ATLANTA BRAVES
The Braves lost starter John Burkett to Boston, moved All-Star third baseman Chipper Jones to left field to make room for 34-year-old Vinny Castilla (from Houston) and re-signed closer John Smoltz. All so-so. But they clicked on the trade for Gary Sheffield.
FLORIDA MARLINS
The Marlins faded in the second half, but they return the nucleus of a good, young team. Plus, veteran catcher Charles Johnson, who could have skipped town, decided to stick around. The Marlins shouldn't be any worse off, but in this division, the status quo is not good enough. Not this year.
NEW YORK METS
Nobody in baseball improved more than the Mets. They stole future Hall of Famer Roberto Alomar from Cleveland, got slugger Mo Vaughn in a trade with Anaheim, landed pitchers Shawn Estes from San Francisco and David Weathers from the Cubs and got outfielder Roger Cedeno from Detroit. It should be plenty.
MONTREAL EXPOS
The contraction mess undercut the hapless Expos, who needed no undercutting after a 94-loss season. They have been unable and unwilling to take on any further payroll. They lost pitcher Hideki Irabu to Texas. It will be another long, long year in Montreal. If, indeed, it's a year at all.
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES
The surprise team of '01 traded lefty Omar Daal (13-7, 4.46 ERA) to L.A. for two minor league pitchers. Lefty Dennis Cook, formerly of the Mets, also bolted, but the Phils signed former L.A. starter Terry Adams (12-8, 4.33), who immediately steps into the rotation. The Phils are OK, but it's tough to hang with the Mets.
CHICAGO CUBS
Signing Moises Alou (.331, 27 homers, 108 RBIs with Houston in '01) more than offsets the loss of Rondell White. SS Alex Gonzalez (from Toronto) offsets the loss of Ricky Gutierrez. Young lefty Jesus Sanchez (from Florida) should help. Cubs have plenty of bop and some decent pitching. They should contend.
CINCINNATI REDS
Waiting on the revenues from that new park, the Reds still are trying to get cheap while giving the impression of competing. They dumped Pokey Reese for some pitching, then dumped Dmitri Young for Detroit's Juan Encarnacion. They did sign first baseman Sean Casey. Still, it'll be ugly again.
HOUSTON ASTROS
No way could they keep both Billy Wagner and Moises Alou, so they signed Wagner to an extension and are hoping Daryle Ward will take over for Alou (to Cubs). They signed the Cards' T.J. Mathews and the Mets' C.J. Nitkowski to a decent bullpen. New manager Jimy Williams has a winner.
MILWAUKEE BREWERS
The Brewers stood pat, a curious strategy for a team that lost 94 games. They made no trades, hoping Jeffrey Hammonds, Geoff Jenkins, Richie Sexson and Jeromy Burnitz will be enough. And that young righty Ben Sheets will come through. In this game, if you're not moving, you're falling behind.
PITTSBURGH PIRATES
A new park couldn't keep the Pirates from losing 100 games last season. They added pitching from the White Sox (Kip Wells, Sean Lowe and Josh Fogg) but gave up righty Todd Ritchie to get it. Is more better? For the struggling Bucs, probably. "Better" being a relative term.
ST. LOUIS CARDINALS
Ex-Yankee Tino Martinez steps into Mark McGwire's cleats. He's no Jason Giambi, but he'll do fine. The Cards also signed closer Jason Isringhausen (from Oakland). Most of the ingredients for another good run are still there.
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS
The Series champs added pitcher Mike Myers from Colorado (a .225 average-against in 73 games) but lost starter Albie Lopez to Atlanta and were stiffed by lefty David Wells (who signed with the Yanks). Reggie Sanders (33 homers, 90 RBIs) opted for San Francisco. Again, it's all on Schilling-Johnson.
COLORADO ROCKIES
They spent a ton last offseason and still finished last. This time, trades with the Mariners (for Jose Paniagua and Brian Fuentes) and Reds (for Dennys Reyes) should bolster the Colorado bullpen, always helpful in Coors Field. Jeff Cirillo (.313, 83 RBIs) went to the M's, but the added pitching is key.
LOS ANGELES DODGERS
They landed a good young arm in Odalis Perez, who they got with Brian Jordan (from Atlanta) for disgruntled Gary Sheffield. Hideo Nomo (13-10, 4.50 ERA with Boston in '01) returns. They get Omar Daal (13-7, 4.46 with Philly) and Paul Quantrill (3.04 ERA in 80 games for Toronto). But ace Chan Ho Park (15-11, 3.50) signed with Texas and promising Luke Prokopec went to Toronto.
SAN DIEGO PADRES
The main moves bring lefty reliever Alan Embree from the White Sox and right-hander Brett Tomko (3-1, 5.19 ERA in four starts) from Seattle. The Padres have done little to help their hitting (.252), though SS Ramon Vazquez (added in the M's trade) may develop. A long ways to go for the Padres.
SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS
The Giants traded lefty Shawn Estes (9-8, 4.02 ERA) to the Mets for unproven part-timers Tsuyoshi Shinjo and Desi Relaford. They dealt outfielder John Vander Wal to the Yanks for reliever Jay Witasick (5.32 career ERA). Well, signing Reggie Sanders (33 homers with Arizona) and keeping Barry Bonds helps.
CNNSI.com's John Donovan takes a look at each National League team's most important moves this offseason. Click here for the 
