NL East4 of 6

Atlanta Braves: C Sandy León

If we had to pick 25 of these 30 players for a depressing DFA bingo card, León would be the free space in the middle.

It won’t happen today or tomorrow, as Drake Baldwin (oblique strain) isn’t expected back for another week while Sean Murphy (broken finger) is likely to be out until early July. But since singling in two of his first three plate appearances of the season, León has not reached base.

They only signed him in the first place because they needed a warm body while Murphy was on the IL, and he’ll be DFA’ed as soon as both of Atlanta’s catchers are available.

Miami Marlins: 1B/DH Christopher Morel

When Morel was playing on a regular basis for the Cubs in 2022-24, he struck out a ton, but at least he homered on a fairly regular basis.

Those round-trippers came less often with Tampa Bay between 2024 and 2025, but he did occasionally annihilate a baseball.

But since signing with the Marlins—after getting non-tendered by the Rays in November—Morel has no home runs and 27 strikeouts in 69 trips to the plate. If Kemp Alderman hadn’t injured his wrist a few weeks ago, he might have already taken Morel’s spot.

New York Mets: OF Tyrone Taylor

You might think the disappointing Mets would be drowning in somewhat high-profile candidates for this spot. But unless you think Mark Vientos is in danger of getting cut, that isn’t the case.

Taylor landed on the IL two weeks ago with a strained hip flexor, but that may have merely delayed the inevitable. After posting a .598 OPS in 2025, Taylor is at .530 this season. And it was already clear prior to the injury that the center field job is A.J. Ewing’s to lose.

If Luis Robert Jr. ever makes it back from his back injury, Taylor might not have a role in this outfield any longer.

Philadelphia Phillies: C Rafael Marchán OR C Garrett Stubbs

First, an “honorable” mention to Adolis García, who is hitting at the Mendoza Line, but at least providing some value in right field. The Phillies may well replace him at the trade deadline, but he isn’t in any sort of imminent danger of being released.

At some point soon, though, they’re either going to dump Marchán or Stubbs, right?

They already did DFA Stubbs to open the season, but he accepted the assignment to Lehigh Valley, crushed to the tune of a 1.045 OPS for 10 games and got called back up in late April. But while he has a .492 OPS in 24 trips to the plate for the Phillies, Marchán is at a horrific .275 OPS in 22 games played as JT Realmuto’s back-up.

It’d be one thing to roster three catchers if they were all producing, but this borders on madness.

Washington Nationals: RHP Miles Mikolas

When the Nats signed Mikolas for $2.25M in mid-February, the goal was to get an experienced arm into an inexperienced pitching staff; one who could eat some innings while maybe blossoming into a chip for the trade deadline for a team that seemed to be going nowhere fast.

At this point, though, his habit of getting shelled more often than not is holding back a team that would have a postseason pulse right now if it had invested in an arm with more potential.

If they could just get any of Josiah Gray, DJ Herz or Trevor Williams back from the IL at some point, they could kiss Mikolas goodbye.