For the last few seasons, the Los Angeles Dodgers have been trying to make it to the Promised Land. Meanwhile, the San Francisco Giants slip in and out of the playoffs, but when they are in, they take the prize. They’ve won three World Series titles in the last six seasons – every other year in fact. Both are poised to challenge for the division title, though San Fran knows just getting in is how you start. The Arizona Diamondbacks got most of the attention this offseason and will be in the mix while the Colorado Rockies and San Diego Padres are just hoping to show some improvement in the National League West.
San Francisco Giants
Odds to win World Series: 8/1
Notable Additions: Denard Span, Johnny Cueto, Jeff Samardzija
Notable Losses: Marlon Byrd, Ryan Vogelsong, Yusmeiro Petit
The Giants will win because it is an even numbered year. It probably has nothing to do with the calendar, but they have done so the last three times and are among the favorites this season. Many people think that what they have added to their staff, getting a couple of ace types, will really help their quality and depth. If they can find a little more power from their batting lineup, the Giants should be World Series contenders. The formula works well for them and they should be better than a year ago.
Los Angeles Dodgers
Odds to win World Series: 12/1
Notable Additions: Scott Kazmir, Kenta Maeda
Notable Losses: Zack Greinke
The Dodgers will win because they have lots of talent. The seeds are all there for this team to be really good again – even without Greinke, who departed to rival Arizona in the offseason. Reinforcements to the rotation make it among the better in the National League, though pretty much any four guys plus Clayton Kershaw are a good place to start. Yasiel Puig is enigmatic, but if he masters consistency, there is an MVP-like season there waiting to happen. Maybe it’s this year.
Arizona Diamondbacks
Odds to win World Series: 25/1
Notable Additions: Zack Greinke, Shelby Miller, Jean Segura
Notable Losses: Ender Inciarte, Jhoulys Chacin, Aaron Hill
The Diamondbacks will win because it seems like they are tired of losing. It has been a while since they were really contenders in the West, but this offseason they took Greinke from the Dodgers and added other strategic pieces too. Paul Goldschmidt might be the best hitter in the National League, so their core is very sound. The weak spot might be the bullpen, which has proven to be pretty important to success these days.
San Diego Padres
Odds to win World Series: 125/1
Notable Additions: Jon Jay, Alexei Ramirez, Fernando Rodney
Notable Losses: Justin Upton, Craig Kimbrel, Will Middlebrooks
The Padres will win because sometimes less is more. Last year, the Padres won the offseason with splashy moves, almost none of which really panned out as they were a big disappointment in the regular season. They are not more talented this season, but maybe the pieces fit together a little better. Also, top to bottom, they have one of the best rotations in all of baseball. Not one guy at a super elite level, but they can all really pitch. A year of getting to know each other and building chemistry could work wonders for them. Everyone expected an overnight turnaround last season, but sometimes these things take time.
Colorado Rockies
Odds to win World Series: 150/1
Notable Additions: Gerardo Parra, Jake McGee, Chad Qualls
Notable Losses: Justin Morneau, Corey Dickerson
The Rockies will win because they are starting to figure things out. They are focusing on players who can put the ball in play and pitchers who strike guys out. It makes a lot of sense in that ballpark. Colorado can have a top ten offense this season and if that comes to be, there might be enough pitching to be respectable. Even if that isn’t the case, you can see how this team will be better in the future. The building blocks are in place but this team still needs to find a lot more talent to round out the roster.
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