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 with the National League West.
NL EAST I AL EAST I NL CENTRAL I AL CENTRAL I AL WEST
It may be a little while longer before the NL West becomes anything more than a two-team division.
The San Diego Padres are still clearly focused on their long-term plan for the future, and though the Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies did make some crafty moves this offseason to shore up holes in the lineup, the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants are still the teams to beat next season.
To gauge each NL West team's offseason to date, here's a rundown on their moves this winter:
Arizona Diamondbacks
Trades: 1
Signings: 3
Money spent on FA: $8.25M
Projected 2017 payroll: $72,312,500
2016 Record: 69-93 (4th)
Key Arrivals: Taijuan Walker (trade), Ketel Marte (trade), Fernando Rodney (free agent), Jeremy Hazelbaker (claimed), Jeff Mathis (free agent), Chris Iannetta (free agent)
Key minor-league signings: Gregor Blanco, Rubby De La Rosa, Oswaldo Arcia, JJ Hoover, Josh Thole
Key Departures: Jean Segura (SEA), Welington Castillo (BAL), Daniel Hudson (PIT)
Takeaway: Arizona added to a solid rotation that under-performed in 2016 while also bolstering outfield depth. But the Diamondbacks still lack a starting catcher.
Grade: B
Colorado Rockies
Trades: 1
Signings: 3
Money spent on FA: $97.25M
Projected 2017 payroll: $117,168,571
2016 Record: 75-87 (3rd)
Key Arrivals: Ian Desmond (free agent), Mike Dunn (free agent), Alexi Amarista (free agent), Greg Holland
Key minor-league signings: Matt Carasiti, Maxx Tissenbaum, Chris Denorfia, Mark Reynolds, Domonic Brown
Key Departures: Boone Logan (CLE), Mark Reynolds (COL), Nick Hundley (SF)
Takeaway: Holland was a nice late pick-up, but Colorado is still paying Desmond $70 million to play a position he's never played in his career.
Grade: C+
Los Angeles Dodgers
Trades: 6
Signings: 4
Money spent on FA: $192M
Projected 2017 payroll: $229,691,667
2016 Record: 91-71 (1st)
Key Arrivals: Rich Hill (re-signed), Kenley Jansen (re-signed), Justin Turner (re-signed), Logan Forsythe (trade), Brett Eibner (trade), Sergio Romo (free agent)
Key minor-league signings: Jose Miguel Fernandez, Steven Geltz, Tyler Holt, Brandon Morrow, Ike Davis
Key Departures: Howie Kendrick (PHI), Chase Utley (FA), Jose De Leon (TB)
Takeaway: It put them deep into the tax, but the Dodgers paid big bucks to preserve their core. Acquiring Forsythe was the final piece in their puzzle.
Grade: A
San Diego Padres
Trades: 5
Signings: 5*
Money spent on FA: $12.75M
Projected 2017 payroll: $53,477,500
2016 Record: 68-94 (5th)
*Including Wil Myers' six-year, $83-million extension
Key Arrivals: Clayton Richard (free agent), Jhoulys Chacin (free agent), Tyrell Jenkins (claimed), Yangervis Solarte (re-signed)
Key minor-league signings: Jon Edwards, Rafael Ortega, Jose Pirela
Key Departures: Derek Norris (WAS), Tyson Ross (TEX), Edwin Jackson (FA), Alexi Amarista (COL), Oswaldo Arcia (ARI)
Takeaway: No one expects the Padres to contend just yet, but they made the right move by locking up their franchise player in Myers to a long-term deal.
Grade: B
San Francisco Giants
Trades: 2
Signings: 3
Money spent on FA: $71.6M
Projected 2017 payroll: $173,611,110
2016 Record: 87-75 (2nd)
Key Arrivals: Mark Melancon (free agent), Nick Hundley (free agent)
Key minor-league signings: Jimmy Rollins, Justin Ruggiano, Michael Morse, Neil Ramirez, Orlando Calixte
Key Departures: Santiago Casilla (OAK), Angel Pagan (FA), Gregor Blanco (ARI), Sergio Romo (LAD), Jake Peavy (FA)
Takeaway: The Giants needed a closer and they got one. Their paltry outfield depth will hurt them, though, if they can't find an everyday fit in left.
Grade: B+