NL West report cards: Grading offseason moves
With spring training fast approaching, theScore's MLB editors hand out their offseason grades for each division. We continue our report cards with the National League West.
Not since 2010 has the NL West been decided by two or fewer games but with the emergence of the Arizona Diamondbacks, the retooled San Francisco Giants, and the reigning three-time NL West champion Los Angeles Dodgers leading the way, the division projects to be a highly contested three-horse race to the postseason.
The Colorado Rockies remain stuck in mediocrity. Armed with an explosive offense, the pitching staff is still among the league's worst, while the San Diego Padres will likely be residing at the bottom of the division following a failed attempt by general manager A.J. Preller to build a contender.
Here are the offseason report cards for the NL West:
Arizona Diamondbacks
Key Arrivals: Zack Greinke (FA), Shelby Miller (trade), Jean Segura (trade), Wesley Wright (FA)
Key Departures: Aaron Hill (MIL), Jeremy Hellickson (PHI), David Hernandez (PHI), Ender Inciarte (ATL), Jarrod Saltalamacchia (DET), Allen Webster (Korea)
140-character takeaway: The cost was steep but the NL's second-highest scoring offense from a season ago now has the pitching to make them legitimate playoff contenders.
Grade: A
Colorado Rockies
Key Arrivals: Jake McGee (trade), Jason Motte (FA), Gerardo Parra (FA), Chad Qualls (FA), Mark Reynolds (FA)
Key Departures: John Axford (OAK), Rex Brothers (CHC), Corey Dickerson (TB), Kyle Kendrick (ATL), Aaron Laffey (WSH), Michael McKenry (TEX), Justin Morneau (FA), Wilin Rosario (Korea)
140-character takeaway: The Rockies will spend another season scoring a lot of runs while their pitching staff gives up more.
Grade: C+
Los Angeles Dodgers
Key Arrivals: Brett Anderson (re-signed), Joe Blanton (FA), Scott Kazmir (FA), Howie Kendrick (re-signed), Kenta Maeda (FA), Trayce Thompson (trade), Chase Utley (re-signed)
Key Departures: Bronson Arroyo (WSH), Zack Greinke (ARI), Jim Johnson (ATL), Juan Nicasio (PIT), Joel Peralta (FA), Jimmy Rollins (FA), Justin Ruggiano (TEX)
140-character takeaway: The most expensive team in baseball enters with plenty of question marks and is at serious risk of not winning the division for the first time in four years.
Grade: B
San Diego Padres
Key Arrivals: Christian Bethancourt (trade), Jon Jay (trade), Brandon Morrow (re-signed), Jose Pirela (trade), Drew Pomeranz (trade), Alexei Ramirez (FA), Fernando Rodney (FA), Carlos Villanueva (FA)
Key Departures: Yonder Alonso (OAK), Clint Barmes (FA), Joaquin Benoit (SEA), Jedd Gyorko (STL), Shawn Kelley (WSH), Casey Kelly (ATL), Ian Kennedy (KC), Craig Kimbrel (BOS), Will Middlebrooks (MIL), Bud Norris (ATL), Marc Rzepczynski (OAK)
140-character takeaway: A last-place finish appears inevitable as the Padres have been in complete tear-down mode following a failed season.
Grade: C-
San Francisco Giants
Key Arrivals: Kyle Blanks (FA), Johnny Cueto (FA), Jeff Samardzija (FA), Denard Span (FA)
Key Departures: Nori Aoki (SEA), Mike Leake (STL), Justin Maxwell (MIA), Yusmeiro Petit (WSH), Ryan Vogelsong (PIT)
140-character takeaway: The Giants will look to continue the trend of winning a World Series every second year and a $220-million offseason spending spree makes them contenders.
Grade: A