Offseason grades: Everything you need to know about the NL West
Welcome to theScore's MLB offseason grades, in which we look at where each team stands heading into the 2022 season. Payroll is calculated by AAV for competitive balance tax purposes. Record projections courtesy FanGraphs.
AL EAST | NL EAST I AL CENTRAL I NL CENTRAL I AL WEST
Arizona Diamondbacks
Projected 2022 record: 69-93
Projected 40-man payroll: $98M
Key departures: Kole Calhoun (TEX), Tyler Clippard (WSH)
Key additions: Sergio Alcantara, Zach Davies, Ian Kennedy, Jordan Luplow, Mark Melancon, Oliver Perez, Dan Straily
Injuries: Nick Ahmed, Jordan Luplow, Josh Rojas
Grade: D+
Projected lineup
| ORDER | PLAYER | POSITION | AGE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Daulton Varsho (L) | CF | 26 |
| 2 | Ketel Marte (S) | 2B | 28 |
| 3 | David Peralta (L) | LF | 34 |
| 4 | Christian Walker | 1B | 31 |
| 5 | Pavin Smith (L) | RF | 26 |
| 6 | Carson Kelly | C | 28 |
| 7 | Seth Beer (L) | DH | 25 |
| 8 | Drew Ellis | 3B | 26 |
| 9 | Geraldo Perdomo (S) | SS | 22 |
The D-Backs have nowhere to go but up after tying the Baltimore Orioles for the worst record in baseball last season. The offseason didn't bring anything in the way of meaningful offensive upgrades. That's a hard approach to understand for a team that finished the 2021 campaign 29th in home runs (144), 25th in runs scored (679), and 26th in OPS (.692). Marte and Rojas, who is injured, are quality players to have in the lineup, but it's hard to argue against this being one of the worst offensive groups in baseball.
Projected rotation
| ROLE | PITCHER | THROWS | AGE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Madison Bumgarner | L | 32 |
| 2 | Merrill Kelly | R | 33 |
| 3 | Zach Davies | R | 29 |
| 4 | Caleb Smith | L | 30 |
| 5 | Zac Gallen | R | 26 |
Although Chase Field is not the launching pad it once was, the pitching staff struggled mightily in 2021, finishing with the second-worst ERA (5.15) in the league. The D-Backs added a veteran presence by signing Melancon and Kennedy to bolster the bullpen. The rotation possesses some upside, and the team is hoping that Davies can recapture the form he showed in 2019-2020, posting a 17-11 record with a 3.30 ERA in 43 starts.
Colorado Rockies
Projected 2022 record: 68-94
Projected 40-man payroll: $158M
Key departures: Ian Desmond (FA), Jon Gray (TEX), Chris Owings (BAL), Trevor Story (BOS), Raimel Tapia (TOR)
Key additions: Kris Bryant, Alex Colome, Jose Iglesias, Chad Kuhl, Randal Grichuk
Grade: C-
Projected lineup
| ORDER | PLAYER | POSITION | AGE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charlie Blackmon (L) | DH | 36 |
| 2 | Kris Bryant | LF | 30 |
| 3 | Ryan McMahon (L) | 3B | 27 |
| 4 | C.J. Cron | 1B | 32 |
| 5 | Brendan Rodgers | 2B | 25 |
| 6 | Randal Grichuk | CF | 30 |
| 7 | Jose Iglesias | SS | 32 |
| 8 | Sam Hilliard (L) | RF | 28 |
| 9 | Elias Diaz | C | 31 |
The Rockies had a truly bizarre offseason. They saw longtime stalwart Story depart, but handed Bryant an eye-popping seven-year $182-million deal to primarily patrol left field. Iglesias will help raise the floor at shortstop in Story's absence. Colorado also dealt Tapia to the Blue Jays and are hoping the addition of Grichuk can boost an outfield that finished 25th in home runs last season.
Projected rotation
| ROLE | PITCHER | THROWS | AGE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kyle Freeland | L | 29 |
| 2 | German Marquez | R | 27 |
| 3 | Antonio Senzatela | R | 27 |
| 4 | Austin Gomber | L | 28 |
| 5 | Chad Kuhl | R | 29 |
Colorado didn't extend a qualifying offer to Gray and he signed a four-year contract with Texas. The addition of Kuhl to fill the void doesn't move the needle after he posted a 4.82 ERA in 28 games for the Pirates in 2021. Signing Colome to a low-risk, one-year deal was a nice piece of business. The 33-year-old instantly becomes the most proven reliever in Colorado's bullpen and is expected to take the closer's chair from Daniel Bard.
Los Angeles Dodgers
Projected 2022 record: 95-67
Projected 40-man payroll: $297M
Key departures: Matt Beaty (SD), Kenley Jansen (ATL), Corey Knebel (PHI), AJ Pollock (CWS), Albert Pujols (STL), Max Scherzer (NYM), Corey Seager (TEX), Steven Souza (SEA)
Key additions: Hanser Alberto, Tyler Anderson, Dellin Betances, Freddie Freeman, Andrew Heaney, Daniel Hudson, Craig Kimbrel, Kevin Pillar
Injuries: Trevor Bauer (restricted list), Danny Duffy, Tommy Kahnle, Dustin May, Jimmy Nelson
Grade: B+
Projected lineup
| ORDER | PLAYER | POSITION | AGE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mookie Betts | RF | 29 |
| 2 | Freddie Freeman (L) | 1B | 32 |
| 3 | Trea Turner | SS | 29 |
| 4 | Max Muncy (L) | DH | 31 |
| 5 | Justin Turner | 3B | 37 |
| 6 | Will Smith | C | 27 |
| 7 | Chris Taylor | LF | 31 |
| 8 | Cody Bellinger (L) | CF | 27 |
| 9 | Gavin Lux (L) | 2B | 24 |
Losing a star like Seager is never easy but the Dodgers don't make excuses and promptly turned their attention to a six-year contract for Freeman. His addition will add more spice to the burgeoning rivalry with the Braves on the heels of consecutive NLCS showdowns. The lineup manager Dave Roberts can trot out is one of the scariest collections of talent in recent memory.
