NL West

The San Francisco Giants are expected to be among the most aggressive teams in the free-agent market this winter, with Aaron Judge and Trea Turner among their targets.

Bob Nightengale of USA Today wrote the Giants are "willing to do anything for a return to the postseason."

“We do have the flexibility to be involved in every possible option on the table," Giants president Farhan Zaidi said.

The Giants were 13th in payroll for the 2022 season and finished the year with baseball's highest salary total on the injured list. Carlos Rodón ($21.5 million), Brandon Belt ($18.4 million), Evan Longoria ($14.5 million), Alex Wood ($12.5 million) and Anthony DeSclafani ($12 million) all finished the 2022 campaign out of the lineup.

The salaries of Belt and (likely) Longoria will be coming off the books, giving an already-lean salary sheet an even bigger opportunity to improve.

Judge and Turner are the crowned jewels of the MLB free-agent class, with both almost certainly looking at $300-plus million in guarantees on the open market. Judge set the American League record with 62 home runs during the regular season and grew up in California.

"There's a pot of gold there," Yankees general manager Brian Cashman told reporters of Judge. "It's yet to be determined what the gold—how much it weighs—but it's a pot of gold, no doubt about it. So good for him. It was already a big pot and, obviously, it'll be bigger."

Turner is arguably the sport's most complete shortstop, posting back-to-back 20-20 sesaons before hitting free agency for the first time. Nightengale noted Turner may be interested in returning to the East Coast, which may raise his price among the West Coast teams looking to ink him to a long-term contract.

The Giants have holes across their roster, so it would not be a surprise if they switched gears and focused on adding depth across the roster if they strike out on the biggest names.

The New York Mets are under the most pressure of the eight Wild Card Series participants.

The Mets blew a 10.5-game lead over the Atlanta Braves in the National League East and now have to play the San Diego Padres at home just to get into the NLDS, where they would then face the Los Angeles Dodgers.

New York's recent losses in Atlanta put the franchise in a precarious situation and potentially on the brink of 2022 being labeled a huge disappointment.

The Mets tried to replicate Atlanta's trade deadline strategy from 2021, as they brought in some role players to bolster their lineup. Tyler Naquin, Daniel Vogelbach and Darin Ruf have been disappointing. Meanwhile San Diego's top trade acquisition, Juan Soto, is heating up at the right time.

WFAN's Gregg Giannotti delivered an honest take on where the Mets stand going into the three-game set that begins on Friday at Citi Field.

"What did the Padres do at the trade deadline? Went all in. What did the Mets do? Got a bunch of tomato cans"

Boomer says Billy Eppler will be grilled if the Mets can't beat the Padres:https://t.co/tSc8seo088

— WFAN Sports Radio (@WFAN660) October 5, 2022

“Pressure’s on, because they have the highest payroll in baseball,” Gio said. “I know the Padres spent a lot of money and are gonna spend even more money on Juan Soto. What did the Padres do at the trade deadline? Went all in. What did the Mets do? Got a bunch of tomato cans and tried to piece the whole thing together with duct tape and string."

The Mets may be using a different strategy than other teams would. Saving Jacob deGrom's arm is under consideration, per Joel Sherman of the New York Post.

"If this plan is used, Scherzer would start Friday night’s opener and—if the Mets win and, thus, do not face elimination Saturday—Chris Bassitt would start Game 2.

"If the Mets lose the opener, the strategy would be to start deGrom in Game 2 to try to avoid elimination. If the Mets win the opener, but then lose Game 2, deGrom would start Game 3 to attempt to save their season," Sherman wrote.

The Mets can utilize this plan because they have Max Scherzer and Bassitt ready to pitch Games 1 and 2 in the best-case scenario. SNY's Danny Abriano outlined how resting deGrom could help the Mets in their potential NLDS matchup with the Dodgers.

This is what I suggested a few days ago and wrote about at length yesterday

If Mets do this and beat Padres in 2 games, they would not only have Jacob deGrom for Game 1 and Game 5 against Dodgers in NLDS, but possibly have Scherzer in relief in Game 5 https://t.co/CDSvBjsXPJ

— Danny Abriano (@DannyAbriano) October 5, 2022

The New York Post's Zach Braziller pronounced that a sweep is needed for the Mets to best contend with the Dodgers due to their potential rotation issues.

If #Mets want to make a run, they really need to sweep Padres and avoid using all three of deGrom, Scherzer and Bassitt. Otherwise, Game 1 of NLDS against the Dodgers is Walker/Carrasco. If they sweep, No. 4 starter doesn't pitch until Game 4.

