Possible Moves to Improve Pitching

[boondockdrunk]

Since we all agree that the starting rotation and bull-pen needs one more good pitcher to compete for the NL West title, I thought it would be a good time to look at possible people who are expected to be non-tendered tonight:

SP Shawn Chacon (RHP): generally a good ground-ball pitcher who had a bad year in 2006 (7-6, 6.36) as a Pirate and Yankee. If put into the #4 spot in the rotation, he could be effective and return to his previous status as a good middle-rotation starter. Also, the D'backs have inquired about him in the past and they once again might have interest.

SP Mark Hendrickson (LHP): has intimidating size (6-9) but doesn't throw terribly hard. He has an nice array of pitches, including a high-80s fastball, a cut fastball, curveball and change-up. His record reflects something closer to his height than his pitching last year (6-15, 4.21). Not an extreme ground-ball pitcher, although he gets many of his outs that way.

RP Chris Reitsma (RHP): While he is hit hard by left-handers (.304 average over the last three years) and doesn't pitch well without rest, Chris has a powerful fastball and has good control of his off-speed stuff. In 28 innings, he had an ERA of 8.68 but the previous two years it was 3.93 and 4.07 respectively.

SP/RP Joel Pineiro (RHP): Had a career high 16 wins in 2003 but has been plagued with injuries over two of the last three years. He does not go deep into games but has a low-90's fastball with good movement.

I would love to have Hendrickson on this team. As a #4 starter he would be exceptional. His addition would not make this a phenomenal rotation, but it would be solid from front to back if Edgar Gonzalez or another young pitcher takes the last spot. However, even though the Dodgers have a ton of starting pitchers right now they might not non-tender Hendrickson. He is set to make $3 million and, with this market, someone will want to trade for him.

 

[devilfan02]

Just please sign Mulder or trade for someone much better then the above options

 

[Diamondback Jay]

The Dodgers gave up one of their top prospects, Joel Guzman, to get Hendrickson. I'm not too keen on the idea of getting him, because you know the Dodgers will ask for equal value in return, and I'm not willing to see Arizona give up one of their top prospects for this guy.

Chacon would be ok, but I'm not too sure the Pirates want to trade him.

Pineiro has been plagued with injuries and Reitsma IMO is better suited for the bullpen.

Not too bad of a list. Some good discussionary options.

 

[Nasser22]

What a dissapointing offseason so far. Still nothing and out choices right now aren't very good. We aren't even going to go after a good hitter. This team might be worse than last year.

 

[devilfan02]

What a dissapointing offseason so far. Still nothing and out choices right now aren't very good. We aren't even going to go after a good hitter. This team might be worse than last year.

I wouldn't classify our postseason has anything yet. It's well documented that our hands are tied financially and we won't be big time spenders for a couple more seasons. Byrnes has to abide by a very strict Budget and he's finding ways to work within it. Thank God for our farm system, without our young talent we'd lose 100+ next year.

Sure, most the high profile FA are gone but there is still plenty of offseason left for Byrnes to work his magic. Obviously signing Mulder is our #1 priority right now. If we lose out on him then our options become limited. However, Byrnes has made it clear that he has no problems making a trade for a either a very good pitcher or a bat. If we don't get Mulder, I would love to see Byrnes trade some of our prospects for either Haren or Harden. I know it will take a lot but we are so crowded with prospects that getting a guy like Danny Haren is a very logical trade. As for a power bat, it looks more and more like we're going to have to hope that we get power from a surprising source. Hopefully Montero, Tracy, Q, Young all see a rise in power

 

[The Commish]

Personally I'm glad we haven't made any major signings - everyone is overpaying for marginal talent. I suspect Byrnes has tried desperately to get guys like Harden or Garland but those respective teams are waiting for their value to go up once guys like Zito, Mulder, etc sign. While I wish there was more to talk about right now, I'm just glad that we're not making bad decisions.

 

[HooverDam]

What a dissapointing offseason so far. Still nothing and out choices right now aren't very good. We aren't even going to go after a good hitter. This team might be worse than last year.

Eh, I don't know if I'd agree. Lets make a silly analogy:

Lets say you are really hungry, haven't eaten in a day or two, so you go to the grocery store. All they have is dog food, and its VERY expensive, you know you can't afford it. Do you buy the dog food and eat it, and be saddled with the financial burden? Or do you wait until you can get some real food at a good price? I guess it depends on how hungry you are, and what you believe you prospects of attaining real food soon are.

So I kind of think thats the situation the Dbacks are in, they are starving for success, losing fans, dwindling attendance, etc, but they aren't going to break the bank over crap. Especially when they've got some quality buns in the oven that are waiting to rise.

 

[Nasser22]

Well Mulder's out. I just saw in the paper this morning...

 

[The Commish]

Well Mulder's out. I just saw in the paper this morning...

Link?

 

[The Commish]

Got it...

Diamondbacks off Mulder's short list

By Jack Magruder, Tribune
December 22, 2006

Mark Mulder is out of the country, and the Diamondbacks are long gone, too. The D-Backs no longer are among the finalists to sign free agent Mulder, sources with direct knowledge of the negotiations said Wednesday.​

Texas, Cleveland and St. Louis appear to have become the front-runners to add Mulder, a Valley resident who is honeymooning in Tahiti after being wed here Saturday.​

While the D-Backs have at least $10 million to spend this offseason, they did not appear comfortable committing a portion of that to Mulder because of the uncertainty of his return to the mound.​

Mulder underwent shoulder surgery Sept. 12 and will begin a throwing program Jan. 1. Agent Gregg Clifton has been telling teams they can expect Mulder to make between 20 and 25 starts this season.​

The D-Backs make it a policy not to discuss contract negotiations.​

The D-Backs’ offer to Mulder 10 days ago was believed to have included a $1 million base salary with the opportunity to reach $2.5 million through incentives in 2007. It also included four option years.​

Texas and Cleveland have offered two-year deals, according to published reports, a length that Mulder is willing to accept.​

Mulder’s camp did not make a counter proposal to the D-Backs’ offer, contrary to a published report in Dallas, although it has made counter offers to Texas and Cleveland.​

Now that Mulder is off the table, the D-Backs will turn their focus to adding another starter and a reliever through trades, their most likely path all along.​

They already have acquired left-handers Doug Davis and Dana Eveland in the Johnny Estrada six-player deal with Milwaukee.Contact Jack Magruder by email, or phone (480) 898-6524​

http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=81022​

 

[devilalum]

We should all take comfort in the knowledge that our beloved Diamondbacks will get to squirrel away their portion of this:

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2706672&campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

The fact that the tax threshold doesn't start until $140M is ridiculous.

 

[overseascardfan]

I am going to propose something and I know I am going to get jumped on about it but why not sign Zito for a 100 million. For one the guy is healthy, career ERA in the mid 3's, perennial Cy Young candidate, LHP, only 26. His fly ball tendencies are scary and he doen't have a fastball, but the guy can pitch and would give us a solid 4th starting pitcher to compliment Webb. Who else is there that isn't going to cost us our future in players like Gonzalez, Owings, etc.? Zito is less of a risk than Mulder and would give fans optimism for the upcoming season, especially season ticket holders.