D'backs Offseason Plans

[Lefty]

Soriano is the one guy I'd bench Brynes for. He's young and has speed and power.

Not sure how I'm contradicting myself there...just saying that I'm not a fan of Lee, Cameron, or Dye in that spot.

You said "At the expense of one of our other OF's like Young or Quentin playing, and even Byrnes, I would mind seeing them."

I think if the Diamondbacks go for an outfielder, I would want Dye. The guy can hit and does so when it counts. I don't want to see Soriano in a Diamondback uniform. He is a great player but you have to wonder why he has been on three teams already?

 

[Lefty]

Quentin is 100% ready, and has been for a year. He's already the best RF we've had, and he'll cost less than 1/10th what Dye would cost.

Young, maybe not quite ready, but probably close enough.

You guys are sipping koolaid AWFULLY early for 2007 -- Be realistic, without a major infusion of genuine starting pitching, (and a new Manager) this team isn't going to win a pennant next year, big bat or not -- better the young guys play together all year and be ready to take off in 2008.

I think true 'big bats' are about as common as good 7-plus foot Center. This team is being built for speed and OBP, and we have a couple young bats that should mature into significant power -- Young and Quentin, and perhaps Montero.


Unless we get a real good upgrade:

Webb
Hernandez
Gonzalez
Owings?
Vargas or maybe Nippert

I think the Diamondbacks will acquire a starter by trading for one. They have Estrada and probably a minor leaguer to throw in.

 

[green machine]

You said "At the expense of one of our other OF's like Young or Quentin playing, and even Byrnes, I would mind seeing them."

I think if the Diamondbacks go for an outfielder, I would want Dye. The guy can hit and does so when it counts. I don't want to see Soriano in a Diamondback uniform. He is a great player but you have to wonder why he has been on three teams already?

Yeah, at the expense of the aformentioned guys I would have no interest in Cameron or Dye, but Soriano would be OK with me.

And Dye has played for the Braves, Royals, A's, White Sox...that's quite a few teams too.

I don't care how many teams the guy has played for. He was traded for A-Rod in one deal, I don't think that says anything bad about you.

 

[Diamondback Jay]

I don't want to see Soriano in a Diamondback uniform. He is a great player but you have to wonder why he has been on three teams already?

Well, to be fair, he WAS the prize chip of Texas's deal for A-Rod, and then later dealt by the Rangers because he's a free agent and Texas knew they weren't going to be able to re-sign him. In neither case was Soriano traded to get him out of town because of problems in the lockerroom or on the field.

It's not like he was traded for a handful of garbage and is shipped off every other season like Jose Guillen. Granted, he caused a bit of a headache at the beginning of the season, but for the most part he's never really caused any public problems.

With him, what you see is what you get. He's a 30-30 guy, not exactly a monster in OBP and we all know the guy may as well play the field in his bare hands, but if you're looking for a middle of the rotation guy, I'd take Soriano.

I'd like to see the Diamondbacks get him, but this is all a moot point because he's going to be an Angel anyhow.

 

[overseascardfan]

If you thought Tracy was bad defensively... just wait until you watch Ramirez play. He might be the absolute worst 3rd baseman in the MLB when fielding.

Your totally right about the defense but he is a legit long ball threat, if Tracy can regain his 2005 form then this is a moot point but I don't think he can.

 

[Phill11]

I would feel very comfortable fielding a rotation of: Webb/Mulder/Hernandez/Cruz/Owings

Then a lineup of:
Hudson/Byrnes/Tracy/Quentin/Drew/Jackson/Young/Montero

VERY young lineup, but that ain't a bad thing. Very young team. They may struggle, but then again they may jell like the Marlins did this year. Guys like Jackson, Tracy and Cruz need to prove their worth at the beginning or else they can take their potential somewhere else.

 

[Diamondback Jay]

I'm gonna throw a name out there as a possible arm for the bullpen.. Before I do, please come in to this discussion with an open mind.




Kerry Wood. At this point, the Cubs are long past tired of his constant state of injury and probably would be willing to trade him for a reasonable price. I've often felt that if he moved to the bullpen, at WORST he'd have John Smoltz success, and could be one of the elite closers in baseball.