— Zach Braziller (@NYPost_Brazille) October 5, 2022

New York's problem could be hitting off Yu Darvish, who was dominant in two meetings against the NL East side this season, as Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune noted:

Padres won two of three from the Mets in both series they played this season.
Padres faced Max Scherzer once and did not face Jacob deGrom.
In the game in which they beat Scherzer, Eric Hosmer and Trent Grisham homered.
Yu Darvish allowed Mets 1 run in 14 IP in two starts.

— Kevin Acee (@sdutKevinAcee) October 5, 2022

Darvish could be followed by Joe Musgrove or Blake Snell. Padres Radio Network host Sammy Levitt outlined how terrific Musgrove was on the mound this season and how bright San Diego's future is with him in the rotation .

Joe Musgrove's final stats in the regular season during 30 starts:

10-7
2.93 ERA
1.08 WHIP
181 IP
154 H
22 HR
184 K
42 BB
.227 opp. BA

...and a 5-year, $100 million extension with his hometown team.

A very impressive year. Padres fans should be excited for what's to come.

— Sammy Levitt (@SammyLev) October 4, 2022

The Mets also have to deal with Soto, who had plenty of success against them while he was with the Washington Nationals. Ben Fletcher of 760 AM in San Diego pointed out those totals.

Juan Soto career numbers vs. the Mets…

.303 BA, 71 H, 16 HR, 42 RBI, 40 R,

In 68 career games vs. the Mets.

— Ben Fletcher (@Fletchsports) October 5, 2022

Soto actually has worse numbers after the trade deadline compared to Daniel Vogelbach, as Ian O'Connor of the New York Post showed us:

Stunning Mets-Padres stat comparison, post trade-deadline:

Daniel Vogelbach, 145 At-Bats: 6 HR, 25 RBI, .441 SLG, .838 OPS

Juan Soto, 179 At-Bats: 6 HR, 16 RBI, .397 SLG, .790 OPS

— Ian O'Connor (@Ian_OConnor) October 5, 2022

Soto was acquired specifically to bolster San Diego's postseason stock, and he could help the Padres get past the Mets in a series that will likely be decided by one or two swings given how strong the pitchers are on both sides.

The San Diego Padres clinched a berth in the 2022 postseason after the Milwaukee Brewers fell to the Miami Marlins 4-3 on Sunday.

San Diego's in!

The @padres are going to play in the postseason. #CLINCHED pic.twitter.com/4SfVWpKyT3

— MLB (@MLB) October 2, 2022

Petco Park erupts as the Marlins beat the Brewers, securing the Padres’ spot in the postseason! pic.twitter.com/iLW7j8ClS5

— Sammy Levitt (@SammyLev) October 2, 2022

San Diego is currently second in the NL West with an 87-71 record.

The Padres have trailed the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West standings all season, but their performance was more than enough to clinch a berth in the NL Wild Card Round.

That said, San Diego hasn't had the easiest of seasons.

It began the year without star shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr., who was recovering from wrist surgery following a reported motorcycle accident.

When Tatis returned on a rehab stint with one of San Diego's minor league affiliates in August, MLB announced he had been suspended for 80 games because of a violation of the league's performance-enhancing drug policy.

The 23-year-old tested positive for the performance-enhancing drug Clostebol. In an apology, he said he was using a medication that contained the substance to treat a ringworm infection.

Ha-Seong Kim has replaced Tatis at shortstop and put together a respectable season, slashing .247/.321/.374 with 10 home runs, 56 RBI and 11 stolen bases in 147 games.

A number of other players have missed time on the injured list with various ailments, including Mike Clevinger, Blake Snell, Wil Myers and Manny Machado, and a handful of players missed time on the COVID-19 list.

One of the most significant aspects of San Diego's season came when it made a blockbuster move for Juan Soto and Josh Bell, though the deal hardly came cheap. In exchange, it sent the Washington Nationals left-handed pitcher MacKenzie Gore, outfielder Robert Hassell III, shortstop C.J. Abrams, outfielder James Wood, right-handed pitcher Jarlin Susana and first baseman/designated hitter Luke Voit.

Soto has had a decent season in San Diego, hitting .238/.394/.401 with six home runs and 16 RBI in 49 games.

Bell, meanwhile, took over for Eric Hosmer, who was traded to the Boston Red Sox at the deadline, at first base. The 30-year-old is hitting .189/.305/.272 with three home runs and 13 RBI in 49 games. He'll need to be better if the Friars want to make a deep postseason run.

