2014 D'Backs Offseason

[AZ Native]

Samardjia is an ace?

Yeah, where?

 

[sundevil04]

No thanks on Smardja the asking price will be that of an ace and I don't see him as anything near that.

If love to see price here, but he'd be a rent a player for 2 years max and would fort us Bradley plus at least two probably three other prospects including Owings and Davidson. Considering Bradley is widely considered the top pitching prospect in all of baseball, we might already have our ace who would be under our control for six years at a very friendly number.

Chris Sale, now that would be interesting. If there's a way to bring him in without giving up Bradley, I'm in.

 

[overseascardfan]

No thanks on Smardja the asking price will be that of an ace and I don't see him as anything near that.

If love to see price here, but he'd be a rent a player for 2 years max and would fort us Bradley plus at least two probably three other prospects including Owings and Davidson. Considering Bradley is widely considered the top pitching prospect in all of baseball, we might already have our ace who would be under our control for six years at a very friendly number.

Chris Sale, now that would be interesting. If there's a way to bring him in without giving up Bradley, I'm in.

There is absolutely no way this happens without Bradley and Skaggs. Unlike David Price who is a FA in 2 years, Sale is locked up until 2019 at a VERY reasonable contract, the last year of his deal is $13.5M. Sale will cost more than Price in terms of prospects and rightfully so. ARZ just needs to bring up and keep both Bradley and Skaggs on the major league roster and see what they got or go out and overpay for Garza, Nolasco, Lester or Lincecum. But I'm willing to bet those 4 guys stay with their current teams.

 

[Lefty]

Reports are that Matt Williams has been hired as the Nationals new manager.

 

[BC867]

Reports are that Matt Williams has been hired as the Nationals new manager.

Excellent! I wouldn't want the bland Matt Williams to be our next Manager any more than I want the bland Kirk Gibson to be our current Manager.

But it looks like we're stuck with Gibby until . . . I guess, until the Front Office gets tired of us being a .500 team for a third season. Probably about the same time that Don Mattingly is given his walking papers in L.A.

I don't want to see a Bobby Valentine, but there is a middle ground between bland and obnoxious.

Gee, it's just like American politics.

 

[sundevil04]

I like what we have in our rotation, with the 6 below, I think we can put together a very very solid 5 man rotation while using the odd man out as a piece to trade for a power bat.

I'm sure everyone is thinking Cahill as the odd man out, I say not so fast. Yes, his season ERA was a very unimpressive 3.99, but keep in mind he spent the month of July on the DL and looking at his numbers in the month prior, he had an ERA over 9 that month. Obviously something was wrong with him in June. If you look at his numbers minus that month of June he had an ERA of 3.21. For a 25 year old pitcher with a somewhat reasonable contract I wouldn't mind him in the back of the rotation.

Corbin
Miley
Bradley
Skaggs
Delgado
Cahill

 

[Brian]

I like what we have in our rotation, with the 6 below, I think we can put together a very very solid 5 man rotation while using the odd man out as a piece to trade for a power bat.

I'm sure everyone is thinking Cahill as the odd man out, I say not so fast. Yes, his season ERA was a very unimpressive 3.99, but keep in mind he spent the month of July on the DL and looking at his numbers in the month prior, he had an ERA over 9 that month. Obviously something was wrong with him in June. If you look at his numbers minus that month of June he had an ERA of 3.21. For a 25 year old pitcher with a somewhat reasonable contract I wouldn't mind him in the back of the rotation.

Corbin
Miley
Bradley
Skaggs
Delgado
Cahill

I have one concern regarding Bradley. I watched a video of him pitching that was filmed behind home plate. Every ball that was hit off him, and I mean every single one was in the air. The video doesn't show the result of the AB, but it concerned me to see that he appears to be a flyball pitcher who will be pitching at Chase Field.

Again, this was one video, and a small sample size (about 25 batters) but an occasional ground ball would have been nice. I'd like to see him be able to locate better in the lower part of the zone rather than the upper part.

 

[sfrancis13]

I have one concern regarding Bradley. I watched a video of him pitching that was filmed behind home plate. Every ball that was hit off him, and I mean every single one was in the air. The video doesn't show the result of the AB, but it concerned me to see that he appears to be a flyball pitcher who will be pitching at Chase Field.

Again, this was one video, and a small sample size (about 25 batters) but an occasional ground ball would have been nice. I'd like to see him be able to locate better in the lower part of the zone rather than the upper part.

He is actually more of a groundball pitcher though he will probably end up more neutral as he continues to work his way up the ladder. This season between Visalia and Mobile he had a GO/AO 1.03 which pretty much equates to one ground ball for every flyball hit.

Last year in South Bend he was 1.82 GO/AO which is nearly two groundouts for every flyout.

To give an example, Corbin had a 1.14 GO/AO this year (with a 1.34 during his minors career).

 

[Brian]

He is actually more of a groundball pitcher though he will probably end up more neutral as he continues to work his way up the ladder. This season between Visalia and Mobile he had a GO/AO 1.03 which pretty much equates to one ground ball for every flyball hit.

