NL West Notes: Dahl, D-Backs, Padres

After a lost season due to a stress reaction in his rib cage, Rockies outfielder David Dahl has been cleared to begin swinging a bat, per Thomas Harding of MLB.com. The 23-year-old Dahl, a longtime top prospect, turned heads with a .315/.359/.500 slash in 63 games as a rookie in 2016, but his injury prevented him from logging a single game in 2017. A November MRI, however, revealed that Dahl’s injury has finally healed completely, according to Harding. Dahl has since been performing rotational exercises and building muscle mass as a means of strengthening the problematic area and avoiding similar issues in 2018. Dahl explains to Harding that he attempted to work back numerous times in 2017, but while he’d feel strong after two to three weeks of rest at a time, his symptoms would resurface upon ramping up workouts. Dahl also details changes to his diet and nutrition, both with an eye toward maintaining muscle mass, that he feels will help him stay healthy and emerge as a factor for the Rockies.

Elsewhere in the division…

• Diamondbacks general manager Mike Hazen tells Steve Gilbert of MLB.com that he doesn’t feel his offseason work is done yet. While Hazen states that there’s no signing or trade imminent, he also notes that he’s still actively exploring both markets and feels there’s room for additions to his Major League roster. Gilbert notes that multiple teams have approached the D-backs about lefty Patrick Corbin, who will be a free agent next winter and comes with a projected arbitration salary of $8.3MM. Moving Corbin or right-hander Zack Greinke would free up the D-backs to spend more on the free agent market. Gilbert notes that the Diamondbacks are keeping an eye out for a potential long-term option at catcher and is also on the lookout for depth in the outfield.
• The Padres have been stockpiling rotation options for the coming season but are reluctant to commit to much in 2019 and beyond, writes MLB.com’s AJ Cassavell (hence the decision not to re-sign Jhoulys Chacin). The Friars already have Clayton Richard signed through 2019, with Dinelson Lamet, Luis Perdomo and Bryan Mitchell all representing cost-effective long-term options as well. With that group in place and prospects like Cal Quantrill, Eric Lauer, Joey Lucchesi and Jacob Nix in Double-A (plus Matt Strahm, Colin Rea and Robbie Erlin returning from injury), the Padres indeed are well-stocked with long-term potential. Cassavell notes that the Padres, who’ve also recently agreed to offseason deals with Jordan Lyles (on a big league deal), Tyson Ross (minor league deal) and Chris Young (minor league deal), are weighing a six-man rotation in 2018 and beyond.