NL West

Outfielder Joc Pederson is no longer on the Los Angeles Dodgers for real this time.

He is reportedly set to sign with Chicago Cubs once he completes his physical after coming to terms Friday, per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. ESPN's Jeff Passan reported it's a one-year, $7 million contract.

It appeared as if Pederson's time with the Dodgers was going to end prior to the 2020 campaign when they seemed to trade him to the Los Angeles Angels, but the deal was called off Feb. 9. The move was hinging on another trade between the Boston Red Sox, Dodgers and Minnesota Twins that sent Mookie Betts and David Price to the Dodgers, among other pieces.

However, Passan reported the Red Sox were "spooked" by the medical reviews of pitching prospect Brusdar Graterol in the original trade. That led to a lengthy delay and the eventual reshaping of the deals that still sent Betts to the Dodgers as the headliner.

The trade between the two Los Angeles teams never went through, though.

Pederson remained in Los Angeles and struggled throughout the 2020 season even though his team won the World Series. He slashed .190/.285/.397 with seven home runs and 16 RBI while appearing in 43 games.

It was a far cry from past years.

He was an All-Star in 2015 behind a .210/.346/.417 slash line, 26 home runs and 54 RBI in his first full season in the major leagues, which hinted at the overall power to come. He drilled 25 long balls in 2016, 25 in 2018 and a career-best 36 in 2019 while also finishing with a career-high .249 batting average.

There are some concerns given his 2020 performance, but Pederson is just 28 years old and already has 64 playoff games on his resume.

He will look to return to form in the middle of Chicago's lineup alongside Kris Bryant and Javier Baez.

Joc Pederson may be changing sides in the National League West rivalry between the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants.   

Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reported the free-agent outfielder who spent his first seven seasons in the major leagues with the Dodgers is in discussions with the Giants. Slusser noted Pederson cheered for the Giants while growing up in the Palo Alto area and knows president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi and manager Gabe Kapler from their time together in Los Angeles.

San Francisco missed the playoffs at 29-31 during the shortened 2020 campaign and was a solid but unspectacular 12th in MLB with 81 home runs. It was 26th in the league in long balls during 2019, the last full-season sample size from which to draw.

Pederson could provide some much-needed power to San Francisco's outfield.

He hit 25 or more home runs four times in a five-year stretch from 2015-19, including when he launched 36 in 2019. He also has extensive postseason experience with 64 playoff appearances on his resume from his time with the Dodgers.

It is fair to worry about his career batting average of .230, especially after he slashed .190/.285/.397 during the 2020 season, but he did post a career-high average of .249 in 2019.

Pederson is also just 28 years old and figures to remain in his prime for the next couple of seasons, which should mean he challenges for 25 or more home runs again if he remains healthy. That is largely the type of power that was missing from San Francisco's lineup while it failed to reach the playoffs the last four years.

The Giants know what Pederson is capable of as a power hitter from their time battling him in the NL West and could look to bring him in prior to the 2021 season as they attempt to close the gap on the defending-champion Dodgers.

MLB Network's Jon Heyman reported last week that the Los Angeles Dodgers were ready to welcome Justin Turner back after allowing him "a chance to look around" in the free-agent market, and now there's a new development in the 36-year-old's free agency.

Heyman said Monday that the Dodgers "remain optimistic" about their chances to re-sign the third baseman, who has been with the team since 2014. 

Turner is coming off a World Series championship season during which he hit .307/.400/.460 through 42 appearances. 

Following a report from Jorge Castillo of the Los Angeles Times that Turner was looking for a four-year deal, Heyman added that the star is down to four teams and is only open to joining a contender. Among his finalists are the Toronto Blue Jays—who have already supplemented their outfield with a superstar by signing George Springer to a six-year deal—and the Dodgers, though they still "appear to prefer" a two-year contract for Turner.

The Dodgers have the largest payroll in MLB, with $194.8 million on the books, but whether it comes by way of a new deal for Turner or not, they've said they're willing to open the checkbook for other stars—including Marcus Semien, per Peter Gammons, and Trevor Bauer, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan. 

According to Castillo, the Dodgers don't want to tie themselves to an aging player, but Turner is seemingly conscious of the ticking clock. Heyman said Turner is "hoping for more" in what may be "his 'final' deal."

The team is desperately seeking a right-handed infielder, so it seems that Turner makes the most sense if the two sides can come to an agreement on a contract. 

The San Francisco Giants are looking to upgrade their outfield with several possible options still on the free-agent market.

According to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle, the Giants have interest in both Eddie Rosario and Jackie Bradley Jr. as lower-cost options compared to the recently signed George Springer.

Rosario, 29, was nontendered after six seasons with the Minnesota Twins, while Bradley, 30, is a free agent following eight years with the Boston Red Sox.

While both outfielders, the two veterans could offer different things to their new teams.

