Ranking NL West expected free agent losses: Key Padres' contributors set to depart

While last offseason was a true reckoning for the San Diego Padres when it came to free agent losses, this winter looks decidedly more tame. Any normal offseason is going to look reasonable when compared to one where you trade Juan Soto and lose most of your rotation along with your closer in free agency.

The Padres should return most of their core next season, but there are a few notable names hitting the free agent market. When compared the rest of the teams in the NL West, the Padres are actually in pretty good shape.

The Padres' impending free agent losses are not as troublesome as their NL West counterparts

Teams and/or players don't have to make decisions regarding options and opt-outs until after the World Series. However, here is a quick glance as to where the NL West stands when it comes to expected free agent losses this offseason.
* denotes option/opt-out decision pending

5. Colorado Rockies

• Daniel Bard ,RHP
• Jacob Stallings, C*

The good news is that the Colorado Rockies are only losing two players in free agency in Daniel Bard and Jacob Stallings. The bad news is that the rest of the Rockies' have to continue playing for that truly hapless and poorly run organization. Colorado is likely to remain terrible until Major League Baseball allows teams to buy pitching machines and give them roster spots.

4. Arizona Diamondbacks

• Christian Walker, 1B
• Josh Bell, 1B
• Kevin Newman, SS
• Paul Sewald, RHP
• Joc Pederson, DH*
• Randall Grichuk, OF*

Christian Walker is the biggest name that the Arizona Diamondbacks are losing. Most seem to think that players like Eugenio Suárez and Merrill Kelly will have their club options exercised and their core will remain unscathed outside of Walker. Joc Pederson and Randall Grichuk are interesting vets who can provide value, but losing them doesn't move the needle.

3. San Diego Padres

• Kyle Higashioka, C
• Jurickson Profar, OF
• Donovan Solano, IF
• Tanner Scott, LHP
• Martin Perez, LHP
• Ha-Seong Kim, SS*
• Wandy Peralta, LHP*

The Padres should to be able to at least re-sign both Jurickson Profar and Kyle Higashioka. If not, there is a strong argument to rank them higher. Losing Tanner Scott from the Padres bullpen is a bummer, but expected and San Diego's bullpen will remain deep. Despite dealing with shoulder surgery that may keep Ha-Seong Kim out until next summer, the Padres shortstop is still expected to test free agency. Beyond that, the Padres' losses are mostly role players.

2. San Francisco Giants

• Michael Conforto, OF
• Mark Canha, OF
• Blake Snell, LHP*

Based solely contingent that the Giants will not be able to bring back Blake Snell, San Franciso comes in at No. 2. If San Francisco can convince Snell to return, they be slotted between the D-backs and Rockies. Michael Conforto has been a disappointment and Mark Canha is showing real signs of regression, but both have the talent to be productive.

1. Los Angeles Dodgers

• Jack Flaherty, RHP
• Walker Buehler, RHP
• Kiké Hernandez, IF
• Teoscar Hernandez, OF
• Miguel Rojas, SS*
• Blake Treinen, RHP
• Joe Kelly, RHP

The Los Angeles Dodgers' are expected to lose World Series starter Jack Flaherty, postseason hero Kiké Hernandez, and uber-talented pitcher Walker Buehler. Flaherty and Hernandez will get nice pay raises while Buehler's future earnings are dependent on his health. LA is also losing key pieces of their bullpen and will be back to square one at shortstop. But no team has the resources the Dodgers do to just reload and run it back.

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