Buyers and Sellers: NL West

Well, we've come to the end of our buyers and sellers segment, though I'm sure it will come up again in future months. I for one (and among others...) expected the NL West to be a powerhouse, but it seems like the baseball gods looked less favorably on the division.

Arizona (24-15): For the longest time, the Diamondbacks seemed unstoppable, mostly due to their obliteration of their fellow westerners. Currently, they stand at 18-5 within the division, which contributes to their best record in baseball. However, as the Cubs showed in their sweet sweep last week, they will not proceed to the World Series unchallenged. Their pitching core is deep, and the offense is fairly solid as long as Reynolds keeps up his decency. I expect he won't, so the Diamondbacks may push for a veteran at the hot corner. I think Joe Crede would be a good fit and would be interesting come a change of scenery. Also, the bullpen is crazy, but I can't see Arizona so quickly admitting they couldn't cover the loss of Valverde and overpaying at the deadline. 

Los Angeles (20-19): I really thought Joe Torre's new team would play better, but after a five game skid following a streak of nine wins over ten games, the Dodgers now stand only a game over .500. Andy Laroche probably won't be ready if the team wants to win now, so third base also has its question marks. Despite the struggles of Penny, Lowe, and Billingsley, the pitching is deep and a mid-season acquisition would be costly. Still, the Dodgers have a capable farm system and could make a push. Look for a call-up of Clayton Kershaw, because his performance will make the difference in '08.

San Francisco (17-23): I wish I could right that, ponder that the Giants are already six games under .500, and reflect that they are at the bottom of their division and that all is as it should be. No, that just isn't the truth, and the lowly Giants are in the middle of the pack. A full out firesale should be in order, but unfortunately their isn't much to sell. I expect Durham to head out cheaply, but his 20 HR days are in the past. Their isn't much to look forward to.

Colorado (15-24): Last year's Roctober might have been a fluke. The Rockies sport one of the worst records in baseball after being swept in the World Series. Reportedly, Atkins has been on the table, and I'd love to see him somewhere like Cleveland though he's struggled away from Coors Field. One of Corpas and Fuentes should go, since teams are always looking for relievers who can handle the pressure. Most of the offensive positions are spoken for, though anyone receiving time at second with some pop in their swing could be interesting.

San Diego (15-26): It's safe to say that Colorado and San Diego won't force a play-in game come playoffs. San Diego just doesn't have the offense to hit their way into games and has lacked the plate discipline this year to scratch out runs. Michael Barrett could play backup for a team who wants a veteran, and could put up decent numbers as a rested catcher in a hitter-friendly park. Randy Wolf and Greg Maddux are both free agents after this year, and could find competitive teams but lose the advantage of Petco. In fact, most of the team has some form of free agency awaiting them in the offseason and the Padres would be wise to get something for them.