NL West: Burning questions of 2015

With offseason coming to a close, Paste BN Sports' baseball desk looks into preparations for the 2015 season with spring training less than two weeks away. Find out who the new faces are and what the burning issues are heading into the season.

A look at NL WEST

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

Key additions: OF Yasmany Tomas, RHP Allen Webster, RHP Jeremy Hellickson

Key subtractions: SS Didi Gregorius, LHP Wade Miley

Prospect to watch: RHP Aaron Blair. Projects to be a No.2 starter with a dazzling changeup. He could be in the rotation by midsummer.

Notable spring face: Cuban Yasmany Tomas, signed to a franchise-record $68.5 million contract, has big-time power and is being compared to Kevin Mitchell. Scouts project he will hit .270 to .290 with 20 to 25 homers a year. But Tomas, 24, is learning a new position (third base) and has never faced big-league pitching. Spring training should give fans at least a hint of how he might fare.

Burning questions

Can Jeremy Hellickson regain form? The 2010 Paste BN Sports Minor League Player of the Year stumbled over the last two seasons, going 13-15 with a 5.00 ERA after a promising three first seasons. But new general manager Dave Stewart, who acquired Hellickson this offseason from the Tampa Bay Rays for two position player prospects, thinks the 27-year-old's struggles are a result of pitching with bone chips in his elbow and envisions him in the rotation. Hellickson should be healthy.

Who'll play catcher? The Diamondbacks traded 2014 All-Star catcher Miguel Montero to the Chicago Cubs. Tuffy Gosewisch likely becomes the primary catcher, with Rule 5 selection Oscar Hernandez competing for a backup job along with journeyman Matt Pagnozzi and others. Hernandez spent last season with the Rays' low Class A affiliate, and Pagnozzi has played in only 43 big-league games. Stewart said the Diamondbacks didn't upgrade because of the development of prospect Peter O'Brien, 24, who hit 34 homers between high A and AA last season. But scouts have questioned his defense.

Can they contend this year? The Diamondbacks' offseason moves have the feel of retooling for now and later. Pitchers Robbie Ray, Rubby De La Rosa and Allen Webster were once highly regarded but have yet to establish themselves. Yoan Lopez, a 21-year-old Cuban power pitcher, is likely to start in the minors but could move up quickly. Perhaps fans can hope for .500. Right fielder Mark Trumbo, once a 30-plus-homer hitter, could be better with last season's foot injury healed. Patrick Corbin, a 14-game winner in 2013, could return in June from Tommy John elbow surgery. And Chip Hale, a former coach with three big-league teams, is known for an upbeat presence that works with a young team.

-- Nick Piecoro and Bob Nightengale

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COLORADO ROCKIES

Key additions: IF Daniel Descalso, RHP Jairo Diaz, C Nick Hundley

Key subtractions: LHP Brett Anderson, RHP Matt Belisle, OF-1B Michael Cuddyer, RHP Nick Masset, RHP Juan Nicasio, IF Josh Rutledge

Prospect to watch: LHP Jon Gray. He went 10-5 with a 3.91 ERA for Class AA Tulsa, with a fastball that reaches 100 mph. He'll get a shot to win a spot in the rotation.

Notable spring faces: Veteran catcher Nick Hundley, who signed a two-year, $6.25 million deal, has been the biggest addition. Hundley spent six seasons with the San Diego Padres before being traded in May to Baltimore, where he helped the Orioles after All-Star Matt Wieters' season-ending surgery.

Burning questions

Are the stars healthy? Hip surgery limited four-time All-Star shortstop and franchise face Troy Tulowitzki to 91 games in 2014. Right fielder Carlos Gonzalez, who had surgeries on his left index finger and left knee, was limited to 70 games. The Rockies are confident neither will have any restrictions when the season opens. Tulowitzki has hit .299 with a .891 on-base-plus-slugging percentage (OPS) in his nine-year career. Gonzalez has hit .294 with a .872 OPS in seven seasons.

It could be easier to go without Gonzalez if they plug one of two players expected to platoon in left field — Corey Dickerson and Drew Stubbs — in right field. Daniel Descalso, who is best suited to playing second base, is the next shortstop option.

Where will Rosario play? Hundley gives the team a third catcher, with Wilin Rosario and Michael McKenry. Rosario — a career .274 hitter with pop — is the weakest defensively. He led the National League in passed balls in his three full major league seasons. His rate of throwing out attempted stealers has gone from 32% in 2012 to 16% last year.

