Most pundits have pegged the Mets as the favorites to win the National League East this year. That’s with good reason, as the Mets have returned to action with their foundation of young talent intact and added the best pitcher in the game through the biggest off-season acquisition in the game.

But what about the future? The good news is that the Mets are in position to be the favorites in the division for years, as their main talents are locked up for a while. Assuming that their top players stay healthy and productive enough to have their options picked up, Johan Santana will be with the team through 2014, third baseman David Wright through 2013, and Jose Reyes and Carlos Beltran both through 2011. Beyond the superstars, integral parts to the team, such as second baseman Luis Castillo and pitcher Billy Wagner, are also locked up into the next decade.

But what about the rest of division? Here’s a look at the teams that will be nipping at the Mets’ heels during the next presidential administration:

Atlanta Braves: While the Braves’ streak of 11 consecutive East titles ended in 2006, they’re still a highly competitive team that restocks in every way possible, with a track record of success in trades, free agency signings, and their own player development system. The question now is whether or not general manager Frank Wren can match the impressive record of his mentor, John Schuerholz, especially now that the team is operating under much tighter purse strings held by Time Warner, a far cry from Ted Turner’s open checkbook days.

Like the Mets, the Braves have a nucleus of young talent, but they’ve only been able to lock up catcher Brian McCann (through 2013) so far. One of the biggest questions about their future is their ability to retain first baseman Mark Teixeira. The Braves sent a tremendously talented group of prospects to Texas to acquire Teixeira, and he’s already looking very much like the top offensive force in next year’s free agent market, and one at a position that both big-budget New York teams will have a desperate need for. The Braves freed up $20 million in the offseason by dealing shortstop Edgar Renteria to Detroit for a pair of upper-tier prospects, but they’ll still be hoping for a bit of a hometown discount to retain Teixeira, as he played his college baseball at Georgia Tech, where he met his future wife, who has family in Atlanta. Chances are still slim that they’ll keep him, but as always, the Braves have one of the stronger minor league systems in the game, especially when it comes to young pitching. As a result, they should always be around the top of the standings for years to come.

Florida Marlins: The Marlins are in a state of perpetual rebuilding because of the financial limitations of their owners. Their entire 2008 payroll is only slightly more than Santana’s contract alone, and their highest-paid player (at $2.5 million per year) is middle-of-the-road closer Kevin Gregg. Poor attendance and an uncertain future in the city have the team in a never-ending cycle of acquiring young talent, and then dealing that talent away for younger talent once the players are going to cost any money, not just because of free agency, but also because of arbitration-generated raises. It makes for a team that’s usually interesting to watch but rarely competitive. Even most of the excellent young players on this team — such as Hanley Ramirez and Jeremy Hermida — will likely spend the prime of their careers elsewhere.

Philadelphia Phillies: The reigning division champs match up best with the Mets talent-wise, but the similarities don’t end there. Like many well-run teams in modern days, the Phillies have moved aggressively to ensure their future success by negotiating long-term deals with their homegrown talent to buy away a few years of free agency. In particular, the best middle infield in the game will remain in Philly for some time, as shortstop Jimmy Rollins is signed through 2011, and second baseman Chase Utley signed a seven-year extension last year that keeps him with the team through 2013. The club is also looking to complete similar deals with slugging first baseman Ryan Howard and young ace Cole Hamels. That’s an enviable core of talent. But if there is one weakness in the team’s long-term plans, it’s their combination of a poor farm system and some uninspiring drafts over the last three years. In addition, while the team would like to lock up Hamels and Howard, they haven’t yet, and both would bring in huge sums through free agency.

Washington Nationals: Be careful of this outfit. Sure, they haven’t been much of a threat since moving to Washington, but the Nationals have a long-term plan in mind, and the pieces are starting to fall in place. They’re nothing to be scared of this year or next, but they have a talented front office, an excellent field manager in Manny Acta, and a renewed commitment to scouting and player development that has turned one of the worst minor league systems in the game into one of the better ones in remarkably short order. The Nationals already have some young pieces in place, such as franchise cornerstone Ryan Zimmerman and ex-Mets prospect Lastings Milledge. But there is much more talent arriving soon from a well-stocked system, including slugger Chris Marrero and fast-rising left-hander Ross Detwiler, their last two first-round picks in the draft. By 2010, this team could be making the East a complicated four-team race. The Mets are poised to make a run at a division title this year, and for many years to come. But looking at how the division could change in the years to come, those runs will never be easy.

Mr. Goldstein is a writer for Baseball Prospectus. For more state-of-the-art commentary, visit baseballprospectus.com.