Other key contributors for the Padres include Machado, Jake Cronenworth and Jurickson Profar.

The Padres have the tools to win a championship, but it's going to be difficult for them to compete with teams like the Dodgers and New York Mets in the National League.

Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw hasn't decided on whether or not he'll return for the 2023 season, but he's at least considering it.

"As of now, I haven’t really thought a whole lot about next year," Kershaw said, per Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times. "But I do think I’m leaning towards playing over not, for sure."

Kershaw added: "I hold the right to change my mind, but as of today, I think that I’ve got at least one more run."

Kershaw spent much of the second half of the 2021 season, including the playoffs, dealing with a left elbow ailment. He avoided Tommy John surgery and opted to have a platelet-rich plasma injection instead, which resulted in a lengthy recovery.

Because of the elbow injury, it was unclear if Kershaw would return for the 2022 campaign or opt to retire. He ended up signing a one-year deal to return to the Dodgers in March, telling reporters that he knew he was going to return if his elbow felt fine.

"Once I got healthy, it was no secret—I was either gonna go play in Texas or stay here." Kershaw said.

Kershaw has spent his entire 15-year career with the Dodgers, but at 34 years old and as injuries continuing to hamper him, there have been questions about his future beyond the 2022 season.

However, the three-time Cy Young winner has been solid when healthy. He has started 20 games this season, posting a 10-3 record with a 2.42 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 124 strikeouts in 115.1 innings.

Kershaw will also be a significant piece in the team's rotation during the postseason, anchoring a unit that includes Julio Urías, Tyler Anderson, Tony Gonsolin and Andrew Heaney.

The Dodgers already locked up the NL West crown and sit first in the division with a 106-47 record.

If the Kershaw does opt to retire this winter, he'll go down as one of the best pitchers to ever take the mound. In addition to winning three Cy Young awards, he has won the MVP award, the Triple Crown, a Gold Glove, five ERA titles and a World Series title.

In 399 games across 15 seasons, the left-hander has posted a 195-87 record with a 2.49 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 2,794 strikeouts across 2,570 innings.

Barring any miscalculations by Major League Baseball, the Los Angeles Dodgers will have home-field advantage in the National League postseason for the first time since 2019.

The Dodgers clinched the NL's best record with Sunday's 4-1 win over the St. Louis Cardinals. They also made history in the process as the first team ever with at least 106 regular-season wins in three straight full seasons:

Teams to win 106+ games in 3 straight full seasons:

2019-22 Dodgers

That's it, that's the list.

— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) September 25, 2022

Los Angeles became the first team to clinch a playoff berth this season, though it came 24 hours after the initial announcement.

The Dodgers thought they made the postseason after an 11-2 win over the San Diego Padres on Sept. 11. The following day, MLB announced an internal error in calculating its clinching scenarios, so the Dodgers' previous celebration was for naught.

A 6-0 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sept. 12 officially put the Dodgers in the playoffs. It also lowered their magic number to win the NL West to one.

This marks the 10th consecutive year the Dodgers will compete for a World Series in October, extending the longest playoff streak in franchise history. The Houston Astros and New York Yankees are the only other MLB teams that have an active streak of at least five years.

The sole instance during this run that the Dodgers didn't win the NL West was in 2021. Their 106 wins were tied for the most in franchise history and set an MLB record for most victories by a team that didn't win a division title.

The Dodgers have been even better so far this season. Their 106-47 record is 5.5 games better than any other team in MLB (Astros: 101-53). Their plus-322 run differential is 96 runs better than the No. 2 team (Yankees, plus-226).

They lead MLB in runs scored (812) and runs allowed (490). Their .693 winning percentage is on pace to be the best in franchise history in a 162-game season. They went 43-17 (.717) during the 2020 season that was shortened on account of the COVID-19 pandemic.

As if that weren't enough to underscore how dominant they have been, there's a chance the Dodgers will end up with the NL MVP (Mookie Betts), Cy Young winner (Julio Urias) and Manager of the Year (Dave Roberts) when season awards are handed out in November.

The Dodgers are going to be heavy favorites to represent the NL in the World Series, even with the New York Mets, Atlanta Braves and St. Louis Cardinals being very formidable.

While there's still some work to be done before the end of the regular season, the road to the Fall Classic will go through Los Angeles in the playoffs.