Rosario spent time in the offseason working out at first base, left field and right field as the Rockies want to find a way to get his bat in the lineup. But opportunities will be limited with Justin Morneau at first base and Gonzalez, Dickerson and Stubbs at the outfield corners.

Will young pitchers make the team? Right-handers Eddie Butler and Jon Gray are highly regarded prospects, and both 23-year-olds will be given chances to make the club. Gray is considered to have the higher ceiling, but Butler is ahead of him in the pecking order after going 1-1 with a 6.75 ERA in his major league debut last season. Gray was 10-5 with a 3.91 ERA for Class AA Tulsa last season.

A dark horse is lefty Tyler Anderson. The Rockies' first-round draft pick in 2011 went 7-4 with a 1.98 ERA at Tulsa last year.

-- John Perrotto

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GALLERY: TOP FREE AGENT SIGNINGS

LOS ANGELES DODGERS

Key additions: SS Jimmy Rollins, 2B Howie Kendrick, C Yasmani Grandal, RHP Brandon McCarthy, LHP Brett Anderson, RHP Joel Peralta, OF Chris Heisey.

Key subtractions: OF Matt Kemp, SS Hanley Ramirez, 2B Dee Gordon, RHP Dan Haren, RHP Josh Beckett, RHP Brian Wilson, RHP Chris Perez.

Prospect to watch: OF Joc Pederson. The Dodgers will give him every shot to be the center fielder. The left-handed hitter had a 1.017 OPS in Class AAA with 33 homers. But his strikeout rate raises concerns.

Notable spring faces: The Dodgers added Jimmy Rollins, Howie Kendrick, Yasmani Grandal, Brandon McCarthy and Brett Anderson. The architect is Andrew Friedman, the former Tampa Bay Rays wunderkind who was hired as president of baseball operations to bring a championship to Los Angeles. He is trying to assemble a club that functions together. While Friedman enjoys the benefit of an open checkbook he never had in Tampa Bay, he has used it just as much to ship out highly paid players — including Matt Kemp, Brian Wilson, Dan Haren and Dee Gordon — as to land them.

Burning questions

How will they score? The departure of Kemp and Hanley Ramirez, who totaled 38 home runs and 160 RBI, has raised concerns about scoring punch. There is plenty of offense remaining with major league RBI leader Adrian Gonzalez (116) and OFs Yasiel Puig and Carl Crawford joining the newcomers. But there will be less emphasis on the quick strike and more on manufacturing runs.

Better results with better chemistry? The Dodgers clubhouse was widely regarded as dysfunctional, and manager Don Mattingly acknowledges handling the difficult personalities was a chore.

In place of dynamic Gordon, the Dodgers have steady Kendrick. Rollins, not as explosive offensively as Ramirez, played a key role as clubhouse leader with the Philadelphia Phillies. Ex-closers-turned-setup men Wilson and Chris Perez have moved on, while Joel Peralta, Juan Nicasio and Chris Hatcher have arrived.

The Dodgers think the new mix will work more harmoniously. That remains to be seen. After all, they still have Puig.

Is Joc Pederson ready? The Dodgers were willing to eat $30 million of Kemp's deal to open a spot for Pederson, a natural center fielder they think helps anchor the defense up the middle.

Pederson, 22, pulled off the rare 30-30 double at Class AAA Albuquerque last season before batting .143 with the Dodgers but with a .351 on-base percentage. He has increased his walks in each of the last three years, up to 100 last season. But his propensity to strike out might be exploited. If he falters, the Dodgers might rely on a platoon of Andre Ethier and Chris Heisey.

-- Jorge L. Ortiz

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SAN DIEGO PADRES

Key additions: LF Justin Upton, CF Wil Myers, RF Matt Kemp, 3B Will Middlebrooks, RHP Shawn Kelley, RHP Brandon Maurer, C Derek Norris, IF Clint Barmes

Key subtractions: C Yasmani Grandal, OF Seth Smith, RHP Max Fried, C Rene Rivera

Prospect to watch: RHP Matt Wisler. Wisler, 22, could break camp in the majors. After a rough 2014 start he settled down at Class AAA El Paso. He throws a 94-mph fastball and a slider, changeup and curveball. He hasn't missed a start.

