makings of a low-impact platoon situation in center field with two players signed to minor league pacts. Switch-hitting Abraham Almonte (219 / 4.4) signed on with the Diamondbacks following an early trip to free agency (he was released by the Royals during the 2018 season). Meanwhile, Ryan LaMarre (348 / 4.6) was picked up by the Braves after splitting last year between the Twins and the White Sox.


CORNER OUTFIELD

As of the start of the Winter Meetings, the most accomplished MLB outfielder to be acquired by an NL team was Lonnie Chisenhall (255 / 8.8) formerly of the Indians. He'll serve as a stopgap in Pittsburgh until injured regular right fielder Gregory Polanco is ready to return. The best bet to see time on the opposite side of the grass is Johnny Field (507 / 6.1), who split his debut 2018 season between Tampa Bay and Minnesota, before joining up with the Cubs. Of course, looking forward to deals that were announced up to yesterday, the Phillies helped out the cause by signing Andrew McCutchen, who will get a chance to help out the in-state rival of his former team.


That's it for the NL roster! Return to the 2018-19 All-Acquired Hub page to see the starting lineup/rotation represented in graphical form and to link to the American League roster!