The NL West has a rough year in 2015. The Padres, expected to contend, stunk. The Rockies were awful, which has been par for the course in recent seasons. The Diamondbacks were surprising plucky, but never really challenged for a playoff spot. The Giants dealt with injuries all season. And the Dodgers? Well, they sort of coasted to a division title, but weren’t really as dominant as expected and were bounced by the Mets in five games in the NLDS. It’ll once again be a chaotic offsaeson in this division, with all five teams needing to make some moves.
Free Agent Primers
Free agents: David Hernandez, Jarrod Saltalamacchia
Needs: Pitching
I think it’s going to be a very quiet offseason for the Diamondbacks. Their offense seems set, aside from possibly at second and short, where Nick Ahmed and Chris Owings simply couldn’t hit a lick…but Arizona seems committed to both players. No other offensive positions are really in question.
The pitching staff could be a question, however. Only two Diamondbacks threw as many as 150 innings, and another crossed the 130 inning barrier.Furthermore, past Robbie Ray and a returning Patrick Corbin, the DBacks’ rotation isn’t exactly formidable. Bringing in a couple of veteran innings eater types would be a great move for this team to lessen the strain on some of the team’s younger arms and spare the bullpen from getting taxed heavily.
LOS ANGELES, CA – APRIL 19: Justin Morneau #33 of the Colorado Rockies at bat during a 7-0 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on April 19, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Colorado Rockies
Free agents: Kyle Kendrick, Justin Morneau
Needs: Pitching
It’s the usual stuff from the Rockies – they need pitching, and plenty of it. Last winter, they signed Kyle Kendrick and watched him pitch to a 6.32 ERA in 27 starts. Eddie Butler had an ERA of 5.90 in 16 starts. David Hale made 12 starts and five relief appearances and his ERA was 6.09. Jordan Lyles made just ten starts, and had a 5.14 ERA. Chris Rusin had a 5.33 ERA in 131 2/3 innings. Rookie Jon Gray’s ERA was 5.53 in nine starts, though he was doomed by some awful luck.
Needless to say, they could use some arms. As for who the best options are? Take out a dartboard and start firing. No fly ball pitchers, please.
LOS ANGELES, CA – SEPTEMBER 18: Zack Greinke #21 of the Los Angeles Dodgers throws a pitch against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Dodger Stadium on September 18, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
Los Angeles Dodgers
Free agents: Brett Anderson, Brandon Beachy, Zack Greinke, Howie Kendrick, Brandon League, Jimmy Rollins
Needs: Pitching, second base
I feel like this is a sad, boring refrain, but here’s another NL West team that needs pitching help. Los Angeles is facing the possibility of losing Zack Greinke unless they open up their checkbook, and I have a nagging feeling they’ll end up retaining him. But even if the Dodgers do bring Greinke back, they’re going to need another starter or two, as Brett Anderson is also a free agent and the Dodgers didn’t really get a whole lot out of their fourth and fifth starters all year. I’m sure they’d love to get involved in the bidding for a Johnny Cueto/David Price/Jordan Zimmermann type of pitcher, but I think a Wei-Yin Chen or Hisashi Iwakuma would be a good fit – not only because of the Dodgers’ strong ties to Asia, but also because of the fact that those pitchers would likely come cheaper on shorter term deals than the upper echelon of free agent starters this year.
Second base could also be a problem area for the Dodgers, depending on whether or not they retain Chase Utley. If Utley’s option is declined, combined with Howie Kendrick leaving town as a free agent, the Dodgers will end up needing an answer at second base. There are plenty of options for the team, including their two incumbents, Daniel Murphy, and Ben Zobrist, and given that we’re talking about the Dodgers here, all of them are options. I still think Kendrick would be the best overall fit, however.
WASHINGTON, DC – AUGUST 25: Justin Upton #10 of the San Diego Padres tosses his bat after striking out to end the first inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on August 25, 2015 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)
San Diego Padres
Free agents: Clint Barmes, Josh Johnson, Shawn Kelley, Ian Kennedy, Brandon Morrow, Bud Norris, Justin Upton
Needs: A facelift
This is weird. I can’t really explain what the Padres will be hunting this offseason. Even with losing Shawn Kelley and Ian Kennedy, their pitching staff is still solid enough. Their offense is awful, but there’s no real obvious place to upgrade aside from maybe left field to replace the departing Justin Upton. Since nothing seemed to work for the Padres last year, they should probably just blow up their team and start anew – this team isn’t winning a championship as currently constructed. It just doesn’t work.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – SEPTEMBER 30: Mike Leake #13 of the San Francisco Giants pitches against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first inning at AT&T Park on September 30, 2015 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
San Francisco Giants
Free agents: Jeremy Affeldt, Nori Aoki, Marlon Byrd, Alejandro de Aza, Tim Hudson, Mike Leake, Tim Lincecum, Ryan Vogelsong
Needs: Left field, rotation
Offensively, there’s one major place for the Giants to upgrade in 2016 – left field, where they mainly played Nori Aoki in 2015. Aoki and Marlon Byrd are both free agents and could play left, though the team has expressed interest in bringing Aoki back for 2016. The Giants also need something more in center field, but Angel Pagan is still signed for $11.25 million next year, making an upgrade a bit difficult to slot in.
The rotation could use a little work because of the uncertainty surrounding the health of Matt Cain. Madison Bumgarner, Chris Heston, and Jake Peavy are all locks for the rotation, but there are nothing but question marks in the final two sports because of the aforementioned health problems Cain is dealing with and the free agencies of Mike Leake, Tim Lincecum, and Ryan Vogelsong. The team is reportedly interested in bringing Leake back, which would help a lot, but they can’t just cast their lot with him, especially if Heston and Peavy both struggle like they did at points in 2016.
