Ringolsby: Expect NL West free-for-all

A year ago, the National League West was the talk of baseball and getting consideration as a division ready to dominate.So much for that idea.Now, the NL West is a division in transition, a division that needed the Dodgers' September surge to get one team to .500.It is a division in which every team, except for San Diego, is considered a contender for 2009 because each team has so many uncertainties.The defending champion Dodgers have 13 potential free agents, including starting pitchers Derek Lowe, Greg Maddux and Brad Penny, outfielder Manny Ramirez, second baseman Jeff Kent, shortstop Rafael Furcal and third baseman Casey Blake.That leaves them looking for at least two starting pitchers, a second baseman, shortstop, third baseman and left fielder, although they would like to bring back Ramirez, even though he is better suited as a designated hitter in the AL.The Colorado Rockies are ready to give up the two big bats in the middle of their lineup, left fielder Matt Holliday and third baseman Garrett Atkins, after deciding they can't work out long-term deals.But they believe they have in-house options to fill those spots and that they can win the division if they add quality pitching in their offseason dealings. They will at least kick the tires on second baseman Orlando Hudson in checking out answers for their leadoff questions.Arizona, trying to regroup from a September slide into oblivion, must be realistic about its pitching shortcomings. The Diamondbacks do expect pitcher Max Scherzer to step into the rotation but need more than that. While Brandon Webb and Dan Haren were a combined 38-15 with a 3.31 ERA, the rest of the starters were 27-37 with a 4.47 ERA. The bullpen never recovered from baseball's worst trade of last winter, closer Jose Valverde going to Houston for bit players.The Giants have the best rotation in the division and a solid closer, Brian Wilson, but the rest of the bullpen is a mess. San Francisco's youth movement has only begun on offense, although it did produce Pablo Sandoval and Emmanuel Burris in 2008.The Giants have to add a legitimate run producer to take middle-of-the-lineup pressure off Bengie Molina and Aaron Rowand, but talk of signing Pat Burrell is bizarre, considering his defensive limitations and the size of left field at AT&T Park.The Padres are falling victim to the pending divorce of owner John Moores, who might sell at least 49 percent of the team as part of his settlement. As a result, club officials are trying to cut payroll below $40 million, which is why they expect to trade right-hander Jake Peavy, guaranteed $43 million during the next three years, and shortstop Khalil Greene.What doesn't compute is talk they will exercise a $9 million option on outfielder Brian Giles instead of paying the $3 million buyout.INFIELD CHATTER-- Right-hander Junichi Tazawa, 22, who went undrafted in his native Japan after making it known he wanted to pitch in the United States, is being pursued by Boston, Atlanta, Seattle, the Chicago Cubs, Detroit, Florida and Philadelphia.-- Right-hander Derek Lowe has told Boston media he'd like to return to the Red Sox. He also is a priority for the Mets.-- Outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. could return to Seattle, where he would primarily DH and get a chance to end his career where he began -- and where he now realizes he would have been better off if he hadn't forced a trade.OUT IN LEFT FIELDFor all the talk about economic concerns, it was more than ironic major league general managers held their annual meeting this week at the St. Regis Monarch Beach in Dana Point, Calif.Sound familiar?Well, that's the hotel where AIG held its controversial weekend gathering shortly after its September bailout approval. AIG reportedly spent $440,000 for its adventure.CLOSING STATEMENTBobby Valentine is pushing for the Seattle job in his bid for a third managerial opportunity in the big leagues.Valentine's contract with the Chiba Lotte Marines gives him until Nov. 20 to decide if he will return for next season or come back to the big leagues.New Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik knows Valentine from when both were with the Mets, and Valentine has caught the eye of the Mariners' Japanese ownership with his work with Chiba Lotte.A sleeper for the job is Boston pitching coach John Farrell, who was given strong recommendations to ownership as a possible general manager.Zduriencik won't even start interviewing candidates until next week. He said he had more than 30 names on his initial wish list but most likely will interview five to seven. As former scouting director in Milwaukee, he is familiar with Ned Yost, and last month, Zduriencik sat in on the Brewers' managerial interviews with Willie Randolph.CHARTING KEY FREE AGENTS-- Manny Ramirez, OF.Possible suitors: Dodgers, Blue Jays, Yankees, Mets.Comment: Agent Scott Boras is talking six years.-- Francisco Rodriguez, RHP.Possible suitors: Angels, Mets.Comment: Five-year deal likely.CC Sabathia, LHP.Possible suitors: Angels, Brewers, Yankees, Mets, Red Sox.Comment: Prefers West Coast.-- Brian Fuentes, LHP.Possible suitors: Mets, Rays, Indians, Tigers, Angels, Rangers, Cardinals.Comment: Four-year hopes.-- Orlando Hudson, 2B.Possible suitors: Cubs, Cardinals, Rockies, White Sox.Comment: Sleeper on market.NUMBERS GAME-- 173-190. W-L record for Tony Gwynn (including 31-28 last season) in six years as baseball coach at San Diego State. The Hall of Famer signed a three-year contract extension with the Aztecs, with whom he was an All-Western Athletic Conference selection in basketball and baseball.BACK TO HIS ROOTSFormer Philadelphia scouting director Mike Arbuckle, who resigned when he was bypassed in favor of Ruben Amaro to replace retiring general manager Pat Gillick, is expected to surface in Kansas City's front office.Arbuckle is a Missouri resident and, like Royals general manager Dayton Moore, is a product of Atlanta's front office.HE SAID IT"Now I not only have to answer to (owner) Jerry Reinsdorf about pitching, I have to answer to the president. It's one thing when he would ask me about pitching as a senator, but now he's going to ask the question as President. ... I have to answer to the highest office now."-- Kenny Williams, White Sox general manager, on President-elect Barack Obama, a White Sox fan.(Tracy Ringolsby writes for the Rocky Mountain News in Denver, Colo. E-mail ringolsbyt(at)RockyMountainNews.com.)