By
Nate Kelly[Editors Note: This is the third and final installment breaking down offseason grades division by division. For the East grades click HERE or HERE for the Central grades.]
AL WEST
Key Acquisitions: Torii Hunter, Jon Garland
Key Losses:
After a division title in ’07 the Angels were not
satisfied. They immediately made a splash this off-season when they
pulled off the Orlando Cabrera for on
Grade: B+
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Key Acquisitions: Erik Bedard, Carlos Silva, Brad Wilkerson, Miguel Cairo
Key Losses: Jose Guillen, Ben Brousard, Adam Jones, George Sherrill
It seems the M’s have decided to change plans from
rebuilding to win now this off-season. They still have some very young
key players, but they raided their pitching prospects and gave up their
best prospect, Adam Jones, in the Bedard deal. They did manage to take a
rotation that was mediocre last season and turn it into possibly the
best rotation in the American League. That is all great, but now they
are stuck in a unenviable situation where the gap between their starting
position players and their back ups/prospects is huge. The Mariners did
improve their rotation greatly this off-season, but their offense and
depth took a big hit in the process. They still have a potential playoff
team right now, but that is only if they stay healthy and there are zero
“down” years throughout the roster.
Grade:C+
Key Acquisitions: Emil Brown, Ryan Sweeney
Key Losses: Dan Haren, Nick Swisher, Mark Kotsay, Mike Piazza, Shannon
Stewart
This may be the year when the A’s finally start
truly rebuilding. It seems like every year they have all the symptoms of
a rebuilding team and yet career years and unbelievable winning streaks
kept happening and they seem to always contend at the end. Now the A’s
have shipped off their top players and let free agents go left and
right. If Dan Haren’s departure wasn’t a sign, Nick Swisher being moved
to the White Sox was. They still have some pieces in place with Rich
Harden and Eric Chavez and they did keep with their annual corner
outfield pick-up when they signed Emil Brown who could still be
productive. This should be a tough season in the bay, but Billy Beane is
still the GM and struggles most likely won’t last for too long.
Grade: D
Key Acquisitions: Milton Bradley, Jason Jennings, Josh Hamilton, Ben
Broussard
Key Losses: Brad Wilkerson
The off-season for the Rangers can be summed up in
one word. Potential. They focused on their outfield and rotation this
season with the signing of Milton Bradley, Josh Hamilton and Jason
Jennings. When healthy, Bradley can be an offensive threat and it will
be interesting if he can come back from his knee injury and perform.
Josh Hamilton could develop into a 40-homerun hitter and fulfill the
star potential he had when he was drafted and early last season. Then
there is
Grade: B+
NL WEST
Key Acquisitions: Dan
Key Losses: Carlos Quentin, Jose Valverde
The desert is buzzing after last season’s surprise success and the buzz will only get louder this season after their additions this season. They lose their closer Jose Valverde, but they received premier reliever Chad Qualls to add to a still loaded bullpen that will be more than capable of closing out victories. Then they took a huge step when they added Cy Young candidate and All-Star starter Dan Haren to an already solid starting staff. With young players like Chris Young, Jason Upton and Mark Reynolds getting the chance to play all season long the D-backs will again be a force to be reckoned in 2008.
Grade: B+
Key Acquisitions:
Key Losses: LaTroy Hawkins, Kazuo Matsui, Jamey Carroll, Jeremy Affeldt
The
Grade:C-
Key Acquisitions: Jim Edmonds, Randy Wolf, Mark Prior, Tadahito Iguchi
Key Losses: Milton Bradley, Mike Cameron, Geoff Blum
Not sure what the Padres were trying to do this
off-season. It seemed like an attempt to simply tread water. They signed
Tadahito Iguchi to a one-year deal, Mark Prior to a one-year deal, and,
surprise, Randy Wolf to a one-year deal as well. They also acquired
37-year-old centerfielder Jim Edmonds who will only be on contract
for…you guessed it…one year. The top of their rotation is still great
with Jake Peavy, Chris Young and Greg Maddox, but after that there are
no sure things. Prior and Wolf are both coming off injuries and the
other options are either aging or unproven. The Padres’ off-season was
full of deals that do nothing for the future and are questionable at
best when it comes to this season. With the other additions made by the
Dodgers and D-backs it will be hard for the Padres to keep up.
Grade: C
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Key Acquisitions: Andruw Jones, Hiroki Kuroda, Joe Torre
Key Losses: Luis Gonzalez, Randy Wolf, Mark Hendrickson
The Dodgers seemed determined to become not only a
contender in the division, but also in the entire league. Now that their
young players like James Loney and Matt Kemp have a year under their
belt, the front office made moves looking to win right now. They first
bring in one of the best managers in Major League history in Joe Torre,
but then they make two huge signings in Andrew Jones and Hiroki Kuroda.
Last season the Dodger offense was at times abysmal, but now they bring
in Andrew Jones coming off an off year, but who has produced nine 25+
homerun, 90+ RBI seasons and ten gold gloves during his career. They
bring in Kuroda to solidify a rotation that already sports quality
starters in Derek Lowe, Brad Penny and Chad Billingsley. They also have
a potential dominant starter in Jason Schmidt who is coming off two
years of injury problems. If Schmidt comes back and can stay healthy all
season, he may be the best addition to a team looking to win and win
now.
Grade: B+
Key Acquisitions: Aaron Rowand
Key Losses: Barry Bonds, Pedro Feliz
The Giants brought in Aaron Rowand after his break
out season last year in Philly, but now he moves into the spacious
Grade: D+