The Mets finished 86-76 in 2019 while the Braves won the NL East and the Nationals secured a Wild Card spot and went on to win the World Series.

As the Mets have been largely silent this offseason, the Braves, Nats, and Phillies -- who finished in fourth place in 2019 -- have all made big moves to strengthen their positions for 2020.

Here's where things stand in the NL East...

Mets

Odds to win World Series, up or down (per Bovada)? Improved from 22/1 to 20/1

Biggest acquisition: Signed SP Rick Porcello (one year, $10 million)

Other acquisitions: Signed pitcher Michael Wacha (one year for $3 million, potential $7 million in incentives), re-signed reliever Brad Brach (one year, $850,000), traded for OF Jake Marisnick

Reaction and remaining needs...

I would love to see Brodie Van Wagenen add an impact hitter, either someone with power and/or a track record of putting the ball in play. He has options because adding a left fielder would keep Jeff McNeil at third base, while adding a third baseman would shift McNeil to left field. I'm wishing for a way to trade for Red Sox outfielder Mookie Betts, Rockies 3B Nolan Arenado or Cubs 3B Kris Bryant, but also not holding my breath.

At minimum, though, Van Wagenen has to add a proven, reliable reliever. Ideally, this player is young and under team control, which would probably require trading someone from the big league roster. However, I'd also take a veteran free agent, such as Dellin Betances. I believe in Edwin Diaz getting his act together, but hope is not a strategy.

Phillies

Odds to win World Series, up or down? Unchanged at 16/1

Biggest acquisition so far: SP Zack Wheeler (signed a five-year, $118 million contract)

Other acquisitions: Didi Gregorius (one year, $14 million), Josh Harrison and Matt Szczur on minor-league contracts, re-signed veteran Phil Gosselin

Reaction and remaining needs...

The Phillies are obviously going for it again. In the past 12 months, they've added Bryce Harper, David Robertson, Andrew McCutchen, Wheeler, and Gregorius. And I wouldn't be surprised if they mace at least one more major acquisition.

It's also possible they sign J.T. Realmuto to a massive contract extension to keep him from being a free agent after the season.

The above is all well and good, but they still have yet to address the main reason they have stumbled the past two years, which is their bullpen.

"In golf, they say, 'You drive for show and putt for dough,'" Bobby Valentine often says. "And the same can be said in baseball."

Nationals

Odds to win World Series, up or down? Down from 14/1 to 16/1

Biggest acquisition so far: Re-signed SP Stephen Strasburg (seven years, $245 million)

Other acquisitions: Re-signed infielder Howie Kendrick (one year, $4 million), catcher Yan Gomes (two years, $10 million) and reliever Kyle Finnegan (one year)

Reaction and remaining needs...

It's so far been a top line offseason for the Nationals, who are hopefully still hung over from their World Series win just two months ago. They re-signed Strasburg, which is a big deal, but they also lost 3B Anthony Rendon, which is also a big deal.

If they're smart, they'll keep adding to their pitching depth. An undeniable fact is that after a team's most deep postseason run, their returning pitchers almost always struggle during the first half of the next season. It's not insurmountable -- just ask the 2016 Mets -- but it's also not a lock to get on track.

Braves

Odds to win World Series, up or down? Down from 10/1 to 12/1

Biggest acquisition so far: LH reliever Will Smith (three years, $39 million)

Other acquisitions: SP Cole Hamels (one year, $18 million), catcher Travis d'Arnaud (two years, $16 million), reliever Chris Martin (two-year deal, $14 million) and multiple other players to increase roster depth

Reaction and remaining needs...

In many ways, Atlanta's winter will be defined by whether or not they bring back Josh Donaldson, who is now asking for a four-year deal.

Marlins

Odds to win World Series, up or down? Unchanged at 1,000/1

Biggest acquisition so far: Traded for infielder Jonathan Villar

Reaction and remaining needs...

The Marlins have spent most of their time cutting ties with veterans, specifically Martín Prado, Starlin Castro, Curtis Granderson and Neil Walker. They've only added Villar and a variety of low-impact players, though reliever Yimi García could be a nice mid-season trade for another team.

They still need to up their payroll because of how much they've accepted in luxury tax money. They've been linked by rumor to Nicholas Castellanos and Yasiel Puig, though I suspect they'll have to overpay to convince one of these people to commit to whatever Derek Jeter's long-term plan is for the organization.

Matthew Cerrone (Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Contact) is a senior writer of MetsBlog.com, which he created in 2003. His book, The New York Mets Fans' Bucket List, details 44 things every Mets fan should experience during their lifetime.

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