As February unfolds, the excitement for Spring Training is palpable, just days away from commencing. Although several high-profile free agents, including nine individuals from MLBTR’s Top 50 MLB Free Agents list for the upcoming 2024-25 offseason, have yet to sign, most teams have completed significant roster adjustments in preparation for the 2025 season. In the upcoming days, we will delve into the performances of various clubs during this offseason. Currently, the Mets and Cubs are leading their respective divisions, the NL East and Central, in offseason success. Today, we shift our focus to the competitive landscape of the NL West.

The NL West has emerged as a powerhouse in the National League, having represented the league in the World Series for the last two consecutive years. This division has consistently sent at least two teams to the postseason for the past five seasons. As we assess this offseason, three out of the five teams are firmly in a win-now mindset while a fourth team has also begun pursuing ambitious strategies. The question remains: which team has made the most impactful moves to ensure success this winter? Teams will be ranked based on their performance in the 2024 season.

Los Angeles Dodgers: Champions Reinforcing Their Roster

The reigning World Series champions, the Los Angeles Dodgers, have had an eventful offseason, even if they haven’t been the frontrunners in the race for the top free agents like the coveted Juan Soto, who is valued at a staggering $765MM. The Dodgers have been proactive, re-signing key players such as Teoscar Hernandez and Blake Treinen, and extending Tommy Edman. Their winter began with an impressive acquisition of lefty Blake Snell from the San Francisco Giants, and they have continued to enhance their roster by adding Michael Conforto to the outfield and Hyeseong Kim to the infield. Moreover, they have fortified their bullpen with the signings of Tanner Scott and Kirby Yates, who are regarded as two of the best closers available this offseason.

One of the most significant moves for the Dodgers this winter was acquiring NPB sensation Roki Sasaki, who was posted despite not being eligible for a major league contract or international bonus pool money. Securing Sasaki under these favorable conditions is a remarkable achievement for any franchise, further strengthening the Dodgers’ already formidable lineup. However, the offseason hasn’t been devoid of challenges. The team faced a roster crunch, leading to the trade of some of their surplus prospects such as Diego Cartaya, Gavin Lux, and Ryan Brasier. Additionally, a pressing concern remains at the shortstop position, which the Dodgers plan to address by allowing veteran star Mookie Betts to take on the role, despite his limited experience there. Even with potential uncertainties surrounding the shortstop position, the Dodgers are well-positioned to defend their championship title in 2025.

San Diego Padres: Navigating Challenges Amidst Ownership Disputes

This offseason has been relatively quiet for the San Diego Padres, marked by internal discord within the ownership group and a restrictive budget that has hampered the efforts of president of baseball operations A.J. Preller. Key departures, including Jurickson Profar, Donovan Solano, and Ha-Seong Kim, have left the team’s strong core lacking essential support. Furthermore, the Padres’ ambitions to acquire Sasaki were thwarted by the Dodgers, despite a strong push that positioned them as finalists. The only significant move made so far has been the re-signing of Elias Diaz, which adds depth behind the plate but does not dramatically alter the team’s trajectory. It appears that impactful acquisitions may require trading prominent players like Dylan Cease or Luis Arraez to clear up some salary space.

Arizona Diamondbacks: Building on Last Season’s Success

After narrowly missing the playoffs in 2024, the Arizona Diamondbacks are not resting on their past achievements this winter. The team recently re-signed Randal Grichuk, ensuring a vital right-handed bat remains in their outfield lineup. While the departures of Joc Pederson, Christian Walker, and Josh Bell to free agency pose challenges for the lineup, the acquisition of Josh Naylor through a trade with the Guardians should help mitigate those losses significantly. However, the crowning achievement of their offseason is undoubtedly securing Corbin Burnes, the top pitching free agent this winter, with a surprisingly favorable six-year contract. The former NL Cy Young award winner will now join Zac Gallen at the forefront of a strong rotation, which also includes Merrill Kelly, Eduardo Rodriguez, Brandon Pfaadt, and Jordan Montgomery. Nonetheless, the team still faces uncertainty, particularly regarding the designated hitter position, which remains unfilled after Pederson’s departure, and they are yet to finalize plans for adding a closer to their bullpen.

San Francisco Giants: Strategic Moves for a Bright Future

The offseason for the San Francisco Giants mirrors that of the Diamondbacks in that it features one standout signing: they have secured shortstop Willy Adames on the largest free agent contract in the franchise’s history. This addition, alongside recently-extended third baseman Matt Chapman, creates a formidable left side of the infield that should thrive for years to come. Another significant development is the appointment of former franchise icon Buster Posey as the new president of baseball operations, succeeding Farhan Zaidi.

However, since the addition of Adames just before the Winter Meetings, activity in San Francisco has significantly slowed. The team also brought in future Hall of Famer Justin Verlander to complement Logan Webb in the rotation after Snell’s departure to Los Angeles. As Verlander approaches his 42nd birthday, there are legitimate concerns about his durability following a challenging 2024 season. Currently, it appears that the Giants are content with their offseason strategy, as Posey has indicated that they feel “pretty set” with their acquisitions, despite unanswered questions regarding the departures of players like Michael Conforto and Taylor Rogers.

Colorado Rockies: Maintaining Stability Amidst Struggles

In the wake of consecutive 100-loss seasons, the Colorado Rockies have chosen to avoid a full rebuild, unlike other struggling teams such as the White Sox and Marlins. Instead, they are opting to retain their veteran players to bridge the gap to their younger talent. This approach has resulted in quiet offseasons in recent years, and this offseason has followed suit. The team made minor infield additions by signing Thairo Estrada and Kyle Farmer to one-year contracts to fill the void left by Brendan Rodgers, but these are their only significant moves so far.

One of their more impactful decisions was re-signing catcher Jacob Stallings, who had a remarkable rebound season with the team last year. He will provide stability behind the plate until the highly regarded prospect Drew Romo is ready to assume regular catching duties. However, the pitching staff has seen little change, aside from the losses of Daniel Bard and Cal Quantrill. Furthermore, the team has yet to find a suitable replacement for the production lost with the retirement of longtime franchise player Charlie Blackmon.

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The offseason in the NL West has presented a mixed bag of outcomes, with three of the five teams making significant roster enhancements while the other two have largely remained dormant, avoiding substantial transactions. The Dodgers have undoubtedly been the most active team within the division and arguably across the entire league this winter. However, the Diamondbacks’ acquisition of Burnes and the Giants’ record-setting contract for Adames stand out as strong maneuvers that could potentially propel either franchise back into postseason contention following last year’s absence. Meanwhile, the Rockies continue their trend of modest offseason activities, while the Padres, under Preller’s leadership, have taken a quieter approach thus far.

Which of the five NL West clubs do you believe has had the most successful offseason so far? Share your thoughts by participating in the poll below: