Phillies 2017: Five Key Developing Players

Philadelphia Phillies starter Nola pitches against the Kansas City Royals at Citizens Bank Park in the 2016 season. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports As the Philadelphia Phillies continue to build back towards competitiveness, the development of a handful of their best youngsters is key to 2017 success.

Wieters joins Nationals; Judge hits long homer for Yankees

In this May 31, 2016 file photo, Matt Wieters, then with the Baltimore Orioles, waits for the pitch as home plate umpire Cory Blaser watches during the third inning of a baseball game as Boston Red Sox’ Travis Shaw bats, in Baltimore. The Washington Nationals agreed to terms on a one-year contract with a 2018 player option with catcher Matt Wieters on Friday, Feb. 24, 2017.

A look at the NL East at the start of spring training

In this May 24, 2016, file photo, then-Toronto Blue Jays pitcher R.A. Dickey delivers against the New York Yankees during the first inning of a baseball game in New York. Former NL Cy Young Award winner R.A. Dickey signed with the the Atlanta Braves on a one-year contract in the off-season, as the team added a 42-year-old knuckleballer to a thin rotation as the team moves into a new ballpark.

Washington Nationals: Is Bryce Harper The Best Right Fielder In NL East?

Aug 21, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper watches his three run home run against the Atlanta Braves during the third inning at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports Today, our State of the NL East continues as we take a look at where Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper ranks in the division As spring training gets closer and closer, we continue to rank the National League East by position.

NL East teams at the start of spring training

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: Going campin’: After winning the NL East for the third time in five years, and once again losing their opening playoff series, the Nationals made just a couple of significant off-season additions. Instead, GM Mike Rizzo brings his team to its new spring training facility counting on the returning core to be productive, including RHPs Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg , RF Bryce Harper , and INFs Daniel Murphy and Anthony Rendon.