2019 NL West Preview
by Bill Edwards
by Bill Edwards
San Diego (102-60)
The Padres were very aggressive early in the off-season making most their players available for trade. The result is a great young team anchored by Mookie Betts in the lineup, Kyle Freeland in the rotation and MLB's number 2 overall prospect Fernando Tatis Jr set to debut this year. The team is projected to win over 100 games and they have very little in long term financial commitments. They should remain near the top of the NL West for several seasons.
Colorado (93-69)
The Rockies battled the Giants in 2017, the Dodgers in 2018 and will now take the Padres best shot in the race for the NL West title in 2019. This may be the 3rd straight year with a 2nd place finish and wild card birth. J.T Realmuto was brought in to boost an excellent lineup. The rotation is once again among the deepest in the league.
San Francisco (82-80)
San Francisco was active in the off-season improving the roster to put themselves in the playoff race. Several veterans were brought in to rebuild the lineup which should score enough runs to keep the Giants competitive. However, the rotation doesn't appear to have the arms to compete in the very strong NL West this season.
Arizona (64-98)
The Diamondbacks are another team that was very busy this offseason trading assets to bring in two of the top rated prospects in all of MLB. Eloy Jimenez and Alex Kiriloff are the main pieces of the next great Diamondbacks core. There are several good young players on this roster but 2021 looks like it will be the earliest season to consider the Arizona an NL West contender.
Los Angeles (53-109)
The Dodgers won 108 games last year and may lose 108 this year. The rebuild is underway. The hope is that the young players will debut this season and bring the Dodgers back to relevance by 2021.
The Padres were very aggressive early in the off-season making most their players available for trade. The result is a great young team anchored by Mookie Betts in the lineup, Kyle Freeland in the rotation and MLB's number 2 overall prospect Fernando Tatis Jr set to debut this year. The team is projected to win over 100 games and they have very little in long term financial commitments. They should remain near the top of the NL West for several seasons.
Colorado (93-69)
The Rockies battled the Giants in 2017, the Dodgers in 2018 and will now take the Padres best shot in the race for the NL West title in 2019. This may be the 3rd straight year with a 2nd place finish and wild card birth. J.T Realmuto was brought in to boost an excellent lineup. The rotation is once again among the deepest in the league.
San Francisco (82-80)
San Francisco was active in the off-season improving the roster to put themselves in the playoff race. Several veterans were brought in to rebuild the lineup which should score enough runs to keep the Giants competitive. However, the rotation doesn't appear to have the arms to compete in the very strong NL West this season.
Arizona (64-98)
The Diamondbacks are another team that was very busy this offseason trading assets to bring in two of the top rated prospects in all of MLB. Eloy Jimenez and Alex Kiriloff are the main pieces of the next great Diamondbacks core. There are several good young players on this roster but 2021 looks like it will be the earliest season to consider the Arizona an NL West contender.
Los Angeles (53-109)
The Dodgers won 108 games last year and may lose 108 this year. The rebuild is underway. The hope is that the young players will debut this season and bring the Dodgers back to relevance by 2021.
