Post by aaron_commissioner on Mar 23, 2018 22:59:33 GMT -8
We begin our 2021 previews with the NL West. The format this year will consist of a paragraph for each team, in projected order, with some very broad questions for the entire group at the end.
After winning 118 games last season, it is hard to pick anyone but the Los Angeles Dodgers for the top spot in our predictions. However, with new management and the departure of Clayton Kershaw, this division could be closer than it seems. While the Dodgers replenished their farm in the Kershaw deal, later trades around the ABL for pitching talent may have the team wishing they had asked for more. Also losing star utility man Enrique Hernandez and starter James Paxton to free agency, the Dodgers were only able to do so much in free agency with a limited budget. They will have to work for the division crown this year.
After upsetting Los Angeles in the playoffs last year, the Colorado Rockies look poised to make a run at the division and deep into the playoffs again in 2021. With a top lineup already, the Rox made a concerted effort to shore up their arms this offseason, acquiring Bryan Shaw to help in their bullpen and Hamels, Chatwood, and Gadea to boost their rotation. This team has all the pieces to be a complete threat in the NL.
Slowly but surely, the Arizona Diamondbacks have waited for their time to compete. After years of rebuilding, the D-Backs have made a splash in free agency this year and look to fix their never-ending rotation woes. James Paxton (free agency), Erasmo Ramirez (free agency) and Jackson Stephens (trade) may very well do that. This team has a lot of young talent and had an encouraging season last year. Don’t count them out of a wild card in 2021.
It seems like ages ago when I predicted the San Francisco Giants would win the ABL World Series. With aging players and contracts, the rebuild is in full swing in the bay. The Giants have done well to shed much of their salary obligations, but some of the returns on their “sells” have been lackluster. They won’t be terrible in 2021, but this has the looks of a long and patient rebuild process.
Tied with one of the lowest payrolls and smallest markets in the ABL, the San Diego Padres are trying to escape the gutter. Their big signing of Okada last offseason hasn’t completely panned out so far, but they are trying to take advantage of early draft position to build a future core. Mayky Perez, a Rule 5 addition, is their big acquisition this offseason, as they have returned to a quiet and patient strategy of rebuilding.
Questions for GMs:
After winning 118 games last season, it is hard to pick anyone but the Los Angeles Dodgers for the top spot in our predictions. However, with new management and the departure of Clayton Kershaw, this division could be closer than it seems. While the Dodgers replenished their farm in the Kershaw deal, later trades around the ABL for pitching talent may have the team wishing they had asked for more. Also losing star utility man Enrique Hernandez and starter James Paxton to free agency, the Dodgers were only able to do so much in free agency with a limited budget. They will have to work for the division crown this year.
After upsetting Los Angeles in the playoffs last year, the Colorado Rockies look poised to make a run at the division and deep into the playoffs again in 2021. With a top lineup already, the Rox made a concerted effort to shore up their arms this offseason, acquiring Bryan Shaw to help in their bullpen and Hamels, Chatwood, and Gadea to boost their rotation. This team has all the pieces to be a complete threat in the NL.
Slowly but surely, the Arizona Diamondbacks have waited for their time to compete. After years of rebuilding, the D-Backs have made a splash in free agency this year and look to fix their never-ending rotation woes. James Paxton (free agency), Erasmo Ramirez (free agency) and Jackson Stephens (trade) may very well do that. This team has a lot of young talent and had an encouraging season last year. Don’t count them out of a wild card in 2021.
It seems like ages ago when I predicted the San Francisco Giants would win the ABL World Series. With aging players and contracts, the rebuild is in full swing in the bay. The Giants have done well to shed much of their salary obligations, but some of the returns on their “sells” have been lackluster. They won’t be terrible in 2021, but this has the looks of a long and patient rebuild process.
Tied with one of the lowest payrolls and smallest markets in the ABL, the San Diego Padres are trying to escape the gutter. Their big signing of Okada last offseason hasn’t completely panned out so far, but they are trying to take advantage of early draft position to build a future core. Mayky Perez, a Rule 5 addition, is their big acquisition this offseason, as they have returned to a quiet and patient strategy of rebuilding.
Questions for GMs:
- Do you see the Dodgers as the team to beat in the NL West? What about the NL in general?
- What would you like to see happen this year for your team? Essentially, what are your goals?
- Introduce us to a player we haven’t heard about yet, but should know.
