Offseason Review: NL West

Colorado Rockies
Added: C Javy Lopez (FA/BOS), OF Willy Tavares (Trade/HOU), SP Taylor Buchholz (Trade/HOU), SP Jason Hirsh (Trade/HOU), RP LaTroy Hawkins (FA/BAL)
Lost: RP Jose Mesa (FA/Tigers), SP Jason Jennings (Trade/HOU), SP Miguel Asencio (Trade/HOU)
Grade: C+
Summary: Hirsh, has had two solid seasons in the minors for Houston going 13-8 /2.87 ERA/172.1 IP/165K in 2005 and being named Houston's Top Prospect in 2006 by Baseball America (13-2/2.10 ERA/137.1 IP/118K). Taveras has been very solid since playing full time in 2005, his speed always makes him a threat and he'll cover alot of ground in the spacious Coors Field. His average took a dive in 2006, dropping .013 points but he should be around the .290-.300 in Colorado. Lopez's glory years are well behind him and he will battle Yorvit Torrealba and Chris Iannetta for playing time in spring training. Hawkins will take over in set-up man position, which was vacated by Mesa leaving to Detroit, for closer Brian Fuentes.


Los Angeles Dodgers
Added: OF Luis Gonzalez (FA/ARI), C Mike Lieberthal (FA/PHI), OF Juan Pierre (FA/CHC), SP Jason Schmidt (FA/SF), SP Randy Wolf (FA/PHI)
Lost: RP Eric Gagne (FA/TEX), OF Kenny Lofton (FA/TEX), OF J.D. Drew (FA/BOS), OF Jose Cruz, Jr. (FA/SD), C Toby Hall (FA/CHW), SS Julio Lugo (FA/BOS), SP Greg Maddux (FA/SD), OF Jayson Werth (FA/PHI)
Grade: C+
Summary: The departure of J.D. Drew was a shock to Dodger Nation and rumors of contract tampering by the Red Sox came about shortly after, replacing him with Luis Gonzalez should bring less productivity but he is a doubles machine (52 in 2006) and he will add veteran leadership to guys like Andre Either, Matt Kemp and Delwyn Young. Juan Pierre has played in every game in the past four seasons (648 games) but, like Taveras, has tons of speed (325SB in 7 seasons) and needs to work on the OBP (.330 or lower past 2 seasons). The addition of Jason Schmidt makes the rotation look very good (Schmidt, Penny, Lowe, Tomko, Wolf). Lieberthal will be a fine back-up to Russell Martin behind the dish.


San Diego Padres
Added: 2B Marcus Giles (FA/ATL), LF Jose Cruz, Jr. (FA/LAD), SP Greg Maddux (FA/LAD), RP Andrew Brown (Trade/CLE), 3B Kevin Kouzmanoff (Trade/CLE), RP Heath Bell (Trade/NYM), RP Royce Ring (Trade/NYM)
Lost: 2B Josh Barfield (Trade/CLE), RP Scott Williamson (FA/BAL), SP Woody Williams (FA/HOU), OF Dave Roberts (FA/SF), C Mike Piazza (FA/OAK), LF/1B Ryan Klesko (FA/SF), RP Alan Embree (FA/OAK), LF Ben Johnson (Trade/NYM), RP Jon Adkins (Trade/NYM)
Grade: B+
Summary: The Padres started the offseason by dealing highly regarded 2B Josh Barfield to Cleveland for 3B Kevin Kouzmanoff and RP Andrew Brown. Kouzmanoff will enter spring training as the front runner to start at third. The addition of Maddux helps deepen a weak starting 5 and Brown, Bell and Ring will help solidify the bullpen even more in front of Linebrink, Meredith and Hoffman. After a widely speculated Linebrink-for-Giles, the Pads ended up with Brian's little brother without giving up anything. Overall, a very good offseason for GM Kevin Towers and the Padres.


Arizona Diamondbacks
Added: P Randy Johnson (Trade/NYY), P Doug Davis (Trade/MIL), P Dana Eveland (Trade/MIL), OF Dave Krynzel (Trade/MIL)
Lost: P Miguel Batista (FA/SEA), SS Craig Counsell (FA/MIL), SS Damion Easley (FA/NYM), OF Luis Gonzalez (FA/LAD), RP Luis Viscaino (Trade/NYY), C Johnny Estrada (Trade/MIL), SP Claudio Vargas (Trade/MIL), RP Greg Aquino (Trade/MIL)
Grade: B-
Summary: Bringing back RJ and aquiring Davis bolsters a weak starting rotation behind Cy Young Winner Brandon Webb. In house replacements for Counsell and Gonzalez should work out fine with Stephen Drew at short and Chris B. Young in left. Going from Estrada (.302 AVG, 11 HR, 71 RBI, .328 OBP) to Robby Hammock, Miguel Montero and Chris Snyder battling it out in spring training for the starting spot behing the dish is a major drop-off.


San Fransisco Giants
Added: P Barry Zito (FA/OAK), LF/1B Ryan Klesko (FA/SD), OF Dave Roberts (FA/SD), 3B Rich Aurilia (FA/CIN), P Russ Ortiz (FA/BAL), C Benjie Molina (FA/TOR)
Lost: OF Moises Alou (FA/NYM), 1B Shea Hillenbrand (FA/LAA), SP Jason Schmidt (FA/LAD), RP Mike Stanton (FA/CIN)
Grade: C+
Summary: The Giants recently made a huge splash and locked up Barry Zito for 7 years to replace Schmidt, who left for the rival Dodgers. As they strive to get younger they seem to add older verteran players at the same time, Roberts will hit leadoff and play center (34), Klesko (35) will split time in left with Barry Bonds (42) and at first with Aurilia (35), Molina (32) will take over for Mike Matheny behind the dish and Ortiz (32) will take a crack at making the 25 man roster out of spring training.