Sizing up the contenders for this year's NL Cy Young

In 2015, the race for the National League Cy Young award was one of the most followed story lines in baseball as Zack Greinke, Clayton Kershaw, Gerrit Cole, and Max Scherzer all put forward remarkable seasons that normally would have earned them the prestigious prize, but came up short to eventual victor Jake Arrieta.

And while the American League Cy Young race is deep, the field in the NL is stockpiled with some of the game's greatest arms and will be something to keep a close eye on during the 2016 campaign.

Here are some of the top candidates who have the chance of winning the NL Cy Young, while adding their names alongside the greats who already have their designation attached to the first-class award.

Jake Arrieta, Chicago Cubs

The 2015 NL Cy Young winner used one of the most dominant second halves in baseball history by a pitcher to best impressive campaigns from both Greinke and Kershaw, while helping guide the Cubs to the NL Championship Series. His 22 wins and four complete games were tops in baseball.

Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers

Kershaw is the epitome of a work horse on the mound, His 232 2/3 innings pitched was a major-league high, while no other pitcher in baseball reached the 300-strikeout plateau. The Dodgers ace, at only 27 years old, already owns three Cy Youngs.

Zack Greinke, Arizona Diamondbacks

The cerebral assassin posted an astonishing 1.66 ERA as part of a formidable pitching duo along with Kershaw in Los Angeles. A move to the desert made the 32-year-old ace the richest pitcher in the game after he signed a $206.5-million contract, so expectations will be high.

Madison Bumgarner, San Francisco Giants

Five straight seasons of 200-plus innings, a rising strikeout rate, and an odd number year for the Giants give Bumgarner a great chance for another stellar season. He will have a much improved NL West division to conquer, though.

Max Scherzer, Washington Nationals

During a season where he became just the sixth pitcher in major-league history to throw two no-hitters in a single campaign, Scherzer certainly proved the Nationals made a smart move when they inked him to a long-term deal. The 31-year-old, whose workload and innings pitched increased last season, doesn't look like he's going to slow down either.

Jose Fernandez, Miami Marlins

When healthy, the 23-year-old is one of the most dominant arms in the game, having never posted an ERA above 3.00 in his career. If Miami can get a full season out of its young ace he has a legit shot at the first Cy Young of what looks to be a fruitful career.

Jacob deGrom, New York Mets

The Mets project to have one of the best rotations in baseball and DeGrom is at the forefront. DeGrom burst onto the scene in his Rookie of the Year campaign in 2014 and continued to improve in 2015. Expecting another stellar season from the 27-year-old ace wouldn't be a reach.

Stephen Strasburg, Washington Nationals

Strasburg will be a free agent at season's end. With the open market looking slim on starting pitchers, he'll certainly be motivated to put up the best numbers of his young career, as he hopes for a lengthy and financially appetizing deal. With his ability and Scott Boras as his agent, the outcome could be an outstanding one.