[The Score] - NL West team needs heading into winter meetings

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    • Jun 2013
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    [The Score] - NL West team needs heading into winter meetings

    theScore's MLB offseason team needs series breaks down every club's roster and key departures, along with how holes could be filled in free agency ahead of the Dec. 4-7 winter meetings. Division previews will roll out daily through Nov. 30.AL EAST I NL EAST I AL WEST I AL CENTRAL I NL CENTRAL *Bolded names are players traded this offseasonArizona Diamondbacks Norm Hall / Getty Images Sport / Getty2023 record: 84-78 (2nd in NL West)Projected 40-man payroll: $114MKey departures: Lourdes Gurriel Jr., Evan Longoria, Tommy PhamNeeds: Corner outfield, DH, rotation depth, bullpen depthWhere the lineup stands ORDER PLAYER POSITION fWAR 1 Corbin Carroll (L) LF 6.0 2 Ketel Marte (S) 2B 4.2 3 Eugenio Suárez 3B 3.2 4 Christian Walker 1B 3.8 5 Alek Thomas (L) CF 0.5 6 Gabriel Moreno C 1.7 7 Dominic Fletcher (L) DH 0.6 8 Geraldo Perdomo (S) SS 2.7 9 Jake McCarthy (L) RF 0.1 The D-Backs crossed off one need just before Thanksgiving by acquiring Suárez from Seattle. Not only is he a significant upgrade over Longoria at third base, but he'll inject some much-needed power into the middle of the lineup. There's still more work to be done, though. McCarthy's regression this past season, combined with Gurriel's possible departure, makes adding another corner outfielder imperative. A platoon partner for Fletcher at DH would also be helpful given his struggles against left-handed pitching in Triple-A and the majors.How the rotation looks Daniel Shirey / Major League Baseball / Getty ROLE PITCHER THROWS fWAR 1 Zac Gallen R 5.2 2 Merrill Kelly R 3.2 3 Brandon Pfaadt R 0.3 4 Ryne Nelson R 0.7 5 Tommy Henry L 0.7 Pfaadt's emergence during the playoffs gives the D-Backs a third dependable starter behind Gallen and Kelly, but upgrades are still needed. Ideally, Pfaadt would pitch behind a No. 3 starter imported via either trade or free agency. One more starter would push either Nelson or Henry to the bullpen, increasing Arizona's overall pitching depth. The back of the bullpen is in a good spot with Sewald, Franco, and Castro. However, the club would welcome additional depth.Colorado Rockies Dustin Bradford / Getty Images Sport / Getty2023 record: 59-103 (5th)Projected 40-man payroll: $142MKey departures: Chase Anderson, Ty Blach, Tommy Doyle, Chris Flexen, Matt Koch, Brent SuterNeeds: Right field, pitching, bullpenWhere the lineup stands ORDER PLAYER POSITION fWAR 1 Charlie Blackmon (L) DH 0.8 2 Ezequiel Tovar SS 1.6 3 Nolan Jones (L) LF 3.7 4 Kris Bryant 1B -1.2 5 Brendan Rodgers 2B 0.0 6 Ryan McMahon (L) 3B 1.2 7 Elias Díaz C 0.0 8 Hunter Goodman RF -0.4 9 Brenton Doyle CF 0.9 This lineup needs work and has to add experience. Goodman started last season at Double-A and finished 2023 in Colorado thanks to his solid bat. While he's earned the right to compete for the Rockies' Opening Day right-field job in 2024, the team should still consider looking for someone else to man the position, at least in the short term. A natural catcher and first baseman, Goodman only started playing the outfield in 2023. He might benefit from more defensive seasoning at the position in Triple-A. It would also be a good idea for Colorado to add some insurance for the oft-injured Kris Bryant.How the rotation looks Jason O. Watson / Getty Images Sport / Getty ROLE PITCHER THROWS fWAR 1 Kyle Freeland L 1.2 2 Cal Quantrill R 0.7 3 Austin Gomber L 0.9 4 Ryan Feltner R 0.9 5 Peter Lambert R 0.2 Pitching, as usual, remains a major need for Colorado. Adding Quantrill as a potential bounce-back candidate was a nice pickup for this otherwise underwhelming rotation. It wouldn't be surprising if the Rockies signed a few veteran relievers to short-term deals with eyes on flipping them at the trade deadline, as they did this past summer with Brad Hand and Pierce Johnson.Los Angeles Dodgers Denis Poroy / Getty Images Sport / Getty2023 record: 100-62 (1st)Projected 40-man payroll: $151MKey departures: Ryan Brasier, Enrique Hernández, Joe Kelly, Clayton Kershaw, Lance Lynn, J.D. Martinez, Shelby Miller, David Peralta, Amed Rosario, Julio Urías, Kolten WongNeeds: Starting pitching, relief pitching, DHWhere the lineup stands ORDER PLAYER POSITION fWAR 1 Mookie Betts 2B 8.3 2 Freddie Freeman (L) 1B 7.9 3 Will Smith C 4.4 4 Max Muncy (L) 3B 2.9 5 James Outman (L) CF 4.4 6 Jason Heyward (L) RF 2.2 7 Chris Taylor LF 1.9 8 Gavin Lux (L) SS DNP 9 Michael Busch (L) DH -0.5 Everyone knows the Dodgers will be in on Shohei Ohtani, but the offense needs more fine-tuning regardless of whether they sign him. Nevertheless, this is an excellent lineup, but without Martinez, there's an imbalance of left-handed bats. Whether at DH if Ohtani goes elsewhere or a primary left fielder who allows Taylor to move around the diamond, signing one more righty power bat should be on the Dodgers' to-do list. Heyward's return as a corner outfielder is welcomed, allowing Betts to continue in his utility role by playing second base against right-handers. However, he needs a platoon partner.How the rota...

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