Colorado Rockies outfielder Kris Bryant revealed Saturday that he will not return for the remainder of the 2022 season due to a foot injury.

Bryant said, per MLB.com's Thomas Harding:

"The goal was to end the year with striders, at about 30% with the movement -- and I'm ahead of that, which is good. I wanted to get as close to being able to play a game as I could, because then I can formulate an offseason approach that's better.

"If we were in the playoff hunt, I probably would have pushed through and got a cortisone shot. The PRP is more healing, while cortisone masks the pain."

Bryant missed time earlier this season with back soreness and a lower-back strain but has been sidelined since Aug. 1 with plantar fasciitis and a bone bruise in his right foot. He received a platelet-rich plasma injection in his foot on Aug. 24.

The 30-year-old signed a seven-year, $182 million deal with the Rockies in March after spending most of his career with the Chicago Cubs. He was traded from the Cubs to the San Francisco Giants during the 2021 campaign.

Bryant has been mostly healthy through his eight-year career, appearing in at least 144 games in five seasons.

However, the four-time All-Star appeared in just 42 games this season. When healthy, he played well, though, slashing .306/.376/.475 with five home runs and 14 RBI.

With Bryant sidelined for much of the season, the Rockies have turned to Connor Joe and Yonathan Daza in left field.

The Rockies are 65-86 and sit in fifth place in the National League West. Should they contend next season, Colorado will need a healthy Bryant.

Craig Kimbrel will no longer serve as the Los Angeles Dodgers' closer, manager Dave Roberts told reporters Friday.

"I don’t know," Roberts said when asked if Kimbrel would return to being the team's closer in the postseason. "I think that’s where we’re at right now. Nothing is cemented but we think that’s the best way to go about it right now."

Kimbrel, an eight-time All-Star, has struggled in his first season with the Dodgers, posting a 4.14 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 65 strikeouts in 54.1 innings across 46 appearances. He has also blown five saves.

For reference, the right-hander has a career 2.33 ERA, and his 394 career saves lead all active pitchers.

The last straw for Kimbrel came in Thursday's game against the Arizona Diamondbacks when he gave up the go-ahead home run in the top of the ninth inning before his teammates rallied in the bottom half of the inning for a 3-2 win.

"The stuff is starting to slide a little bit, the fastball velocity," Roberts said after Thursday’s game. "I’ve just got to continue to look at this. We’ve got to have our best guys at the back end."

The Dodgers acquired Kimbrel in a trade that sent A.J. Pollock to the Chicago White Sox. He is in the final year of his contract, earning $16 million this season. The 34-year-old was acquired to replace Kenley Jansen, who signed with the Atlanta Braves in the offseason.

It's unclear who the Dodgers will turn to in the ninth inning moving forward. They have Alex Vesia, Evan Phillips, Caleb Ferguson, Chris Martin, Brusdar Graterol, Tommy Kahnle and Phil Bickford available out of the pen.

The Dodgers have already locked up a playoff spot and the NL West title, sitting first in the division with a 104-46 record, the best mark in baseball.

Major League Baseball's single-season home run record holder is rooting for Aaron Judge to surpass his mark and leave the New York Yankees in free agency.

In a phone interview with Barry M. Bloom of Sportico, Barry Bonds said he would like Judge to "go for" his record of 73 homers and then see the San Francisco Giants land him via free agency in the offseason.

"I hope he signs here," Bonds said. "Can it happen? I don't know. It depends on what the Yankee payroll is. But we would love to have him, I'll tell you that."

Judge has hit 60 home runs with 13 games remaining in the regular season. He became the sixth player in MLB history to reach 60 homers with his solo shot in the ninth inning of Tuesday's 9-8 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Bonds set his mark in 2001. The seven-time National League MVP didn't seem like he was too protective of the record in his interview with Bloom.

"The way [Judge] swings, he might as well hit one a day and get past me," Bonds said. "I don't care. Why not?"

Judge needs to hit two more homers to break Roger Maris' American League record of 61, which the Yankee set in 1961. While Judge's pursuit of history is on everyone's mind right now, his pending free agency is hovering over the Yankees.

There's no doubt Judge has increased his value and leverage with his performance. The four-time All-Star is the favorite to win the AL MVP Award and could command $300 million.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman told reporters before the start of the season that Judge had rejected the team's contract offer of $213.5 million over seven years. The deal would have been paired with the $17 million the team offered in arbitration for 2022.

Per Spotrac, the Giants have $103 million in allocated payroll next season. They could look to make a splash this offseason after a disappointing 2022.

