Rating the N.L. West
1. LA Dodgers
Last year: 104-58 (lost World Series to Houston Astros)
Key losses: Yu Darvish, Curtis Granderson, Andre Ethier, Tony Watson, Adrian Gonzalez, Scott Kazmir, Brandon McCarthy, Charlie Culberson, Luis Avilan Key newcomers: Matt Kemp, Tom Koehler Best-case scenario: The Dodgers come back reloaded and healthy. Kemp overachieves and becomes either a trade chip or a postseason asset, Clayton Kershaw wins another Cy Young, and Corey Seager and/or Cody Bellinger vie for MVP.
Worst-case scenario: Some of the moves to shed salary result in the shedding of valuable depth.
Hot prospect: Walker Buehler is one of the top pitching prospects in baseball. Pitching coach Rick Honeycutt could turn Buehler into a Rookie of the Year candidate.
2. Arizona Diamondbacks
Last year: 93-69 (lost to Dodgers in NLDS) Key losses: J.D. Martinez, Fernando Rodney Key newcomers: Alex Avila Best-case scenario: Robbie Ray turns into one of the most overqualified
No. 2 starters in baseball and Paul Goldschmidt again shows his MVP form. Worst-case scenario: A massive power void is left with the departure of Martinez. Hot prospect: After the trade of pitcher Anthony Banda, right-hander Jon Duplantier is Arizona’s only player on Baseball America’s top 100 prospects list. And he finished last year in high Class A.
3. Colorado Rockies
Last year: 87-75, third place (lost to Arizona in wild-card game) Key losses: Carlos Gonzalez, Tyler Chatwood, Jonathan Lucroy, Mark Reynolds, Pat Neshek, Greg Holland Key newcomers: Wade Davis, Bryan Shaw, Chris Ianetta
Best-case scenario: The addition of Davis and Shaw fortify the bullpen, and Nolan Arenado and Charlie Blackmon again are MVP candidates.
Worst-case scenario: The Rockies pitching staff takes a step back, and the lineup continues to struggle.
Hot prospect: The Rockies might have found a first baseman in Ryan McMahon.
5. San Diego Padres
Last year: 71-91, fourth place Key losses: Yangervis Solarte, Ryan Schimpf, Travis Wood, Erick Aybar, Jhoulys Chacin Key newcomers: Eric Hosmer, Kazuhisa Makita, Craig Stammen, Freddy Galvis Best-case scenario: Hosmer proves worthy of his eight-year, $144 million free-agent contract, and some of the Padres’ young prospects produce. Worst-case scenario: Hosmer isn’t enough to ignite the offense. Hot prospect: Former first-round draft pick Cal Quantrill could crack the rotation.
4. San Francisco Giants
Last year: 64-98, fifth place Key losses: Denard Span, Matt Moore, Michael Morse Key newcomers: Evan Longoria, Andrew McCutchen, Tony Watson, Austin Jackson
Best-case scenario: Longoria and McCutchen ignite the offense.
Worst-case scenario: McCutchen and Longoria have down years, and the pitching can’t overcome the lack of offense. Hot prospect: Will 24-year-old Steven Duggar impress enough during the spring to set up a platoon situation in center field with Jackson? Clayton Kershaw and Nolan Arenado have title aspirations. Can Freddy Galvis keep the Padres out of the cellar?