Projected rotation
| ROLE | PITCHER | THROWS | AGE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Walker Buehler | R | 27 |
| 2 | Clayton Kershaw | L | 34 |
| 3 | Julio Urias | L | 25 |
| 4 | Tony Gonsolin | R | 28 |
| 5 | Andrew Heaney | L | 31 |
Scherzer's departure to the Mets hurts, but securing Kershaw's return was key. The additions of Anderson and Heaney give the Dodgers a plethora of options with Tony Gonsolin and David Price also capable of starting games. Jansen's move to the Braves was a surprising development, but replacing him with Kimbrel was a deft maneuver.
San Diego Padres
Projected 2022 record: 90-72
Projected 40-man payroll: $229M
Key departures: Jake Arrieta (FA), Victor Caratini (MIL), Daniel Hudson (LAD), Mark Melancon (ARI), Tommy Pham (CIN), Matt Strahm (BOS)
Key additions: Jorge Alfaro, Matt Beaty, Luis Garcia, Sean Manaea, Nick Martinez, Nomar Mazara, Robert Suarez, Luke Voit
Key injuries: Mike Clevinger, Drew Pomeranz, Fernando Tatis Jr.
Grade: B-
Projected lineup
| ORDER | PLAYER | POSITION | AGE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Trent Grisham (L) | CF | 25 |
| 2 | Manny Machado | 3B | 30 |
| 3 | Jake Cronenworth (L) | 2B | 28 |
| 4 | Luke Voit | DH | 31 |
| 5 | Eric Hosmer (L) | 1B | 32 |
| 6 | Wil Myers | RF | 31 |
| 7 | Austin Nola | C | 32 |
| 8 | Jurickson Profar (S) | LF | 29 |
| 9 | Ha-Seong Kim | SS | 26 |
The Padres were among the teams interested in Japanese star outfielder Seiya Suzuki before he landed with the Chicago Cubs. Not signing Suzuki was a miss for the front office and the outfield enters the season with plenty of question marks. Tatis' absence to start the campaign could leave San Diego in a precarious position to maintain pace with the Dodgers and Giants in the standings. The acquisition of Voit keeps the offseason from being a total failure as the slugger can help offset some of the lost power production with Tatis on the shelf.
Projected rotation
| ROLE | PITCHER | THROWS | AGE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joe Musgrove | R | 29 |
| 2 | Yu Darvish | R | 35 |
| 3 | Sean Manaea | L | 30 |
| 4 | Nick Martinez | R | 31 |
| 5 | Blake Snell | L | 29 |
This group may look formidable on paper, but that was also the case last season, and San Diego starters finished 18th in ERA (4.54). New skipper Bob Melvin is hoping for a bounce-back campaign from Snell as well as a return to health for Clevinger. Manaea will look to build on a strong 2021 season, and provides San Diego with another high-end left-handed starter. Martinez returns after a four-year stint pitching in Japan and will look to provide another quality option in the rotation.
San Francisco Giants
Projected 2022 record: 85-77
Projected 40-man payroll: $168M
Key departures: Kris Bryant (COL), Johnny Cueto (CWS), Alex Dickerson (ATL), Kevin Gausman (TOR), Scott Kazmir (FA), Buster Posey (Retired), Jose Quintana (PIT), Donovan Solano (CIN), Tony Watson (FA)
Key additions: Matt Boyd, Alex Cobb, Jakob Junis, Carlos Martinez, Joc Pederson, Carlos Rodon
Key injuries: Boyd, Tommy La Stella, Evan Longoria, LaMonte Wade Jr.
Grade: B-
Projected lineup
| ORDER | PLAYER | POSITION | AGE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mike Yastrzemski (L) | RF | 31 |
| 2 | Brandon Belt (L) | 1B | 34 |
| 3 | Brandon Crawford (L) | SS | 35 |
| 4 | Darin Ruf | DH | 35 |
| 5 | Joc Pederson (L) | LF | 30 |
| 6 | Wilmer Flores | 3B | 30 |
| 7 | Thairo Estrada | 2B | 26 |
| 8 | Steven Duggar (L) | CF | 28 |
| 9 | Joey Bart | C | 25 |
Replacing Posey is a tall task. 2018 second-overall pick Bart and veteran Curt Casali are projected to be the catching tandem, but it was surprising that San Francisco didn't look at adding another backstop. Replacing Bryant with Pederson leaves the Giants in a worse offensive position than last season. San Francisco has a lot of options from the left- and right-hand side of the plate making them a tough matchup for opposing teams.
Projected rotation
| ROLE | PITCHER | THROWS | AGE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Logan Webb | R | 25 |
| 2 | Carlos Rodon | L | 29 |
| 3 | Anthony DeSclafani | R | 32 |
| 4 | Alex Wood | L | 31 |
| 5 | Alex Cobb | R | 34 |
Losing Gausman is a blow to a rotation that finished third in ERA (3.44) and fifth in fWAR (16.5) in 2021. There is potential to avoid a drop off but it rests on Rodon, DeSclafani, Wood, and Cobb staying healthy, which is a risky proposition considering their respective injury histories. Webb looks primed to enter the Cy Young conversation after a breakout campaign. The signing of Boyd might fly a bit under the radar, but he could offer an intriguing option in the rotation when he returns from forearm flexor tendon surgery. The Giants are hoping Martinez can closer resemble the pitcher that won 42 games with the St. Louis Cardinals between 2015-17.