For the first time in nine years, the NL West faces the offseason with their division champion also representing MLB's World Series champion. So what have the other NL West teams done in response to their "rival's" success in the past seven weeks? Here's a quick summary, for those who have not been keeping track in a spreadsheet, or on a piece of paper taped to their desk.
Giants
Coming: SS/3B Miguel Tejada, 1 yr/$6.5mil.
Going: IF Juan Uribe, FA signed with Dodgers.
Staying: 1B/OF Aubrey Huff, 2yr/$22mil. OF Pat Burrell, 1yr, $1mil.
Remaining Needs: Impactful offensive bat, reliable sixth starter in case of injury, back-up shortstop to Tejada.
Premature take: Barring a surprising trade for an impactful bat, the Giants won't be back at the Big Show. They don't have the depth to sustain any injury to their rotation, which - one would think - could not remain completely healthy all season.
Padres
Coming: CF Cameron Maybin, trade. 2B Orlando Hudson, 2yr/$11mil. SS Jason Bartlett, trade. SP Aaron Harang, 1yr/$4mil. SP Dustin Moseley, 1yr/$0.9mil. Prospects 1B Anthony Rizzo, OF Reymond Fuentes and SP Casey Kelly, none of whom figure to see notable big league action in 2011. OF Eric Patterson, trade.
Going: 1B Adrian Gonzalez, traded to Boston. SP Jon Garland, FA signed with Dodgers. LHP Cesar Ramos and RHP Adam Russell, trade. C Yorvit Torrealba, FA signed with Rangers. 2B David Eckstein, FA. UT Jerry Hairston Jr., still FA. OF's Tony Gwynn Jr. and Scott Hairston, non-tendered.
Staying: San Diego may retain Hairston, Jr., if the price is right.
Remaining Needs: Backup catcher, bench utility.
Premature Take: Don't expect another magical season from San Diego. Their bullpen was already going to regress, but losing Adrian Gonzalez sets them back quite a bit. Jed Hoyer has his sights past 2011, but he made enough moves to add to the 2011 roster (Bartlett, Hudson) to avoid a PR backlash and on-field freefall.
Rockies
Coming: UT Ty Wigginton, 2yr/$8mil. IF Jose Lopez, trade. SP/RP Felipe Paulino, trade. C Jose Morales, trade.
Going: Dan O'Dowd has already cut ties with three bench players from 2010. IF Melvin Mora, FA signed with Diamondbacks. 1B Jason Giambi FA. C Miguel Olivo, trade. Another potential bench piece, IF Clint Barmes, was traded. SP Jeff Francis FA, though he still could return on a minor league deal. RP Manny Delcarmen, non-tender.
Staying: SP Jorge de la Rosa, 3yr/$32mil. SS Troy Tulowitzki, 6yr/$119mil extension starting in 2015.
Remaining Needs: All that is left is a quality bullpen arm, provided Jose Morales is enough quality to compete for Chris Iannetta's backup.
Premature Take: After retaining de la Rosa, O'Dowd elected to buy into improved health (Huston Street, Jorge de la Rosa) and internal improvement from key hitters like Ian Stewart as the major upgrades, instead focusing on the supporting cast. That approach has worked overall the past four offseasons, so it probably isn't too surprising he took that route. But without big steps forward from at least two of Seth Smith, Chris Iannetta, and Ian Stewart and/or impeccable overall health, it's tough to see a ten win jump from the roster.
Dodgers
Coming: IF Juan Uribe, 3yr/$21mil. SP Jon Garland, 1yr/$5mil. RP Matt Guerrier, 3yr/$12mil. C Dioner Navarro, $1mil. OF Tony Gwynn Jr, $675k. RP Blake Hawksworth, trade.
Going: C Russell Martin, non-tender. C Brad Ausmus, retired. IF Ryan Theriot, trade.
Staying: SP Hiroki Kuroda, 1yr/$12mil. SP Ted Lilly, 3yr/$33mil. SP/RP Vicente Padilla, 1yr/$2mil, or $10mil with incentives. C Rod Barajas, 1yr/$3.25mil. LF Jay Gibbons, 1yr/$675k.
Remaining Needs: Someone has to play left-field. As it stands, Jay Gibbons is that guy. Colletti could also stand to shore up his bench, which currently is constructed of Navarro, Russ Mitchell, Chin-Lung Hu, Tony Gwynn Jr and Jamey Carroll.
Premature Take: Ned Colletti acted quickly, and as a result, he has a rotation that can compete with the Rockies, Giants and Phillies. Unfortunately, that bad offense has gotten no attention. And paying Barajas close to what they offered Russell Martin doesn't count as an offensive upgrade. Overpaying for Uribe might. With a veteran line-up, there don't figure to be surprises, and even with that rotation, the line-up seems to feeble.
Diamondbacks
Coming: RP J.J. Putz, 2yr/$10mil. RP Joe Paterson, Rule 5 draft choice. RP David Hernandez, RP Kameron Mickolio, trade. 1B/OF Xavier Nady, 1yr/$1.75mil., C Henry Blanco, 1yr/$1.25mil. IF Melvin Mora, 2yr/$4mil.
Going: 3B Mark Reynolds, trade. 1B Adam LaRoche, FA. IF Rusty Ryal, released. SP Rodrigo Lopez, FA. RP Aaron Heilman, FA.
Staying: SP Joe Saunders, initially figured to be a non-tender candidate, looks to be returning.
Remaining Needs: The 2010 bullpen was so bad, even trading a former All-Star 3B for bullpen arms doesn't cut it. Even Putz isn't enough. Relief pitching seems to remain Kevin Towers' number one obsession. They do not figure to acquire any impactful starting pitchers or bats, and Justin Upton has been taken off the market.
Premature Take: Towers can say all he wants about how the roster is no longer last place quality. But in 2011, it is. The bullpen will be much much better, but they still lost a 3 WAR player at the hot corner, and Kelly Johnson figures to regress.
Links
Stewart looking at big raise in arbitration | citizen-times.com | Asheville Citizen-Times Stewart is a super-two eligible player, meaning he qualifies for arbitration before reaching three years of service time. That means a significant raise, though Stewart is confident a deal can be struck before an arbitration hearing.
"I'm confident we can get something worked out pretty quickly. I like playing for the Rockies a lot, and I have a good relationship with the front office. And I think they would say the same thing about me." -Ian Stewart, via Keith Jarrett.
Scout.com: Wilson Wants To Win a Championship Last Friday, Rockies' 2010 4th-rounder and North Carolina State quarterback Russell Wilson gave a long interview with Scout.com. Rockies fans were worried all season that first round pick Kyle Parker might return to football in 2011 rather than baseball, but given that Wilson is a potential 2011 Heisman candidate, it might be the other ACC Rockies QB that plays the pigskin.