Next years team

[mark1]

Bordow writes a good column this morning and expresses Jerry's view on where this team is headed.

http://www.aztrib.com/index.php?sty=10003

For what it's worth, this is my take on what the D-Backs might do next year.

I don't see any way they can pay Curt 12 million next year and still have payroll at 80 million. They need to get something for him before his contract is up and he walks. This team is weak in the major league ready outfield positions so you would think that one of the prospects would be an outfielder. If they do trade Curt, I would hope they would at least get Major league ready prospects.

They will pick 5 starters from a group of RJ, Webb, Patterson, Capuano, and either Dessens, Good, or Gonzalez. I think they will buy out Batista at 300 K rather than pay him 3 mil for next season, to save additional money.

The bullpen should have Mantei, Valverde, Villarreal, Koplove, Randolph, and maybe Dessens or Gonzalez in long relief.

4 outfielders are under contract for next year, Gonzo, Finley, Bautista, and Q. Maybe Doug Devore or Luis Terrero will make the team next spring.

The infield should be Shea at third, Cintron at short, either Kata or Spivey at second (I wouldn't be surprised if they traded Spivey) and I don't have a clue who will open at first next year. Maybe Overbay, but more likely they will trade for a firstbaseman with some power, at least I hope they do. Maybe they will get a 1st baseman if they trade Schill. Hammock will probably be the starter behind the plate next year with Barajas backing him up. I think Moeller is the odd man out.

Any way you slice it this team is in the payroll slashing mode. Schilling and Spivey are our most tradeable commodities, and should be able to bring some good young cheap players.

Will Schill get traded back to Philly? It would seem like a good match if Millwood doesn't resign.

 

[schillingfan]

Biggest problem is that the Phillies greatest area of strength is minor league pitching. We have no real good position players, and particularly no good outfielders in our system. Our only good position player who is expendable is Chase Utley, who is a 2B, something you don't need.

3-way trade with Texas would be ideal because they have good position player prospects but still lack pitching.

Millwood probably isn't going to re-sign here. We have the money to pay Curt, no problem.

 

[AZZenny]

At $7M (his option, I believe) Mantei is gone - either he'll take the option and we trade him, or he looks around on his own. I'd rather keep Miggy to anchor the pen and return to back-up starter, if he's willing - a utility pitcher is an awfully nice thing to have.

We have to give Chad Tracy a try; Terrero doesn't look ready but DeVore might get a shot. I think somehow Q will be gone, and perhaps they will try to move Dessens. (Ought to make the GM pay them off out of his own pocket! idiotic contracts!) Actually, they CAN just afford to keep Curt if the budget is $80M. I count perhaps 13-14 rookies at minimum pay. I suspect any arbitration-eligibles are gone, could that maybe include Shea??

I also was thinking they may try to talk with Texas.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

With the moves suggested, I don't see this team competing. The sad thing is, with about half the team and the money invested in veterans, this is their last chance with this group, and I think they are a player or two away.....

 

[Lefty]

From what I have heard Tracy could be traded. He does not have the power they are looking for. Also, Mantei will probably be with another team next year. Gammons wrote the Diamondbacks are not going to pickup his option for next year.

 

[mark1]

Originally posted by Zona90
From what I have heard Tracy could be traded. He does not have the power they are looking for. Also, Mantei will probably be with another team next year. Gammons wrote the Diamondbacks are not going to pickup his option for next year.

Mantei's option is a player option, not team.

He would be crazy not to pick it up. With Mantei scheduled to make 7 mil next year, that probably makes him untradeable. Nobody wants a often injured closer making that kind of money. I'm afraid were stuck with Mantei for another year.

 

[IndyDevil]

Originally posted by Zona90
From what I have heard Tracy could be traded. He does not have the power they are looking for. Also, Mantei will probably be with another team next year. Gammons wrote the Diamondbacks are not going to pickup his option for next year.

Nice of the D'Backs to give Tracy a shot at third - why they are so enamoured with Hillenbrand is beyond me, because Shea doesn't quite strike fear into opposing pitchers' hearts!!

 

[az240zz]

Originally posted by IndyDback
Nice of the D'Backs to give Tracy a shot at third - why they are so enamoured with Hillenbrand is beyond me, because Shea doesn't quite strike fear into opposing pitchers' hearts!!

I don't think Tracy's lack of power would strike fear either. Hillenbrand is still a yung player with the potential to be a 25-30 homer guy. He needs to learn some batting discipline selecting bettar pitches to hit. A change in batting coaches might benefit him alot.

Az240z

 

[AZZenny]

Hillenbrand is a waste of space. He can't run, he can't field, he has no plate discipline and wasn't interested in trying to learn it in Boston, he will never be a real high-average or power hitter, and he has limited baseball brains...but hey - can't have it all.

I don't agree that Mantei is untradable - he might have to be properly packaged, but I suspect that right before the deadline this year he would have looked pretty desirable to a couple of contending teams. And even if the DBacks picked up some of his salary, saving 3-4 million still might look good.