After winning an MLB-high 107 games last season, the Giants are 73-77 and trail the San Diego Padres by 7.5 games for the final NL playoff spot.

Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Daniel Hudson's season may have ended prematurely because of a torn ACL, but he won't be going anywhere next season.

According to ESPN's Jeff Passan, the Dodgers have exercised Hudson's $6.5 million option for 2023 and will have a club option worth the same amount for 2024.

Hudson has been on the injured list since he tore his left ACL in a game against the Atlanta Braves on June 24. He was attempting to field a dribbler hit by Ronald Acuna Jr. when his knee buckled. His recovery was expected to take six to nine months.

Prior to his injury, Hudson was the Dodgers' best setup reliever. The 35-year-old had a 2.22 ERA, a 0.90 WHIP, 30 strikeouts and five saves in 25 appearances this season. This is Hudson's second stint in Los Angeles, as he also made 40 appearances for the Dodgers in the 2018 season before he was shut down because of an arm injury.

A 13-year veteran, Hudson made his MLB debut in 2009 for the Chicago White Sox. He has also pitched for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Pittsburgh Pirates, Toronto Blue Jays, Washington Nationals and San Diego Padres.

During the early part of his seven-season run in Arizona, Hudson was primarily a starting pitcher, winning 16 games in 33 starts in 2011. But he underwent Tommy John surgery the following year, which led to his transition to the bullpen.

Hudson was a member of Washington's 2019 World Series squad, finishing off Game 7 against the Houston Astros to secure the Nationals' first championship in franchise history.

By keeping Hudson in the fold, the Dodgers are fortifying their bullpen for the future as they attempt to maintain their status as perennial World Series contenders.

The San Francisco Giants announced Wednesday that franchise legend Buster Posey joined the MLB club's ownership group as a principal partner and member of the board of directors.

"I feel deeply connected to the Giants and the San Francisco Bay Area and hope that my perspective as a former player will be beneficial in growing the game and assisting the organization to build the next championship team both on and off the field," Posey said. "I have always had such great respect for the ownership group, many of whom I've gotten to know through the years, who provided the support for me and my teammates to achieve the successes we did. I also believe that I can learn so much by surrounding myself with business leaders who have been at the top of their respective industries."

The 35-year-old former catcher played his entire career with the Giants, who selected him with the fifth pick in the 2008 draft. His list of accolades includes seven All-Star selections, three World Series titles, the 2010 NL Rookie of the Year Award and the 2012 NL MVP award. His on-field career ended with his retirement last November.

Today, the #SFGiants announced three-time World Series Champion and seven-time All-Star Buster Posey has become a member of the ownership group. This marks the first time that a former player has joined the organization as a principal partner and member of the Board of Directors. pic.twitter.com/KzmgDRkk3a

— SFGiants (@SFGiants) September 21, 2022

Posey's decision to hang up his cleats came as somewhat of a surprise since his final season was one of his best. He compiled an .889 OPS, the second-highest mark of his career, with 18 home runs across 113 games in 2021.

The Georgia native also accomplished the rare feat of remaining a primary catcher while playing into his mid-30s. Many backstops switch to first base or designated hitter in the latter stages. He made 106 appearances behind the dish for San Francisco last year.

He should be inducted in the Baseball Hall of Fame shortly after he becomes eligible in 2026, perhaps even on the first ballot.

"The reason I'm retiring is I want to be able to do more stuff from February to November with my family," Posey told reporters when he announced his retirement.

He added: "Physically, it's much harder now. And to be honest, it's hard to enjoy it as much when there's physical pain that you're dealing with on a daily basis."

Now he'll be tasked with helping the Giants regain their status as a perennial championship contender. Since winning three titles in a five-year span (2010-14), they've qualified for the playoffs just twice in seven years, and they'll soon be eliminated from this year's postseason race barring an unprecedented late-season surge.

"Upon his retirement last year, Buster said that he would always stay involved with the organization and when he approached us to express his interest in joining the ownership group, we were thrilled that he wanted to make this type of commitment," Giants chairman Greg Johnson said. "It is rare for a former player to join his own team’s ownership with the desire to have an active role."

Posey becomes the 31st principal partner in San Francisco Baseball Associates LLC, the club's ownership group. Spotrac estimated the catcher earned $153.9 million during his playing career.

In March, the Giants ranked fifth on Forbes' annual list of MLB team valuations with a projected value of $3.5 billion, a 10 percent increase from 2021.