Mets Lead NL East After Key Offseason Moves

The 2024 New York Mets have started the season strongly, leading the NL East with a 28-16 record, largely due to the contributions of offseason moves made by president of baseball operations David Stearns beyond just the high-profile signing of Juan Soto. Notably, the Mets' re-signing of pitcher Ryne Stanek on a one-year, $4.5 million deal has proven to be a valuable decision, as he has delivered reliable relief pitching with a 3.24 ERA and improved command. Meanwhile, the Washington Nationals remain in a rebuilding phase and have seen mixed results from their offseason signings. Veteran pitcher Williams, signed to a two-year, $14 million contract, has struggled with a 5.88 ERA, while young pitcher Ogasawara has had limited impact due to injury. Other Nationals acquisitions like Garcia and Lowe have had moderate success, but players like Josh Bell have underperformed, complicating the Nationals' hopes for a strong turnaround this season.