So what do you guys think? Would you be interested in seeing Wood closing games, if the price is right?

 

[BOB_Man24]

Ok, so i think we are all forgetting the one change that this club really needs....


A NEW MANAGER! Please, oh please!

 

[Diamondback Jay]

Ok, so i think we are all forgetting the one change that this club really needs....


A NEW MANAGER! Please, oh please!

I know some have the "Lets Fire Melvin" mentality etched in their heads, and trust me if a better option comes along, I say by all means yes.

However, if we're looking at firing him to bring in another retread, perhaps they're better off sticking with him. I know a lot have suggested Lou Pinella, however take a look at the job he did in Tampa Bay, under a similar youth movement and ask if he'd really be the answer here (or he'd really have the PATIENCE to manage the team).

Now, if they could get Joe Girardi to come to Phoenix, hell I'd drive Bob Melvin to Sky Harbor myself.

 

[HooverDam]

^How about making Chip Hale the manager? He already knows the young guys, knows how to get the best out of them and such. I don't know much about his personality, but its got to be more exciting than Melvin. Keep Jay Bell around to bore people into wanting to eat paste. Move Grace to 1B coach, just so he can heckle opposing first baseman.

I really DO NOT want to see Lee, Ramirez or Schmidt in a Dbacks uni, and Im torn on Mulder and Zito as well. All of them are a bit old for the Dbacks needs, I'd rather get a young pitcher that can develop along w/ Young/Montero/Drew/Q/etc. I especially think Lee, Ramirez and Schmidt are ready for a slide.

Soriano would be amazing though. He is a total stud, and I thought I heard him saying he likes the OF now? He did lead the league in OF assists, so its not like his defense out there is a problem.

 

[Diamondback Jay]

^How about making Chip Hale the manager? He already knows the young guys, knows how to get the best out of them and such. I don't know much about his personality, but its got to be more exciting than Melvin. Keep Jay Bell around to bore people into wanting to eat paste. Move Grace to 1B coach, just so he can heckle opposing first baseman.

I dunno man.. Triple A and the Majors are two different worlds. I'd rather see them at least get someone who's had some experience on the big league bench, even if it's as a coach somewhere.

I really DO NOT want to see Lee, Ramirez or Schmidt in a Dbacks uni, and Im torn on Mulder and Zito as well. All of them are a bit old for the Dbacks needs, I'd rather get a young pitcher that can develop along w/ Young/Montero/Drew/Q/etc.

Schmidt scares the hell out of me with his shoulder. Again, I'd rather see the Diamondbacks pass and let someone else overpay for him. As for the others being old, Lee's the "old fart" of the group at the age of 30, so he's got plenty of baseball left in him. Ramirez and Zito are only 28, Mulder's just 29. I understand where you're coming from in the "too old for our needs" assessment, but none of these guys are quite close to the retirement farm yet.

Soriano would be amazing though. He is a total stud, and I thought I heard him saying he likes the OF now? He did lead the league in OF assists, so its not like his defense out there is a problem.

If he truly doesn't mind going to the OF, I'd be all over the idea of signing him. Problem is, he's going to at LEAST command 5 for 70, so the question is, do you think the Diamondbacks are ready to dump that kind of money in to his lap?

 

[AZZenny]

do you think the Diamondbacks are ready to dump that kind of money in to his lap?

Not in a million years.

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

This isn't the kind of free agent market you want to be a big spender in. Zito, Soriano, and Lee will all make upwards of $15M a season. Mussina and Schmidt are old. Mulder probably won't be any where near healthy to start next season, and Wood is obviously also a big health risk. And pretty much every other starting pitcher on the market isn't any better than Miguel Batista.

Luckily, the team has a handful of trading chips to bargain with, and the team does have money to play with, but this isn't a free agent market where the Dbacks can pick up a heavy hitter and a couple top starters.

 

[Diamondback Jay]

Not in a million years.

Precisely my point.

I think by and large, the starting lineup now fielded (with the exception of CoJack, Drew and Quentin stepping in as regulars) is the one we're going to see come Opening Day.