By Joe Browne

Los Angeles Dodgers: A+

The formula is simple, win the whole thing and you earn yourself an A+ grade. This year the Dodgers built, competed and conquered with their superteam. Following an embarrassing and disappointing NLDS exit in 2023, the Dodgers spent over one billion dollars this past offseason to build this championship club. My good friend Jonah wrote a great article on this team a few weeks back that goes into more detail. So, when you are done reading this one, head back on over to that one and give it a read. Anyways, it was not an uber- dominant regular season for LA in 2024. Sure, 98 wins is a whole lot but they fell short of that 100 win mark which we have seen them perennially reach year in and year out. However, when it mattered most they came through in the postseason. The signing of Ohtani and his historic season will get all the eyes but Teoscar Hernandez was invaluable to this team’s success. He rounded out the lineup perfectly and had huge hits in the NLDS against San Diego to will LA to a five game series win.  The best part, this team is not stopping anytime soon and will be very active again this offseason. If the Dodgers win it all again in 2025, we will have a dynasty on our hands.

San Diego Padres: A-

A major bounce back year in 2024 for San Diego following a disappointing 2023. This team played amazing in the second half and established themselves as the top dog in the Wild Card race. Many thought after the Soto was traded that this team would regress. That was not the case at all. Jurickson Profar was probably the best player in the National League through the first two months of the season. That type of a production from a historically average player was definitely not on my bingo card this year. San Diego also received a huge breakout performance from the main piece in the Soto deal, Micheal King. He pitched very well all season but was nails in October when it mattered most.  In the postseason, they handled the Braves quickly in the Wild Card and moved onto the NDLS. There they had the Dodgers on the ropes up 2-1. Then the offense went to sleep in games 4 and 5 and the Dodgers took full advantage. A disappointing end, but a big step forward for this franchise. They have some key free agents coming off the books including the aforementioned Profar. As always, A.J. Preller will be super aggressive and do whatever he can to try and bring a World Series to San Diego. They could use another frontline starter to pair with Cease, King and Darvish due to Musgrove’s injury. Interested to see what the future holds for the Friars.

Arizona Diamondbacks: B

Following a run all the way to the World Series in 2023, Arizona missed on the postseason entirely in 2024. It was not the worst season ever, 89 wins is nothing to scoff at, but they played inconsistent ball all year long. The main reason for this was the underperformance from their starting rotation. They made two key additions in the offseason to the rotation in Jordan Mongtomery and Eduardo Rodriguez. Both guys had very disappointing 2024 campaigns. Montgomery was so bad that he was demoted to the bullpen later in the season. Rodriguez had an injury riddled year and only made ten starts. Arizona had the best offense in baseball scoring a league best 886 runs. Their pitching staff gave up the 5th most runs, allowing 788 runs. So, the best offense in baseball was wasted due to the pitching staff being so bad. Their 2023 World Series run was built off weaker offense and stronger pitching. Wild how much difference a year can make. Christian Walker’s free agency will be the story this offseason. His production on both sides of the ball in the last handful of years has been elite and he is a huge reason why this franchise has been competitive. Only time will tell what’s next for the Snakes. 

San Francisco Giants: C

The Giants were the most bland and mediocre team in all of baseball in 2024 with an 80-82 record. This group has some talent but lacks that spunk and “it” factor that is needed to put a winning product on the field in this league. Matt Chapman got a big time payday last offseason and it paid off in his first season in the Bay. He posted a 5.5 fWAR which was 4th best in the National League. Outside of Chapman, this team lacked an elite punch. Blake Snell when he was healthy was dominant but yet again he heads for free agency after using his opt-out. Expect San Francisco to be in the running to re-sign their ace but no guarantees. Longtime executive Farhan Zaidi was let go following the year in favor of franchise legend Buster Posey. Posey, who just retired three years ago, is immediately put in the most important position in the entire organization. It will be interesting to see what type of roster he will look to put together to become competitive in this very tough division.

Colorado Rockies: D

Another year of Rockies baseball, yet another 100+ loss season. Once again, the worst pitching staff in the league who managed to allow a league-worst 929 runs. That was the most in baseball by a long shot. However it was not all bad, guys like Brenton Doyle and Ezequiel Tovaer both had great seasons. Both guys can do it on both sides of the ball as well. Doyle is an elite defensive center fielder and Tovar took home NL shortstop Gold Glove honors this season. Also, Micheal Toglia quietly popped 25 homers in 2024. Those three guys are all relatively young and are pieces that Colorado can build around for the future. The story will forever be if this franchise could somehow find a way to build a pitching staff that would survive in Coors Field. Time and time again that has proved to be mission impossible. Do not expect much spending from the Rockies this offseason, Dick Monfort is dirt cheap and should be forced to sell the team. 

Sources:

Baseball Reference

FanGraphs

MLB.com

Statmuse