Dodgers know the D-backs are trying to knock them off their throne

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Zack Greinke throws to the plate during the third inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Sunday, June 7, 2015, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

The Arizona Diamondbacks have made it clear this offseason that they're eager to top the NL West, a sentiment that is well understood by the defending division champion Los Angeles Dodgers.

"They've been aggressive, doing everything they can to try to knock us off from the three straight division titles and they've made a lot of good, aggressive moves, and we're going to do everything we can to finish the regular season where we did the last three seasons," Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said.

In addition to signing former Dodger ace Zack Greinke -- a move that sent shockwaves throughout the industry -- the D-backs have also acquired young righty Shelby Miller to add to their rotation, arming them with two of the best right-handers in the National League.

While Arizona has been aggressive, the Dodgers have experienced a relatively quiet offseason so far.

Apart from signing free-agent starter Hisashi Iwakuma and re-signing veteran infielder Chase Utley, Los Angeles hasn't been very active, due in part to the thwarting of a trade to acquire Cincinnati Reds closer Aroldis Chapman -- which may have been the beginning of a series of trades the Dodgers' front office was planning -- because of domestic abuse allegations.

While the Winter Meetings are a good time for teams to move parts around, Friedman says he doesn't feel particularly compelled to make a deal merely because Winter Meetings are in session.

"It's never been important to me, a certain magic about these four days as opposed to days and weeks after," he said. "What it's about is what it looks like in April."

Although the Dodgers need a few additions -- particularly to their bullpen and starting rotation -- in order to contend for a championship in 2016, Friedman believes he has the core intact to do something special next season.

"We're really excited about the core we have in place, we feel it's a championship-caliber core and we continue to build around and add," he said. "Some additions happen in the offseason, some in July, some are near-term, some are long-term. But we feel good about the group we have and excited about the next couple months."