MLB Rumors: 2 Bold Predictions for the NL West

The National League West Division was dominated by the San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers last season. They were above and beyond the talent of any other team within and in 2022 the likes of the San Diego Padres, Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks are going to be hard pressed to make up any ground. Let's examine a couple of bold predictions that we see happening in 2022.

Diamondbacks Continue to Sell Assets, Make Another Trade

Look for another trade to come out of the desert as the Diamondbacks will end up trading their best player, Ketel Marte. There's already a ton of interest in the 28-year-old as he's a shining star only making $8 million in 2022 and also has two club options for 2023 and 2024. Any team acquiring him gets some service time and team control and considering how versatile and talented he is, the Diamondbacks must hit on this trade to stock the cupboards with prospects once again. Arizona lost 110 games last season, crazy to think it could get worse in 2022.

Dodgers Walker Buehler Wins NL Cy Young Award

Move over Max Scherzer and Clayton Kershaw, Buehler is here to take over as the prolific #1 starter in LA blue. Ever since he arrived on the scene in 2018 he's been electrifying and that's going to continue in 2022, so much so he takes home the top pitching honor in the national league. At 27 years old he's now smack dab in the middle of his prime and last season he finished fourth in Cy Young voting after a 16-4 record with a 2.47 ERA and 212 punch outs in 207.2 innings. Prediction is Buehler comes in at 19-5 next season and continues to whiff batters on way to capturing the 2022 NL Cy Young award.

ERA Leaders since 2018 (min. 350 IP)

1. Jacob deGrom - 1.94 ERA
2. Justin Verlander - 2.56
3. Max Scherzer - 2.74
4. Walker Buehler - 2.82
5. Gerrit Cole - 2.85
6. Mike Clevinger - 2.91
7. Clayton Kershaw - 2.96
8. Hyun-Jin Ryu - 3.00
— Colby Olson (@colby_olson3) December 26, 2021