Rosario has been a reliable power hitter in recent seasons, totaling 13 home runs in 57 games during the shortened 2020 campaign after combining for 83 homers in the previous three seasons.

The left fielder has an .810 OPS over the past four years as a key part of one of the top offenses in baseball.

Bradley hasn't been as consistent of a hitter with just a .239 career batting average, but he picked things up last season while producing a .283/.364/450 slash line. More importantly, he is known as an elite defender in center field with 53 runs saved in his career, per FanGraphs. He saved five runs defensively in center last season alone.

Both players could be valuable for the Giants after they missed the playoffs last year, making it four straight seasons without a playoff berth.

The offense finished eighth in the majors in runs scored last year, but San Francisco will need more firepower to compete in the loaded NL West with the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres.

Jurickson Profar has reportedly re-signed with the San Diego Padres.

Per ESPN's Jeff Passan, Profar agreed to a three-year, $21 million deal Friday. Jon Heyman of MLB Network reported Profar has two opt-outs in the deal.

Profar enjoyed a good 2020 season in San Diego, hitting a career-high .278 with seven home runs, 25 RBI and seven stolen bases in 56 games. He also posted a career-high .771 OPS and showcased his defensive versatility with time spent at second base (17 games) and in the outfield (39).

Per Jay Jaffe of FanGraphs, Profar was the "consensus No. 1 prospect in baseball" before the 2013 season, when he was just 20 years old.

He played 94 games for the Texas Rangers in 2012 and 2013, hitting .234 in the latter year over 85 contests. However, a shoulder injury forced him to miss the 2014 and 2015 seasons.

Profar took part in only 112 games over the 2016 and 2017 seasons as Ryan Rua and Delino DeShields got more playing time in the latter year. He got a chance to play full-time in 2018 and responded with 20 home runs, 77 RBI and a .254 average.

However, the Rangers traded Profar to the Oakland Athletics in December 2018. Profar was an Athletics regular in 2019, hitting another 20 homers but seeing his batting average fall to .218.

The A's then dealt Profar to San Diego, who benefitted from the 27-year-old's success as he helped his team reach the National League Division Series.

The Padres have gone all-in to win in 2021 coming off a playoff appearance last season. Profar's return comes after the team acquired Blake Snell, Yu Darvish and Joe Musgrove to bolster the starting rotation.

Even though the Los Angeles Dodgers are the reigning World Series champions, the Padres have the talent to challenge them for the top spot in the NL West this season.

The Los Angeles Dodgers are circling back to Justin Turner as they work to round out their infield through free agency. 

According to MLB Network's Jon Heyman, Turner is considered the "top choice" of the reigning World Series champions, though Marcus Semien has caught the team's attention, as well. 

Turner, 36, slashed .307/.400/.460 in 42 games last season with four home runs and 23 RBI. He also hit another two homers in the World Series, helping the Dodgers snap a championship drought that began in 1989.

The Dodgers lead MLB in payroll at $194.8 million, per Spotrac, but may be preparing for another spending spree. Aside from their interest in Turner and Semien, ESPN's Jeff Passan reported Wednesday that L.A. is "monitoring the market" for reigning National League Cy Young winner Trevor Bauer. 

While the Dodgers are focused on adding to their infield first and foremost, they are staying engaged with the top free agent in this year's class. 

Just how much money the team is willing to spend this offseason remains to be seen. 

Spotrac projects Turner's market value at $13.9 million per year. That would put him in line with the likes of the Cincinnati Reds' Eugenio Suarez, Chicago White Sox's Yoan Moncada and Seattle Mariners' Kyle Seager. By comparison, Spotrac estimates Semien will sign for $19 million per year. 

One of the most recognizable Dodgers of the last decade—in equal parts due to his energy, steady bat and trademark red beard—Turner was named an All-Star in 2017, the same year he earned NLCS MVP honors. The infielder was also named the team's nominee for the 2020 Roberto Clemente Award honoring community and philanthropic endeavors.

Most recently, Turner is known for violating MLB's health and safety protocols when he returned to the field to celebrate the World Series title with his teammates without a mask after testing positive for COVID-19. 

MLB declined to punish Turner for the incident, and the veteran released an apology shortly thereafter. 

Should the Dodgers fail to re-sign Turner, or add Semien, they could look at other free-agent infielders like Daniel Murphy, Andrelton Simmons or Didi Gregorius.

The Los Angeles Dodgers reportedly are showing some level of interest in 2020 National League Cy Young winner Trevor Bauer.

Per ESPN's Jeff Passan, the Dodgers are "monitoring" the market for Bauer and could get involved in talks with him if his price lines up with what they are willing to spend. 

Bauer is the biggest free-agent domino still standing, with no indication that he will be arriving at a decision any time soon. 

The 2018 All-Star said in a video post last month that he had a meeting with the Toronto Blue Jays. It's unclear if Toronto will invest another large contract in free agency after MLB Network's Jon Heyman reported on Tuesday it agreed to a six-year, $150 million deal with George Springer. 

