Dodgers should be favorites, but Padres could surprise in NL West
It’s the Dodgers, and everyone else, in the National League West this season.
The two-time defending World Series champions paid a total of $309 million to sign two free agents, world-class closer Edwin Díaz and four-time All-Star corner outfielder Kyle Tucker.
The second-place San Diego Padres continued to trim payroll, bidding farewell to free agents Dylan Cease, Robert Suarez, Luis Arraez and Ryan O’Hearn. The highlight of the San Francisco Giants’ offseason: becoming the first MLB team to name a college coach with no professional baseball coaching experience as manager. Tony Vitello, 47, joins the team after coaching the Tennessee Volunteers for the past eight seasons.
The Arizona Diamondbacks are trying to bounce back after following a 2023 World Series appearance with two disappointing seasons. And the Colorado Rockies are starting from scratch, replacing general manager Bill Schmidt with Paul DePodesta, who, after working for the Dodgers and other MLB teams, most recently served as the Cleveland Browns’ chief strategy officer for the past 10 years.
