Everything you need to know about the NL West

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Although it's top-heavy, there is arguably no division expected to be more entertaining than the NL West. As the Dodgers attempt to forge a dynasty in search of their ninth straight division title, the Padres will look to play spoiler - and perhaps more so - as the franchise seeks their first championship. Here's how the entire division unfolds:

Arizona Diamondbacks

2020 record: 25-35 (5th in NL West)
Payroll: $109.1M
O/U win total: 78
World Series odds: +8500
3-year trend: 2018 (3rd); 2019 (2nd); 2020 (5th)
Highest projected WAR: Ketel Marte (3.3)
X-factor: Caleb Smith
Key injuries: Kole Calhoun, Tyler Clippard, Zac Gallen
Prospect to watch: Geraldo Perdomo (MLB.com: No. 79)
Winter report card: C-

Projected Lineup

Bench

The Diamondbacks are a bit of a wild card. A lot of their results will depend on how players bounce back after a rough 2020 and which prospects the club promotes. If Marte and Escobar can rebound from terrible campaigns last year (accruing 0.4 and minus-0.5 WAR, respectively), then they might actually stay in the playoff picture. Losing Calhoun, who was by far the best position player last year, hurts. But adding Smith - who hit 23 homers over 243 games between Single-A and Double-A - to the outfield could mitigate that. If anyone else in the outfield falters, could the D-Backs call on Perdomo or Kristian Robinson from their loaded farm system by the end of the year?

Projected Rotation

Bullpen

On the pitching side, the Diamondbacks have an up-and-coming staff led by veteran left-hander Bumgarner. For a team that already needed a lot to go right to stay in contention, losing Gallen for at least the beginning of the season is maybe the worst news any club got this spring. On the plus side, Arizona features decent depth, with Widener or Jon Duplantier potentially stepping into the rotation as well. If the offense can keep them in games early in the year, the pitching could be good enough until Gallen returns. Bringing in Soria and Devenski helps the late-inning issues the team had last year.

Colorado Rockies

2020 record: 26-34 (4th)
Payroll: $135.6M
O/U win total: 62
World Series odds: +15000
3-year trend: 2018 (2nd); 2019 (4th); 2020 (4th)
Highest projected WAR: Trevor Story (3.8)
X-factor: Jon Gray
Key injuries: Kyle Freeland, Brendan Rodgers, Scott Oberg
Prospect to watch: Ryan Rolison
Winter report card: F

Projected Lineup

Bench

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to notice that this lineup, to put it lightly, has issues. Cumulatively, the projected starters and bench players are slated to accrue a grand total of 2.8 WAR. For context, there are four individual position players on the Dodgers who project to be worth more than that. In fact, without Story, Colorado's position players would combine to be worth negative WAR, and the Rockies' shortstop could get traded midseason as he imminently heads toward free agency.

Projected Rotation

Bullpen

The team's ineptitude at generating runs is pretty much matched by their inability to prevent runs. Marquez is a legitimate ace when he's on, and Gray has shown flashes of brilliance - particularly in advanced metrics. Beyond that, though, the Rockies are going to have a lot of trouble containing opposing lineups.

Los Angeles Dodgers

2020 record: 43-17 (1st)
Payroll: $259.3M
O/U win total: 103.5
World Series odds: +350
3-year trend: 2018 (1st); 2019 (1st); 2020 (1st)
Highest projected WAR: Mookie Betts (5.9)
X-factor: Gavin Lux
Key injuries: Caleb Ferguson, Brusdar Graterol, Tommy Kahnle, Joe Kelly
Prospect to watch: Josiah Gray (MLB.com: No. 58)
Winter report card: A

Projected Lineup

Bench

The champs didn't really add any new faces to the lineup and lost some depth this winter after parting ways with Enrique Hernandez and Joc Pederson. In their places, the Dodgers undoubtedly hope Pollock and Rios can platoon left field, while Lux blooms into the player that scouts believed he was. It should also be noted that super-utility man Taylor has looked exceptional in spring after a rough 2020, hitting four homers and posting a 1.344 OPS over 13 games.

Projected Rotation

Bullpen

Here is where the rich truly got hilariously wealthy. Sure, they lost Alex Wood, Jake McGee, and Pedro Baez to free agency, but adding Bauer, the reigning NL Cy Young winner, turns an already indomitable staff into the league's deepest rotation. If any of the starters - three of whom are Cy Young winners - falter or get injured, May and Gonsolin are waiting in the wings to step in effortlessly. Also, Gray - the club's top pitching prospect - could be called on if things get really dire.

San Diego Padres

2020 record: 37-23 (2nd)
Payroll: $198.5M
O/U win total: 95
World Series odds: +700
3-year trend: 2018 (5th); 2019 (5th); 2020 (2nd)
Highest projected WAR: Fernando Tatis Jr. (5.9)
X-factor: Chris Paddack
Key injuries: Austin Adams, Jose Castillo, Mike Clevinger, Javy Guerra, Dinelson Lamet, Austin Nola, Matt Strahm, Trey Wingenter
Prospect to watch: MacKenzie Gore (MLB.com: No. 6)
Winter report card: A+

Projected Lineup

Bench

The Padres boast one of the best rosters in baseball, but they're still noticeably a step behind the reigning champs. Losing Nola at catcher exposed a small but not problematic lack of depth. Over the winter, they traded Francisco Mejia to the Tampa Bay Rays, but adding Caratini helps and gives them an opportunity to flex their incredible farm system by giving Campusano a taste of the bigs until Nola returns. If anyone else hits a snag, Kim - their most notable addition to the offense - should be ready to step in after an impressive year in the KBO. Profar has also turned into a very productive utility man.

Projected Rotation

Bullpen

Tatis is the face of this franchise for at least a decade and a half, but the rotation has quickly become the crown jewel of this club. The additions of Darvish, Snell, and Musgrove give them a puncher's chance against the Dodgers and undoubtedly make them the favorite to host the wild-card game. Lamet should return in short order and looked unhittable at times last year. With so many elite arms, Paddack could benefit by not having to fill the role of staff ace while still developing. And, worst case, MacKenzie Gore might be close to earning his promotion.

San Francisco Giants

2020 record: 28-31 (3rd)
Payroll: $157M
O/U win total: 76
World Series odds: +11500
3-year trend: 2018 (4th); 2019 (3rd); 2020 (3rd)
Highest projected WAR: Kevin Gausman (3.3)
X-factor: Buster Posey
Key injuries: Tyler Beede, John Brebbia, Alex Wood
Prospect to watch: Joey Bart (MLB.com: No. 23)
Winter report card: B-

Projected Lineup

Bench

La Stella is a sneakily great addition to a team that will straddle the line between rebuilding and ascending all year. The biggest question hanging over the club is whether this is Posey's final season with the franchise. The 33-year-old sat out the entire 2020 campaign and had his worst season in 2019, so his $22-million team option feels unlikely to be exercised. Posey is undoubtedly an icon, so he may not follow Crawford and Belt - who are also on expiring deals - out the door. But, at some point, the transition to Bart behind the plate has to begin.

Projected Rotation

Bullpen

Unlike the lineup, the most difficult turnover has already happened with the pitching staff, which is beginning to turn the corner. Gausman will lead the rotation after seemingly putting it all together last year while the club figures out if Webb or new acquisitions DeSclafani and Sanchez are worth holding. Once Cueto is off the books, though, the construction phase of the rebuild begins in earnest for Farhan Zaidi and Co.