Notable spring faces: Out with the old, in with a new outfield. The Padres brought in All-Stars Justin Upton and Matt Kemp and 2013 American League rookie of the year Wil Myers. The Padres had the worst offense a year ago, and their outfield combined for 29 homers and 141 RBI. Their new outfield hit 60 homers with 226 RBI last year.

Burning questions

Who is the real Kemp? The Los Angeles Dodgers couldn't wait to trade Kemp, not only paying $32 million of the remaining $107 million on his contract but also trading him to a division rival. Kemp had a monster second half, hitting .309 with 17 homers, 17 doubles and a .606 slugging percentage. Yet he also has trouble staying healthy, and the Padres discovered he had arthritic hips when they did their physicals. They can only hope Kemp will prove the Dodgers wrong to let him go.

Can Myers handle playing center? Myers has played nine major league games in center field, but he did play it in Class AAA. The outfield at Petco Park is spacious. If Myers (6-3, 205) can't handle it, the Padres have problems. They could move Myers to first base, but they just signed Yonder Alonso to a two-year extension. The Padres, though, think Myers can handle the transition.

What's the rotation, and is it enough? The Padres have Andrew Cashner, Tyson Ross and Ian Kennedy, but who fills in the back end? Being aggressive, will new general manager A.J. Preller acquire Philadelphia Phillies ace Cole Hamels or free agent James Shields to lead the staff?

Ross made his first All-Star team last year, but Cashner has been injury-prone and Kennedy has been inconsistent.

This is why Hamels, a San Diego native, makes sense, considering he has thrown 200-plus innings in six of the last seven seasons. He is 31 and has a World Series MVP award on his résumé and a reasonable contract: $96million over four years.

The Padres have plenty of candidates but no shoo-ins to fill in the rest of the rotation among Brandon Morrow, Odrisamer Despaigne, Robbie Erlin and Matt Wisler. Veterans Josh Johnson and Cory Luebke, each returning from Tommy John elbow surgery, are expected to be ready after the start of the season.

-- Bob Nightengale

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SAN FRANICSCO GIANTS

Key additions: 3B Casey McGehee, OF Nori Aoki

Key subtractions: 3B Pablo Sandoval, LF Michael Morse

Prospect to watch: C Andrew Susac. Susac, 24, got a brief call-up in May and a permanent promotion in late July but still kept rookie eligibility. He was in four playoff games. He displayed a strong throwing arm and refined receiving skills. He also might be able to carry over his solid offense from the minors, where he registered an on-base-plus-slugging percentage of at least .820 in each of the last two years at Class AA and AAA. In 35 games with the Giants, his OPS was .792.

Notable spring faces: A year ago, 3B Casey McGehee was coming off a one-season exile in Japan. Now he replaces popular Pablo Sandoval. McGehee outperformed Sandoval in batting average (.287-.279) and RBI (76-73), but he can't match his glove and likely not his postseason heroics. The Giants will be pleased if McGehee simply replicates his production from last year, even though his home runs (four) and OPS (.712) are substandard for the position.

Burning questions

How will the rotation fare? After the Giants failed to land Jon Lester, they return the seven pitchers who combined for all but one of the 162 starts in 2014, yielding a 3.74 ERA that ranked 10th in the league. There are question marks everywhere, even on staff ace and postseason hero Madison Bumgarner, who'll be coming off a career-high 270 innings between the regular season and October.

Matt Cain is trying to return from elbow surgery. Tim Hudson, 39, starts spring training behind the other pitchers after having bone spurs removed from his ankle. Cain, Tim Lincecum and Ryan Vogelsong have not put up an ERA under 4.00 in either of the last two years. Even No.2 starter Jake Peavy carries significant risk because of his history of injuries.

Who will supply the power? Sandoval and Michael Morse hit 32 of the team's 132 homers last year. McGehee and Nori Aoki combined for five. The Giants will rely more on putting the ball in play, moving runners along and manufacturing runs, which might be better in their pitcher-friendly ballpark. They hope with continued maturation, 1B Brandon Belt will join Buster Posey and Hunter Pence as 20-home run threats.

Who will lead off? The Giants signed Aoki to play left field, rendering Gregor Blanco a fourth outfielder. Aoki has been remarkably consistent, batting between .285 and .288 and getting on base at a .353 clip in his three seasons. His skill and speed make Aoki well-suited to lead off, but that's where CFAngel Pagan has thrived in his three years in San Francisco. Manager Bruce Bochy says Pagan will start as leadoff in the spring, but he has missed extensive time each of the last two seasons.

-- Jorge L. Ortiz