Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/658783
68 PLAY BALL BAY AREA NEWS GROUP 1.SanFranciscoGiants Lastyear:84-78,secondplace 2. Los Angeles Dodgers Lastyear:92-70, first place (lost to New York Mets in NLDS) Keylosses: RHP Zack Greinke, SS Jimmy Rollins, RHP Juan Nicasio Keynewcomers: LHP Scott Kazmir, RHP Kenta Maeda, OF Trayce Thompson Best-casescenario:The Dodgers, despite losing Greinke, stay in the West hunt and use their big bucks to make a deadline deal that not only pushes them to a fourth straight division title but finally leads to playoff success. Worst-casescenario:The lack of a big offseason move hurts them, and they fall behind the Giants, and also Arizona, and find themselves at home in October. Hotprospect: SS Corey Seager showed tons of potential in last season's call-up (.337, 4 HR, 17 RBI in 98 AB) and is a strong Rookie of the Year candidate. 3.ArizonaDiamondbacks Lastyear:79-83, third place Keylosses: OF Ender Inciarte, RHP Jeremy Hellickson Keynewcomers: RHP Zack Greinke, RHP Shelby Miller, SS Jean Segura Best-casescenario:Greinke remains an elite ace in the D-backs' live ballpark and pairs with Miller to anchor a pitching staff that allows the potent offense to win games. Arizona contends not only for a playoff spot, but for the NL West title. Worst-casescenario: Despite an upgraded pitching staff and an offense led by one of the game's best, Paul Goldschmidt, Arizona can't overcome the Giants and Dodgers. Hotprospect: OF Socrates Brito rose up the organizational rankings a er major prospects Dansby Swanson and Aaron Blair were dealt for Miller. 4. San Diego Padres Lastyear: 74-88, fourth place Keylosses:RHP Craig Kimbrel, INF Jedd Gyorko, RHP Shawn Kelley, RHP Joaquin Benoit Keynewcomers:SS Alexei Ramirez, LF Jon Jay, LHP Drew Pomeranz Best-casescenario:RHP James Shields and RF Matt Kemp have the impact that was expected a year ago, and the Padres surprise their way into being competitive in the NL West. Worst-casescenario:San Diego experiences its sixth straight losing season while second-year GM A.J. Preller attempts to rebuild the roster. Hotprospect: OF Manuel Margot is the best of the four prospects acquired from Boston in the Kimbrel trade but is unlikely to see the bigs this year. 5. Colorado Rockies Lastyear:68-94, fi h place Keylosses:OF Corey Dickerson, RHP John Axford, LHP Rex Brothers Keynewcomers:RHP Jason Motte, RHP Chad Qualls, OF Gerardo Parra, 1B Mark Reynolds Best-casescenario:3B Nolan Arenado continues his climb into stardom, and the Rockies find a way to avoid their fourth 90-plus loss season in the past five years. Worst-casescenario:A team that's very much in rebuild mode — something true of 40 percent of the National League — experiences the first 100-loss season of its 24-year existence. Hotprospect:RHP Jon Gray, the team's first-round pick in 2013, debuted last year and could start the year in the rotation. THELEAGUE RatingtheNLWest T heGiantswilltesttheireven-yearsuccessafterrevampingtheirrotationwiththesigningsofJohnnyCueto(sixyears,$130million)and Jeff Samardzija (five years, $90million) in December. They added center fielder Denard Span in January for good measure. The goal, of course, is a return to the postseason, where they've yet to lose a series in manager Bruce Bochy's tenure. The competition won't just be the Dodgers. The three-time reigning National League West champions still figure to be in the mix but were weakened with the loss of co-ace Zack Greinke. Now they've also lost starting pitcher Brett Anderson for three to five months after back surgery. And the deep-pocketed Dodgers failed to make a big offseason move despite a third straight postseason failure. Greinke stayed in the division, and his move to the Diamondbacks makes them a threat, especially after they traded for Shelby Miller to be the No. 2 starter. Arizona already has one of the game's premier sluggers in Paul Goldschmidt, and the improved pitching helps round them out. The Padres and Rockies figure to provide plenty of wins for their NL West foes. Giants could be a contender this season BY JIMMY DURKIN TheDiamondbacks'Paul Goldschmidt, above, is one of the game's top sluggers. Opposite, from left, the Cubs' Addison Russell dives to toss the ball; the Mets' Yoenis Cespedes tosses his helmet; the Nationals' Bryce Harper hits a solo home run.