Free agent preview: Arizona Diamondbacks
The Diamondbacks have already had an eventful offseason. They traded Chris Young for Heath Bell and Cliff Pennington, and exercised their option on JJ Putz's contract. But this Arizona team is actually set for next year with no major league free agents lined up.
Needs
At shortstop, the Diamondbacks didn't get a lot of production from the injured (and now traded) Stephen Drew, defensive-minded John McDonald, and utility player Willie Bloomquist, but in adding Pennington, they're hoping they can get some sort of consistency at the position. The team also apparently wants a veteran starting pitcher to join Trevor Cahill, Wade Miley, and Ian Kennedy in their starting five, which is an odd direction to me considering the breadth of Arizona's minor league pitching depth. Upgrading at third base also could be an option for the team despite Chris Johnson being acquired last July. Johnson qualified as a Super Two this week, and his salary will be taking a big jump in arbitration this year.
Possible Options
I don't think the Diamondacks will be very active in free agency. I'd imagine they'd inquire on the top starting pitchers (Zack Greinke, Anibal Sanchez, maybe even former Diamondback Dan Haren) before settling for a trade option if they make a move there at all. As for the third base position, the free agent market is a wasteland at the hot corner and if the D-Backs want to upgrade, it will have to come in a trade.
Trade Options
Now this is where things get interesting. Despite the trade of Young, the Diamondbacks are still keen on moving another outfielder, and superstar Justin Upton is potentially one of the players that Kevin Towers would consider moving. I'm sure trading Jason Kubel would be the more desirable option for him, but Upton would bring in a hell of a return, and could potentially net the Diamondbacks the third baseman or veteran starter they're looking for. Among all of Arizona's young pitching talent they would likely have to move to acquire a veteran starter, I think Ian Kennedy would be most likely to be moved as he's hitting his first year of arbitration this winter. I don't think the team would consider moving Trevor Bauer, but Tyler Skaggs or Pat Corbin might be able to had from Towers in the right deal.
Trade Targets
Obviously when discussing a third baseman, the names David Wright and Chase Headley pop up. Acquiring either would be a coup for Towers, but the likely cost of trading for either would likely have to be a package centered around a young pitcher like Kennedy, Skaggs, or Corbin. In relation to a veteran starting pitcher, I don't think the Diamonbacks will be too pleased about what exactly is out there on the market. Could someone like James Shields (two option years in 2013 and 2014) or David Price (three years of arbitration left) be had from the Rays? What about Jon Lester or Clay Buchholz from the Red Sox? It'll be interesting to see just who, if anyone, Towers ends up with, and what the ugly cost of that may be.
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Arizona management must be blind when it comes to making the diamondbacks a contender and a winning team for years to come. They have failed with aquiring free agents and signing money deals to get them. Only to see them fail. For example, they have aquired cliff pennington do to the failure from the middle infield. The answer for their success lies in their farm system. First lets take a look at Taylor Harbin, This kid is a stud middle infielder that hits over .300 . THis kid will do the same in the majors. He has never failed to do so at any level. So ask your self, the stats will be the same or better in the majors. Arizona farm system has so many studs that if management would open their minds and ghange battle plans, Get these studs, like Taylor Harbin on the major league field, and the diamondback players will be wearing a new world series ring. The most consistant teams that have long term winning seasons and make it to the post season, do so with their farm system. Braves, enough said. Arizona has the talent in the farm system and don't use it. Braves had the talent in the farm system, and they used their players. So wake up diamondbacks, stop trying to buy wins. Let the studs you have in the farm system play and watch how easy it is to win,
@noahbrook Taylor Harbin will be 27 before next season starts. He only hit five homers and had a .783 OPS last season, which is awful for an extreme hitters park like Reno. He also made 19 errors in the field. The only redeeming quality is that he stole 18 bags at a 94.7% success rate, which is excellent.
Also, I'm not sure where you're going with the "play young players!" mentality, considering that Montero, Goldschmidt, Upton, and Parra all came up through Arizona's minor league system. So essentially, what you're saying is that half of the regulars on the team isn't enough? OK, throw in Adam Eaton or AJ Pollock for the third OF spot and Ryan Wheeler at third. That's six of eight. Can't do much better, and considering they got Aaron Hill for a song, that's a pretty damn solid young offense.
