San Francisco Giants: Keeping up with the NL West

Arizona Diamondbacks

2018 Record: 82-80

2019 Vegas Prediction: 77-85

Players in for 2019: Wilmer Flores, Greg Holland, Caleb Joseph

Players out from 2018: Patrick Corbin, Brad Boxberger, A.J. Pollock, Daniel Descalso, Chris Owings, Jake Diekman, Shelby Miller, Paul Goldschmidt

This might be the most shocking team in terms of the fact that they’re predicted to have more wins than the Giants. A team that lost that much and plays in a pretty competitive NL West, is supposed to win 77 games? Oh, and by the way, lost Paul Goldschmidt and gained one player who will potentially contribute in 2019.

This team went full blown “we’re giving up and can’t compete.” But somehow they’ll win 77 games? I don’t buy it. They do retain Robbie Ray and Tyler Skaggs, who were both decent in 2018, but as far as offense goes, they have to hope Jake Lamb is ready to be a consistent contributor, and that Steven Souza Jr. can stay healthy for…oh I don’t know, more than 100 games?

Look, I don’t mean to bag on the D-Backs too much. But for the life of me I can’t see this team winning more than 75 games, and sure as heck won’t win as many as the Giants. There isn’t the whole entertaining “we’re gonna play these kids that 7 of them are ranked top 100” vibe like the Padres going on. They actually have less top 100 prospects than the Giants do.

So what on earth is intriguing about this D-Backs side? Not a whole lot, and their roster doesn’t exactly scream “2018 Pirates.” That team everyone thought was tanking, but still had enough talent to like actually win 80 something games. So there really isn’t a whole lot to see down in Phoenix, and there is an even better chance they end up bottom feeders like the rest of the teams in their city (Suns, Cardinals, Coyotes).