In 2013 the NL West was one of the tightest divisions in all of baseball. Four of the five teams were separated by only seven games when the division ended. The problem, though, was those were the bottom four teams as the Los Angeles Dodgers won the division by 11 games. This year could be even tighter as all four of those teams made quality improvements in an attempt the catch the Dodgers and knock them off of the top.
Most Valuable Player - Paul Goldschmidt - Arizona Diamondbacks
In 2013 Goldschmidt had a career year and it earned him a second place finish in the NL MVP voting. This season has the potential to be even better for the slugging first baseman as the Diamondbacks went out and a bat to protect him in the order in the form of Mark Trumbo. Thanks to the improvement in the roster opposing teams will not be able to pitch around Goldschmidt to get to the next batter because with one mighty swing Trumbo can send them both home. Notable challengers in the division will be Buster Posey the 2012 NL MVP and Hanley Ramirez.
Cy Young Award - Clayton Kershaw -Los Angeles Dodgers
Kershaw is currently the best pitcher on the planet. That's really all I've got. Madison Bumgarner could push Kershaw, but it is hard to imagine any pitcher in MLB that could be better than him right now let alone in the NL West.
Rookie of the Year - Chris Owings -Arizona Diamondbacks
It is believed that Owings has won the starting shortstop job, and if he did he has the benefit of a weak rookie class in the NL West. He has looked good in spring training, but that’s not the regular season and he had the benefit of Didi Gregorius having a horrible spring to make him look better than he may actually be. His key competition could come from teammate Archie Bradley, but it is hard to believe that Bradley will get enough play time if he didn’t make the team after a solid spring training on a team with aging and injured starting pitching. Owings could also be rivaled by the San Francisco Giants Heath Hembree, who is tabbed as the future closer for the team, but Hembree is not currently expected to make the big league roster.
Los Angeles Dodgers: 94-68
San Francisco Giants: 84-78
Arizona Diamondbacks: 83-79
San Diego Padres: 68-94
Colorado Rockies: 68-94
For the second year in a row the Dodgers are going to run away with the division. The pitching is far superior to any other team in this division from the starting rotation to the bullpen and the offense is good enough to compete with anyone even when they are dealing with injuries.
The Giants will have a bounce back season, but not the season that everyone is hoping for as they will fall short of making the playoffs for the second season in a row.
The Diamondbacks will finally get above .500, but like the Giants it is not the improvement that they are hoping for. The Padres and Rockies have gone out and tried to get better this offseason, but for these two teams to be successful there are too many things that have to go right.