NL East Hot Stove Preview: Braves, Nationals battle for supremacy

Bottom Line: Miami doesn't need to upgrade everywhere in one winter -- the franchise is more than one season away from contending -- but it needs to start

Joe Lemire | Nov 5, 2013

NL East Hot Stove Preview: Braves, Nationals battle for supremacy /

Evan Gattis (left) is just one option to replace seven-time All-Star Brian McCann at catcher in Atlanta. — Evan Gattis (left) is just one option to replace seven-time All-Star Brian McCann at catcher in Atlanta :: Dave Tulis/AP

The Mets haven't tasted much success lately but getting a star like Shin-Soo Choo would help. — The Mets haven't tasted much success lately but getting a star like Shin-Soo Choo would help :: Justin K. Aller/Getty Images

Bottom Line: Miami doesn't need to upgrade everywhere in one winter -- the franchise is more than one season away from contending -- but it needs to start filling holes either through trades or strategic free-agent signings. New GM Dan Jennings has said Stanton won't be moved, but first baseman Logan Morrison, closer Steve Cishek and any other asset who has value should be shopped.

Published Nov 5, 2013

JOE LEMIRE

Staff Writer, Sports Illustrated Staff writer Joe Lemire is in his seventh year at Sports Illustrated and his fourth season covering baseball full time. Lemire writes features and analysis for SI and SI.com and is responsible for the website's weekly MLB Power Rankings. He has profiled Pirates star Andrew McCutchen and Braves rookie sensation Evan Gattis for the magazine. Lemire's penchant for covering America's pastime is to be expected considering his inspirations, Tom Verducci and Peter Gammons, are among the most well-known writers in the sport. Before his current role, Lemire spent his first three years with SI oscillating between baseball, college basketball, high school football and sports business. This came on the heels of a summer internship with the magazine in 2004 and a tenure as a stringer with SI: On Campus. Born in Richmond, Va., and raised in Lowell, Mass., Lemire graduated from the University of Virginia in 2005 with a B.A. in government and a minor in economics. Before joining SI he covered high school and college sports for the Daily News-Record in Harrisonburg, Va. He earned two Virginia Press Association awards for his work, one while a student writing at University of Virginia's Cavalier Daily and one at the Daily News-Record.