Dodgers to spring training in Arizona as NL West favorites…
After 4 straight NL West titles — and 12 of their last 13 — there’s little room for hypothesis that the Dodgers will fall off that perch this season.
While they reloaded with Edwin Diaz and Kyle Tucker, the remainder of the division didn’t do a lot to take severe steps in the direction of ending the Dodgers reign.
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Shohei Ohtani (17) reacts during Game 4 of baseball’s National League Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, File) AP
Here’s how the NL West breaks down:
Arizona Diamondbacks
2025: 80-82
Manager: Torey Lovullo (tenth season)
Spring training website: Salt River Fields
Key additions: For most of the winter, the Dbacks flirted with buying and selling All-Star infielder Ketel Marte, who might have netted them the kind of influence expertise that was past their attain in free company. But in the end, the club held onto Marte and made more marginal strikes round the edges. Merrill Kelly (who was traded by the team at last 12 months’s deadline) and Michael Soroka had been signed to bolster a rotation awaiting the return of Corbin Burnes from Tommy John surgical procedure. Veterans Nolan Arenado and Carlos Santana are the new nook infielders, attempting to flip again the clock late in their careers.
Key losses: The Dbacks dealt most of their pending free brokers (most notably, Eugenio Suarez and Josh Naylor) at the deadline. The one exception was longtime ace Zac Gallen. The right-hander might still re-sign in Arizona, as he continues to linger as one among the best free-agent pitchers left on the market. But if he doesn’t, the team may have to discover a method to fill his void.
Storylines to watch: The Dbacks ought to hit, with Marte, Corbin Carroll and 2025 breakout star Geraldo Perdomo persevering with to headline their lineup. But their rotation never recovered from Burnes’ injury last 12 months, their bullpen was a large number the whole season and the pitching workers as an entire looms as a major query mark for a team hoping to vie for a playoff spot in 2026.
Ketel Marte #4 of the Arizona Diamondbacks gestures to the crowd after hitting a three-run house run in the ninth inning against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field on August 13, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images)
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Colorado Rockies
2025: 43-119
Manager: Warren Schaeffer (first season)
Spring training website: Salt River Fields
Key additions: The most important new face in the Rockies group is president of baseball operations Paul DePodesta, the former front-office wunderkind (and ex-Dodgers GM) who’s returning to baseball after a decade with the NFL’s Browns. He started his try at rebuilding the club with principally smaller strikes, taking fliers on pitcher Michael Lorenzen and utilityman Willi Castro. Young outfielder Jake McCarthy was also added in a commerce with Arizona.
Key losses: The good factor about shedding a near-record 119 games? There wasn’t a lot expertise for the Rockies to lose this winter. Former All-Star pitcher Germán Márquez headlined their group of free brokers and stays unsigned. Others like Orlando Arcia, Kyle Farmer and Michael Toglia discovered new houses on minor-league offers.
Storylines to watch: The Rockies have misplaced more than 100 games in three straight seasons. Their purpose this 12 months might be attempting to keep away from a fourth, while their new entrance workplace (which also contains Josh Byrnes, who was employed away from the Dodgers to serve as normal supervisor) makes an attempt to establish items to build round for the future.
Ezequiel Tovar #14 of the Colorado Rockies celebrates after hittin a three-run house run in the top of the fifth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park on September 26, 2025 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
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San Diego Padres
2025: 90-72
Manager: Craig Stammen (first season)
Spring training website: Peoria Sports Complex
Key additions: In an offseason outlined by the gamers they’ve misplaced, the Padres have struggled to make many influence upgrades. They efficiently retained pitcher Michael King as a free agent. They also struck a four-year take care of South Korean infielder Sung-Mun Song and signed veteran MLB utilityman Miguel Andujar on a one-year pact. But possession uncertainty has restricted their ability to add to a roster with a payroll already north of $200 million.
Key losses: Where to start? Workhorse starter Dylan Cease left for a mega-contract with the Blue Jays. Closer Robert Suarez landed his personal profitable take care of the Braves. Trade deadline rental Ryan O’Hearn signed with the Pirates. Infielder Luis Arraez, coming off a down 12 months, went to the Giants. Oh, and Yu Darvish will miss the 12 months (and is reportedly contemplating retirement) following offseason elbow surgical procedure.
Storylines to watch: After 4 playoff appearances in the last six seasons, the window could be closing on the Padres to lastly get over the hump. But, they doubtless stay the Dodgers’ largest divisional menace –– particularly if Fernando Tatis Jr. can rediscover his MVP-caliber type; others like Manny Machado, Xander Bogaerts and Jackson Merrill can return to All-Star ranges; and a pitching workers anchored by King, Nick Pivetta, Joe Musgrove (in his return from Tommy John surgical procedure) and new nearer Mason Miller maintain up over the season.
Fernando Tatis Jr. #23 of the San Diego Padres at bat against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on August 27, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
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San Francisco Giants
2025: 81-81
Manager: Tony Vitello (first season)
Spring training website: Scottsdale Stadium
Key additions: In Year 2 of the Buster Posey period, the Giants prevented the top of the free-agent market and instead pursued low-cost, potential-upside signings. Harrison Bader inked a two-year contract in the outfield. Luis Arraez took a one-year, prove-it deal to play second base. Tyler Mahle and Adrian Houser had been also added to round out the rotation. The team’s largest wager is on new supervisor Vitello, the former University of Tennessee coach who grew to become the first MLB skipper to come immediately from the school ranks without earlier skilled experience.
Rafael Devers #16 of the San Francisco Giants runs house to score against the Los Angeles Dodgers Getty Images
Key losses: The Giants had few notable free-agent departures, shedding only complementary items such as Wilmer Flores, Dominic Smith and Justin Verlander.
Storylines to watch: The Giants have an intriguing core, with Rafael Devers, Willy Adames and Matt Chapman all locked up long run in the center of the lineup, and Logan Webb and Robbie Ray fronting their rotation. If sufficient issues go proper round them, the club might emerge as a dark-horse contender. However, their bullpen is a priority, and their depth might be examined. Mix in the wild card that is Vitello’s hiring they usually face a variety of potential outcomes in 2026.
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