Last year in South Bend he was 1.82 GO/AO which is nearly two groundouts for every flyout.

To give an example, Corbin had a 1.14 GO/AO this year (with a 1.34 during his minors career).

Good deal. Thanks for the info.

 

[Diamondback Jay]

Low risk free agent I really like is Corey Hart. While I concede there are risks signing a 32 year old to be coming off a 2013 campaign where he played as many games as I did, a fully healthy 2014 Hart could give them a 25/30-80+ RBI, .276 BA, .345/.350 OBP guy. Nice thing is, you cam likely get him on a "prove it" incentive based contract for a moderately inexpensive price tag. I'd be not opposed to giving him a one year deal (perhaps with an option for a second) at around 6 mill.

 

[devilalum]

wrong board

 

[Phrazbit]

I have one concern regarding Bradley. I watched a video of him pitching that was filmed behind home plate. Every ball that was hit off him, and I mean every single one was in the air. The video doesn't show the result of the AB, but it concerned me to see that he appears to be a flyball pitcher who will be pitching at Chase Field.

Again, this was one video, and a small sample size (about 25 batters) but an occasional ground ball would have been nice. I'd like to see him be able to locate better in the lower part of the zone rather than the upper part.

I think the flyball groundball thing in Chase is overrated. Putting too much value in that is what made us do dumb things like trade Parker for Cahill, and waste money on McCarthy.

Josh Collmenter is a guy who has most of the balls in play against him go in the air and he does perfectly fine here.

 

[crisper57]

Goldy wins the NL Hank Aaron award. Probably a consolation prize vs getting MVP.

 

[Dback Jon]

Goldy wins the NL Hank Aaron award. Probably a consolation prize vs getting MVP.

Probably - still, impressive!

 

[PDXChris]

Low risk free agent I really like is Corey Hart. While I concede there are risks signing a 32 year old to be coming off a 2013 campaign where he played as many games as I did, a fully healthy 2014 Hart could give them a 25/30-80+ RBI, .276 BA, .345/.350 OBP guy. Nice thing is, you cam likely get him on a "prove it" incentive based contract for a moderately inexpensive price tag. I'd be not opposed to giving him a one year deal (perhaps with an option for a second) at around 6 mill.

Everything I read suggests that that he is either a 1B or DH now with the knee injury he had. Not worth the risk to try to play him in the OF and there are plenty of AL teams that will give him a shot.

I would rather give Curtis Granderson excentive based deal for 10-13 million for one year so he can use us to get a big deal next year by putting up some monster numbers. Or take a chance on Mike Morse for a very low number.

 

[Diamondback Jay]

I actually like the idea of Granderson.

 

[Kel Varnsen]

Goldy wins the NL Hank Aaron award. Probably a consolation prize vs getting MVP.

And a Gold Glove. Parra, too!

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

Parra and Goldschmidt also won the Fielding Bible Award, which while not nearly as prestigious, is typically more accurate. So nice to see the voters got it right.

 

[BC867]

Goldy wins the NL Hank Aaron award. Probably a consolation prize vs getting MVP.

The NL Hank Aaron award as the league's top hitter and the 1B Gold Glove.

Or is that Goldy Glove?

For his breakout year, it is a great start. Now it is up to the D'backs to move into the upper echilon and support Goldy's efforts and what he meant to the offense as well as infield defense.

How? By getting a legitimate cleanup hitter to protect him in the batting order. It has to be legitimate. Look at what batting cleanup did to Montero?

It would be good for the D'backs and good for their top (I mean the league's) top hitter . . . which would be good for the D'backs.

 

[Matt L]

I actually like the idea of Granderson.

I do too but i think he will be too expensive. However, Mike Morse should be dirt cheap and is definitely a clean up hitter. He would be a cheap option that can really pay off if he stays healthy

 

[82CardsGrad]

I actually like the idea of Granderson.

Why? He'll be 33 at the start of next season - an old 33. Dude made $15 million this past season. I think it would take at least that much and maybe more to grab him. Since 2008, he's been able to bat over .250 just once!
He was in NY for 4 years, two of which were injury plagued... I just don't see the value in a guy like Granderson. If you could get him for under $10 million per, perhaps you take a shot on him. Otherwise, I would stay away...

 

[PDXChris]

Why? He'll be 33 at the start of next season - an old 33. Dude made $15 million this past season. I think it would take at least that much and maybe more to grab him. Since 2008, he's been able to bat over .250 just once!
He was in NY for 4 years, two of which were injury plagued... I just don't see the value in a guy like Granderson. If you could get him for under $10 million per, perhaps you take a shot on him. Otherwise, I would stay away...

That is why I said to give him an incentive based deal since he will want to prove himself and get one last big deal. Two of his last four seasons were monster.

 

[overseascardfan]

Well BOS picked up Lester's 2014 option so cross him off the market.

 

[Matt L]

What about Raul Ibanez on a one year deal? He can definitely platoon in Left Field against right handed pitchers and put up some power numbers. He had 29 homeruns last year with 17 at Safeco.

 

[82CardsGrad]

Hearing Bloomquist is close to signing with the Mariners... bummer. He's a great guy. Hate to see him leave...