Heyman noted the Dodgers are also looking at right-handed hitting infielders, with Justin Turner at the top of their wish list. 

Turner, Joc Pederson and Enrique Hernandez are the three key players from Los Angeles' World Series team last season who are still free agents. 

Heyman reported last month that Bauer is seeking a five- or six-year deal worth between $36-40 million per season. 

Bauer, 30, is coming off the best season of his career. He led the NL with a 1.73 ERA and had 100 strikeouts in 73.1 innings over 11 starts for the Cincinnati Reds. 

The San Diego Padres have made bold, aggressive moves for Yu Darvish, Blake Snell and Joe Musgrove this offseason. The Dodgers aren't starved for starting pitching with Walker Bueler, Clayton Kershaw, Dustin May and Julio Urias, but they can't afford to rest on their laurels with the Padres on their heels in the NL West. 

After reportedly completing a three-team trade to acquire former Pittsburgh Pirates righty Joe Musgrove, the San Diego Padres aren't done making moves this offseason. 

According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Padres are still attempting to re-sign infielder/outfielder Jurickson Profar, who spent 2020 with them after he was acquired in a trade with the Oakland Athletics.

In the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, Profar hit .278/.343/.428 with seven home runs and 25 RBI for San Diego. 

The Padres could be in need of Profar after sending "a large package of prospects" to the Pirates in the trade that landed Musgrove, as the deal is believed to include center fielder Hudson Head, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan.

Prior to joining the Padres, Profar spent 2019 with Oakland, where he crossed the plate 65 times and brought in 67 runs, a year after he posted career-best statistics in his final year with the Texas Rangers. In 2018, his fifth and final season in Arlington, Profar hit .254/.335/.458 with 82 runs and 77 RBI. 

Once considered the No. 1 prospect league-wide, Profar has had an average career, with a .238 batting average across 1,796 at-bats. 

In December, Passan reported that the Kansas City Royals were also interested in Profar. Wherever he ends up, his youth (just 28 years old) and versatility as a switch-hitter and utility man will make him a solider  addition. 

The Los Angeles Dodgers are reportedly still exploring their infield options for the 2021 campaign, and that could mean signing free agent Marcus Semien.

According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the fact the Dodgers did not sign DJ LeMahieu "seemingly would point to a reunion with free-agent third baseman Justin Turner."

However, Rosenthal noted the defending champions also have a list of infield alternatives that includes Semien.

While Semien is traditionally a shortstop, he could play third base or act as a utility option for the Dodgers since Corey Seager is entrenched in the shortstop spot.

How much weight teams put into the shortened 2020 campaign that was played during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the full 2019 season could go a long way toward determining Semien's market.

He was a key difference-maker for the Oakland Athletics in 2019 and slashed .285/.369/.522 with 33 home runs, 92 RBI and 10 stolen bases. He was also responsible for 12 defensive runs saved at shortstop, per FanGraphs. 

However, his numbers dropped across the board in the shortened 2020 season with a .223/.305/.374 slash line, seven home runs, 23 RBI and four stolen bases. The smaller sample size gave him less time to work out of slumps and accumulate numbers, but he was also responsible for minus-five defensive runs saved.

There may be some concerns about Semien's defense now that he is 30 years old, but he would have less ground to cover at third base if the Dodgers signed him as an alternative to Turner.

It is also fair to wonder if the 2019 season was more of an aberration than the norm for Semien, who posted career-high marks in batting average, home runs and RBI. Still, he blasted 27 home runs in 2016 and offers power at a shortstop position that doesn't always have long-ball threats.

He might not be Turner, but he is a viable backup option for the Dodgers should they choose to go that route.

The Los Angeles Dodgers and former National League MVP Cody Bellinger have agreed to a contract for the 2021 season. 

Per MLB Network's Jon Heyman, Bellinger will earn $16.1 million from the Dodgers after the two sides settled on a deal in arbitration. 

This is the second year of arbitration eligibility for Bellinger. His $11.5 million salary last season was the highest of any first-year arbitration player in Major League Baseball history.

Since being called up by the Dodgers in April 2017, Bellinger has established himself as an essential part of the team's success and one of the best players in MLB. He was named NL Rookie of the Year after hitting 39 homers with a .933 OPS in 139 games. 

After a decent-but-not-spectacular 2018, Bellinger took the NL by storm the following year. The Arizona native hit .305/.406/.629 with 47 homers and 115 RBI. He won the NL MVP award, a Silver Slugger and Gold Glove award. 

Last year saw Bellinger get off to a slow start before finishing with a .284/.395/.523 slash line over the final 30 regular-season games. He hit the game-tying homer in the seventh inning of Game 7 in the NLCS against the Atlanta Braves to help the Dodgers reach the World Series. 

The Dodgers won their first championship since 1988 last season. They defeated the Tampa Bay Rays in six games in the Fall Classic.