MLB Offseason Primer: NL West

Michael Ginnitti
Michael Ginnitti, Managing Editor & NFL/MLB ExpertOctober 25, 2024
© USA TODAY Sports

As MLB flips into offseason mode, Spotrac offers a snapshot look at projected Opening Day 40-Man Tax Payrolls, arbitration salary totals, notable upcoming option decisions, & pending free agents for each team.

OFFSEASON PRIMERS
AL EAST | AL CENTRAL | AL WEST | NL EAST | NL CENTRAL | NL WEST

Arizona Diamondbacks

Projected 40-Man CBT: $167.6M (13th)
Guaranteed Contracts: 4 ($63M)
Arbitration-Eligible: 9 ($29.45M)
Christian Walker’s looming free agency is an area of concern, but the rest of this Arizona roster is surprisingly intact. Righting the ship with Jordan Montgomery (who will almost certainly exercise his $22.5M player option) will be a priority, though it’s possible that a trade could be on the table as well. Club options for Eugenio Suarez ($15M) & Merrill Kelly ($7M) are no-brainers.

Notable Options:
Eugenio Suarez (3B, $15M Club), Joc Pederson (DH, $14M Mutual), Merrill Kelly (SP, $7M Club)

Notable Free Agents:
Christian Walker (1B), Kevin Newman (INF), Paul Sewald (RP)

Colorado Rockies

Projected 40-Man CBT: $145M (17th)
Guaranteed Contracts: 7 ($81.8M)
Arbitration-Eligible: 7 ($27.7M)
The Rockies have already made-public their intent to shed payroll in 2025. How they go about doing that remains to be seen. Pitching remains an issue (last in ERA), but the Coors Field-based franchise will never attract high-end offseason arms. Look for this front office to aggressively shop higher-priced arbitration players in favor of younger callups from their farm system. It could be an ugly few more years in Colorado.

Notable Options:
Jacob Stallings (C, $2M Mutual)

Los Angeles Dodgers

Projected 40-Man CBT: $281.5M (2nd)
Guaranteed Contracts: 10 ($209.8M)
Arbitration-Eligible: 9 ($28.2M)
With the exception of Teoscar Hernandez, the starting-core of this Dodgers’ roster remains intact for 2025. None of the arbitration eligible players are entering their final year of control, and it’s conceivable that the complement of Tyler Glasnow, Dustin May, Shohei Ohtani, & Bobby Miller all fully healthy next spring could automatically bolster this pitching rotation to one of the league’s best. With that said, this has never been a front office that has sat on their hands and rolled over the same old roster for another go. Look for everything to be on the table here - including - but not limited to - a serious run at Juan Soto.

Notable Options:
Miguel Rojas (INF, $5M Club), Austin Barnes (C, $3.5M Club), Clayton Kershaw (SP, $10M player)

Notable Free Agents:
Teoscar Hernandez (OF), Jack Flaherty (SP), Blake Treinen (RP), Enrique Hernandez (UTIL),  Walker Buehler (SP)

San Diego Padres

Projected 40-Man CBT: $243.8M (3rd)
Guaranteed Contracts: 8 ($145.7M)
Arbitration-Eligible: 8 ($47.7M)
The Padres were a team that shook things up early, battled through injuries mid-season, then came together perfectly down the stretch just in time for a run into the postseason. This is a turn-key roster for 2025, with hopes that Yu Darvish & Xander Bogaerts can return to full health/usage. Replacing SP Joe Musgrove (UCL) and one of the 2024 Best Values Jurickson Profar (UFA) will be a top priority. But GM A.J. Preller - one of MLB’s most aggressive execs, likely already has a laundry list of ideas in mind.

Notable Options:
Ha-seong Kim (SS, $7M Mutual), Wandy Peralta (RP, $4.3M Player)

Notable Free Agents:
Jurickson Profar (OF), Tanner Scott (RP), Kyle Higashioka (C), Elias Diaz (C) 

San Francisco Giants

Projected 40-Man CBT: $170.3M (12th)
Guaranteed Contracts: 6 ($88.125M)
Arbitration-Eligible: 4 ($22.4M)

A disappointing season led to a complete turn over of the front office this Fall. Buster Posey is now tasked with a roster that has a few key players (Logan Webb, Matt Chapman, Ryan Walker, Patrick Bailey), but there’s a very real world where multiple shakeups happen elsewhere around the roster. Blake Snell’s looming opt-out, and Robbie Ray’s $50M option decision could leave SF with more than few rotation spots to replace.

Notable Options:
Blake Snell (SP, $30M Player), Robbie Ray (SP, 2 yr $50M Player Option)

Notable Free Agents:
Michael Conforto (OF), Mark Canha (OF), Curt Casali (C)


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