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NL East spring training primer

Stacy Revere / Getty Images Sport / Getty

A team-by-team look at the National League East entering spring training, including key players each club acquired and lost, and dates of the first workout for pitchers and catchers, and the full squad:

New York Mets

Manager: Terry Collins (sixth season).
2015: 90-72, first place, lost to Kansas City in World Series.
Training Town: Port St. Lucie, Florida.
Park: Tradition Field.
First Workout: Feb. 19/26.

He's Here: 2B Neil Walker, SS Asdrubal Cabrera, LHP Antonio Bastardo, OF Alejandro De Aza, OF Roger Bernadina, RHP Jim Henderson, RHP Stolmy Pimentel, INF-OF Ty Kelly.

He's Outta Here: 2B Daniel Murphy, LHP Jonathon Niese, LF Michael Cuddyer, RHP Tyler Clippard, 3B-2B Juan Uribe, INF-OF Kelly Johnson, RHP Carlos Torres, RHP Bobby Parnell, RHP Dillon Gee, OF Kirk Nieuwenhuis, C Anthony Recker, LHP Alex Torres, OF Darrell Ceciliani, OF Eric Young Jr., LHP Eric O'Flaherty, LHP Jack Leathersich, RHP Tim Stauffer.

Offseason rundown: Following their first World Series appearance in 15 years, the Mets pulled off another splashy surprise when they retained free agent outfielder Yoenis Cespedes. He can opt out of his $75 million, three-year contract after one season, but for now his big bat fortifies the entire lineup and makes the Mets a threat to repeat as NL champs. This time, they want to finish the job and win their first title since 1986.

The payroll is up over $140 million, its highest total in five years, and previously pessimistic fans are giddy about the hard-throwing young rotation that features Jacob deGrom, Matt Harvey, Noah Syndergaard and Steven Matz. The team might look to sign one or two of them to multiyear deals this spring. Bartolo Colon, who turns 43 in May, was brought back as a stopgap until another talented young starter, Zack Wheeler, returns from Tommy John surgery. The target date is around July 1. Bastardo was signed to help the bullpen set up closer Jeurys Familia, and there is enviable depth all over the diamond.

Walker and Cabrera could improve the defense up the middle, while fan favorite Wilmer Flores is preparing for his new niche as a utility infielder with platoon opportunities at first and second. SS Ruben Tejada's role is in question, and it remains to be seen how much captain David Wright (spinal stenosis) can play and produce at third base. New York showed little to no interest in re-signing Murphy, the October star who relocated to rival Washington. The Mets face Murphy and the Nationals six times in spring training, including the March 3 opener.

Washington Nationals

Manager: Dusty Baker (first season).
2015: 83-79, second place.
Training Town: Viera, Florida.
Park: Space Coast Stadium.
First Workout: Feb. 20/25.

He's Here: 2B Daniel Murphy, OF Ben Revere, INF Stephen Drew, RHP Trevor Gott, RHP Shawn Kelley, LHP Oliver Perez, RHP Yusmeiro Petit.

He's Outta Here: RHP Jordan Zimmermann, SS Ian Desmond, RHP Drew Storen, CF Denard Span, 3B Yunel Escobar, RHP Doug Fister, RHP Casey Janssen, 2B Dan Uggla, RHP Craig Stammen.

Offseason rundown: After failing to make the postseason despite being an overwhelming favorite in the NL East, the Nationals fired manager Matt Williams and are hoping to turn around under Dusty Baker, despite losing much more than they added up and down the roster. GM Mike Rizzo revamped the middle of the bullpen but held onto Jonathan Papelbon as the closer, even though he was not great on the mound in September - and grabbed soon-to-be NL MVP Bryce Harper by the throat in a dugout argument during a game.

While Zimmermann, Desmond, Span, Storen and Escobar left, little was added. The hope, presumably, is Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg will carry the rotation, and players who were ineffective because of injuries - LF Jayson Werth, 1B Ryan Zimmerman, 3B Anthony Rendon - can bounce back to revive the offense.

Miami Marlins

Manager: Don Mattingly (first season).
2015: 71-91, third place.
Training Town: Jupiter, Florida.
Park: Roger Dean Stadium.
First Workout: Feb. 19/23.

He's Here: LHP Wei-Yin Chen, INF Chris Johnson, RHP Edwin Jackson.

He's Outta Here: Manager Dan Jennings, RHP Henderson Alvarez, INF Casey McGehee, INF Donovan Solano.

