National League Contenders: Additions and Updates, Part 2

Just as the season opens, let’s finish up with the rest of the National League World Series hopefuls. The Padres are surely in the mix with some formidable offensive up-side. The Padres were active in the off-season, with a couple of big adds in Bogaerts at SS and starting pitcher Wacha, off a rebound year. Carpenter and Nelson Cruz were added at DH. They re-signed Machado, Nick Martinez and relief pitcher Robert Suarez. They lost Josh Bell at first base, Drury, and Myers, plus pitchers Manea and Clevinger.

The Padres have a formidable infield, especially with super stars Machado and Boegarts at third and short stop. Kim at second, is off a very successful World Classic, and Cronenworth, who has had a hot spring, could surprise at first base. A slightly better than average hitting Nola will catch while Campusano, who has also had a good spring, is back-up. If Carpenter can repeat last year's season, the Padres’ infield and DH are truly loaded for bear.

The outfield is all Soto at the moment, plus Tatis Jr when he returns. Grisham has been hitting for power this spring. His average is a concern but he does have speed. Otherwise it is Dahl at the moment, and possibly sometimes, Carpenter? The extra and depth outfielders are an area of concern for the Padres in an otherwise loaded line-up.

The starting rotation is compromised early as Musgrove will miss time. Snell rebounded last year, although his first start was not promising. Darvish had one of his best ever years in 2022, and the addition of Wacha is a great pick-up. Nick Martinez, who pitched well after returning from Japan, and Seth Lugo are both sometimes-starters who will be added to the mix early. Jay Groome, a long-time minor leaguer off a hot spring is also in the mix. The starting rotation is promising but can’t quite match up to the offense in terms of quality.

In the bullpen, Hader and Suarez are a very solid pair to close/setup. Pomeranz unfortunately will start on the IL. The Padres have plenty of options for middle inning relief, so it looks like the bullpen could be a plus area for San Diego.

With their formidable offense and a little luck in the pitching department, the Padres could very likely challenge for top spot in the NL. They, like the Phillies, may be playing catch-up until Tatis and Musgrove return.

The Dodgers are starting the season with a much younger team, some question marks in the infield, and some injuries, resulting in even more question marks. Gone are the Turners, Trey and Justin, Bellinger and Joey Gallo. They lost starting pitchers, Tyler Anderson and Andrew Heaney and relievers Martin, Kimbrel, and Kahnle. Incoming are an aging JD Martinez at DH, Peralta in the outfield, and another oldster in Syndergaard. That is a mass exodus, with very little replacement value. Guaranteed, this is not a team to match last year’s 111 wins.

So, offense first. Freeman and Betts are the star attractions. Betts is a superstar, but the Dodgers don’t have another outfielder in the top 60. Peralta will be in left. Outman and Trayce Thompson will platoon at center. Muncy will be at third. He hits for power but not for average. At least, not last year. He could bounce back. Vargas is a youngster with a big up side. He hasn’t shown it this spring. Freeman is the best hitting first baseman in the NL. Rojas will have to replace Trey Turner and the injured Gavin Lux who is gone for the season. Not a chance he will fill those boots. The Dodgers are set at catcher with Will Smith and Barnes as back-up.

Urias and Kershaw will anchor the rotation. Kershaw isn’t Verlander-old, but somehow he seems like it. May projects well as a fourth starter, but Gonsolin is on the IL for the beginning of the season. After him, it is a bit of a scramble. I don’t think Syndergaard is a good bet to remake himself. Pepiot is also out to injury, so Grove is in. The Dodgers have a very deep farm system so it remains to be seen if this will impact the starting rotation.

 About the only area that projects as highly as last year is the bullpen. It is again deep and appears competent. The more I write about the Dodgers, the lower they sink in my estimation. So who else will challenge?

The Cardinals definitely have the hitting right through the lineup, with Goldschmitt, Arenado, a sleeper in Edman, and (Willson) Contreras, plus young phenom Jordan Walker, who has huge upside. Contreras left the first game due to injury. Starting pitching is a huge question mark, with Wainwright, yesterday’s ace, injured to start the season, and slowly approaching senior citizenship. Mikolas is steady, usually. Montgomery is probably the best of the bunch, but after him?

The Brewers will be in the running. They definitely have the pitching, but did little to address their dearth of run production beyond William Contreras and possibly Winker.

That is it for my projections, just in time for the real thing. I’m ready to see how MLB 2023 unwinds..