NL West

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Arizona Diamondbacks
Team Needs: Starting pitching
Arizona benefits from having a number of young bodies ready to play in its everyday lineup. It isn't dire on the mound, but the team lacks depth behind Cy Young contender Brandon Webb. The Diamondbacks could use another consistent starter instead of the middling ones you find yourself hoping will have a good day.

Colorado Rockies
Team Needs: Center fielder
It will be easier for the Rockies to stomach Yorvit Torrealba and Chris Iannetta at catcher than swallow their current center-field situation. Colorado has three potentially productive outfielders in Matt Holliday, Brad Hawpe and Jeff Baker, but none is an ideal choice to cover all that ground in center at Coors Field. With their starting pitching healthier than it has ever been -- a fortunate thing in a tight market for arms -- the Rockies may close their eyes and pray for a true center fielder who can hit a bit.

Los Angeles Dodgers
Team Needs: Cleanup hitter
Despite finishing 15th in the NL in home runs, the Dodgers finished third in slugging percentage. But the power core (Nomar Garciaparra, J.D. Drew, Jeff Kent) is aging, testing free agency or both. With young Matt Kemp expected to get further seasoning in the minors, the Dodgers need to fill the gap -- though it's not impossible the team will also make a play for Ramirez at third base and try to solve their outfield dilemma with a trade.

San Diego Padres
Team Needs: Power-hitting second baseman or outfielder
For most of 2006, the lacuna near Laguna was third base, where Vinny Castilla, Mark Bellhorn and Geoff Blum all stumblebummed. After the Padres traded Josh Barfield for Kevin Kouzmanoff on Wednesday, second base fell into the gap. It's also worth noting that free agent Dave Roberts, who had the best year of his career, is not expected back in left field, leaving a vacancy in an outfield in which Brian Giles also showed signs of aging.

San Francisco Giants
Team Needs: Um, almost everything?
If the Giants let free agents Barry Bonds and Ray Durham follow Moises Alou out of San Francisco, no returning San Francisco starter will have an above-average OPS. And with Jason Schmidt also going through free agency, Matt Cain and Brad Hennessey are the Giants' only remaining starting pitchers with park-adjusted ERAs better than the MLB average. Shortstop Omar Vizquel and catcher Eliezer Alfonso can hold down their positions, and there are some maturing prospects, but the team needs help.

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