Offseason rundown: The Marlins have made noise during the offseason mostly with moves they didn't make, and RHP Jose Fernandez and OF Marcell Ozuna remain on the roster despite speculation they would be traded. The injury-plagued Alvarez, eligible for arbitration, was not offered a contract by the Marlins and signed with Oakland. Miami replaced him by giving the durable Chen an $80 million, five-year deal.

Miami also signed NL batting and stolen base champion Dee Gordon to a $50 million, five-year contract, and helped the bench by adding Johnson. But depth remains an issue, and the primary goal in spring training will be to get to opening day with everyone healthy. That would be a change, because ace Fernandez and slugger Giancarlo Stanton haven't been in a lineup together since May 2014.

Atlanta Braves

Manager: Fredi Gonzalez (sixth season).
2015: 67-95, fourth place.
Training Town: Kissimmee, Florida.
Park: Champion Stadium.
First Workout: Feb. 20/25.

He's Here: OF Ender Inciarte, SS Erick Aybar, 3B-1B Kelly Johnson, C Tyler Flowers, 3B Gordon Beckham, 2B Emilio Bonifacio, 2B Chase d'Arnaud, SS Dansby Swanson, RHP Carlos Torres, RHP Jim Johnson, RHP Bud Norris, LHP Ian Kroll, RHP Jhoulys Chacin, RHP Kyle Kendrick, RHP David Carpenter, RHP Aaron Blair, LHP Sean Newcomb, LHP Alex Torres, RHP Chris Volstad, RHP Jose Ramirez, RHP Casey Kelly

He's Outta Here: SS Andrelton Simmons, OF Cameron Maybin, RHP Shelby Miller, OF Eury Perez, LHP Mike Minor, 3B Pedro Ciriaco, C Christian Bethancourt, RHP Edwin Jackson, RHP Peter Moylan, LHP Ross Detwiler, OF Todd Cunningham

Offseason rundown: Simmons, Miller and Maybin were the latest starters to be traded as the Braves continued to build with prospects. Aybar is expected to be a one-year fill-in at shortstop as the team awaits the arrival of Swanson, the 2015 No. 1 overall draft pick who was acquired with Inciarte from Arizona as part of the Miller trade. Julio Teheran, Norris and 2015 rookie Matt Wisler are the favorites to lead the rotation. Kendrick and Chacin were added as veteran safety nets while such prospects as Newcomb, Blair, Tyrell Jenkins battle Manny Banuelos and Williams Perez for starting jobs.

Mike Foltynewicz, whose 2015 season ended early due to blood clots in his right shoulder, may not be ready for the start of spring training. A crucial experiment will be the move of Hector Olivera from third base to left field. The Braves need Olivera, 30, to emerge as the high-average hitter they expected when they acquired him last season from the Dodgers. Another former Cuban star, Adonis Garcia, also 30, is the favorite to start at third base. Inciarte gives the team the true leadoff hitter it has lacked. Even after catcher A.J. Pierzynski was re-signed, there may be too little help for first baseman Freddie Freeman, the only remaining holdover in the lineup from the 2013 NL East champion team.

Philadelphia Phillies

Manager: Pete Mackanin (first full season).
2015: 63-99, fifth place.
Training Town: Clearwater, Florida.
Park: Bright House Field.
First Workout: Feb. 18/23.

He's Here: RHP Jeremy Hellickson, RHP Charlie Morton, LHP Brett Oberholtzer, OF Peter Bourjos, OF Tyler Goeddel, RHP David Hernandez, RHP Vincent Velasquez.

He's Outta Here: RHP Ken Giles, RF Jeff Francoeur, OF Domonic Brown, RHP Aaron Harang, RHP Jerome Williams, LHP Cliff Lee.

Offseason rundown: The Phillies are in full rebuilding mode with a new front-office regime led by president Andy MacPhail and general manager Matt Klentak. Mackanin returns after managing the team on an interim basis last year following Ryne Sandberg's abrupt resignation. Only Ryan Howard and Carlos Ruiz remain from the team that won five straight NL East titles and the 2008 World Series. The Phillies have restocked the farm system by trading Cole Hamels and young closer Giles.

Some prospects are still a few years away, but several will be competing in spring training for roster spots. Oberholtzer, Velasquez and righty Jerad Eickhoff will push for a job in the starting rotation. Former first-round pick Aaron Nola already earned his spot and 2013 No. 1 overall draft pick Mark Appel, acquired from Houston for Giles, will get a chance. Catcher Jorge Alfaro, outfielder Nick Williams and righty Jake Thompson, three of the main players acquired from Texas for Hamels, might be up later this season. Third baseman Maikel Franco, the team's best hitter, will begin his first full season in the majors. The organization's goal is to be ready to compete in 2017, so this season is about finding the core players to build around.

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