SI writer not a fan of the Diamondbacks moves

[Lefty]

I really hope Towers isn't here too long because I agree with a lot of what this guy writes about the Diamondbacks.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/20...resolutions/index.html?eref=sihp&sct=hp_wr_a4

The Arizona Diamondbacks resolve to stop shooting themselves in the foot. By my estimation, the Diamondbacks have had a terrible offseason thus far. Beyond seemingly mindlessly re-signing all of their free-agent infielders (second baseman Aaron Hill, lefty first baseman Lyle Overbay, utility men Willie Boomquist and John McDonald, even veteran quadruple-A organizational filler Cody Ransom, who got a minor league deal), they effectively traded pitching prospect Jarrod Parker and lefty starter Joe Saunders for A's righty Trevor Cahill by including Parker in the trade for Cahill then non-tendering Saunders (given the choice, I'd take Saunders and Parker over Cahill without much hesitation), then they handed a $15 million contract to an outfielder, Jason Kubel, who doesn't represent an upgrade for them at any of the three outfield positions. To make matters worse, the Diamondbacks don't have nearly the advantage in their division they think they do. They won the West by eight games this past season, but by third-order wins, the top four teams in the West were separated by just five games and the Diamondbacks were a game worse than the Dodgers.

 

[Brian]

pfft.

He bases his logic off of "third order wins", is clearly a Dodgers fan (read his write up of them), and looks to be all of 17 years old.

Not worried about this guy's opinion.

 

[Bert]

pfft.

He bases his logic off of "third order wins", is clearly a Dodgers fan (read his write up of them), and looks to be all of 17 years old.

Not worried about this guy's opinion.

^^^This

This dude is a total Dodger fan so he's going to be negative about anything we do.

Look at it this way, last year if you had told any sportswriter that we'd play the majority of our season with Ian Kennedy as #1, Roberts starting at Third and a rookie from AA at 1st and he would have laughed and said we wouldn't win 60 games. Look how that worked out for us.

 

[Mulli]

Third order wins!?!

 

[devilalum]

Everybody rips the Kubel signing...

The Dbacks need more power from their corners which was lacking last year with LF and 3B. Additionally Saunders has been very inconsistent, he might even be the next Russ Ortiz.

 

[82CardsGrad]

Saunders was up and down most of the season and Parker is yet to do a damn thing in the bigs. I would say the odds of a Saunders/Parker flop are greater than a Cahill flop. Besides, what would we have had to pay to keep Saunders and over how many years?? Saunders wanted a long-term deal in excess of $7 mil if I recall correctly... In short - NO WAY!

 

[Lefty]

I am not sad to see Saunders gone but I believe Parker is going to be a very good pitcher. I hope Cahill can give this team 12-15 wins.

I'm not a fan of the Kubel signing. I think they would of been better off using that money to sign a third baseman. I'm not sure Roberts can produce the same numbers he did last year.

The one signing I want to see before the start of the season is Montero. They need to sign Miguel to an extension before he has the chance to leave.

 

[overseascardfan]

I am not sad to see Saunders gone but I believe Parker is going to be a very good pitcher. I hope Cahill can give this team 12-15 wins.

I'm not a fan of the Kubel signing. I think they would of been better off using that money to sign a third baseman. I'm not sure Roberts can produce the same numbers he did last year.

The one signing I want to see before the start of the season is Montero. They need to sign Miguel to an extension before he has the chance to leave.

I agree on all points with you. Cahill had one good year and his road ERA was terrible, Parker will be the better pitcher this year IMO. Would have rather ARZ shell out an extra $5M a year and sign Aramis Ramirez instead of Kubel.

Montero should be the priority and should be done before the season. One move I would expect to see ARZ to consider looking into is trading Stephen Drew who is nearing FA and will be too rich for ARZ's budget. Getting a young 3B and maybe a top SS prospect for him would set ARZ up long term.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

I really hope Towers isn't here too long because I agree with a lot of what this guy writes about the Diamondbacks.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/20...resolutions/index.html?eref=sihp&sct=hp_wr_a4

The Arizona Diamondbacks resolve to stop shooting themselves in the foot. By my estimation, the Diamondbacks have had a terrible offseason thus far. Beyond seemingly mindlessly re-signing all of their free-agent infielders (second baseman Aaron Hill, lefty first baseman Lyle Overbay, utility men Willie Boomquist and John McDonald, even veteran quadruple-A organizational filler Cody Ransom, who got a minor league deal), they effectively traded pitching prospect Jarrod Parker and lefty starter Joe Saunders for A's righty Trevor Cahill by including Parker in the trade for Cahill then non-tendering Saunders (given the choice, I'd take Saunders and Parker over Cahill without much hesitation), then they handed a $15 million contract to an outfielder, Jason Kubel, who doesn't represent an upgrade for them at any of the three outfield positions. To make matters worse, the Diamondbacks don't have nearly the advantage in their division they think they do. They won the West by eight games this past season, but by third-order wins, the top four teams in the West were separated by just five games and the Diamondbacks were a game worse than the Dodgers.

Seriously? I think Towers has earned the benefit of the doubt at this point. I didn't love the Kubel signing, but will at least keep an open mind.

Further, I don't mind any of the re-signings, most were on reasonable terms, and whether it be Hill, Bloomquist, or Overbay, all proved they could be successful here.


People can bitch about the Cahill deal as much as they want, but to trade a prospect for a more proven prospect at the same age, who keeps the ball down, I can't be too unhappy. The fact is, we have a ton of good pitching prospects, and traded one of them for a guy that has actually had some very nice numbers in a good hitting division.

Joe Saunders? People are really losing sleep over Joe Saunders?

 

[az240zz]

Third order wins!?!

What is this???

We really needed to get a 3rd baseman as I don't think Roberts is going to come close to what he did last year.

 

[Diamondback Jay]

pfft.

He bases his logic off of "third order wins", is clearly a Dodgers fan (read his write up of them), and looks to be all of 17 years old.

Not worried about this guy's opinion.

 

[Diamondback Jay]

Seriously? I think Towers has earned the benefit of the doubt at this point. I didn't love the Kubel signing, but will at least keep an open mind.

Further, I don't mind any of the re-signings, most were on reasonable terms, and whether it be Hill, Bloomquist, or Overbay, all proved they could be successful here.


People can bitch about the Cahill deal as much as they want, but to trade a prospect for a more proven prospect at the same age, who keeps the ball down, I can't be too unhappy. The fact is, we have a ton of good pitching prospects, and traded one of them for a guy that has actually had some very nice numbers in a good hitting division.

Joe Saunders? People are really losing sleep over Joe Saunders?

Posts like these are why I wish ASFN had a rep system.

To me, trading a 23 year old unproven commodity, who's less than 24 months removed from Tommy John and command issues, an undersized 26 year old (or will be in May) OF who's not fast enough to play CF, doesn't have the range to play right or the power bat to play left and a guy in Cook who seems destined to be a relief pitcher for a guy with 40 wins, a top 10 finish in the Cy Young race last season and an All Star birth under his belt at just 23 (not beginning to mention Breslow who has been a steady bullpen hand for Oakland) is a SMART deal to make.

On top of things, you take Cahill out of a division with the Angels and Rangers and put him in the NL West, and it's not far fetched to believe his numbers will sink.

On top of things, Arizona's still filthy deep with pitching prospects. Putting Cahill into that mix of young arms makes me highly optimistic for the future. Next year's rotation of Kennedy, Cahill and Hudson looks MIGHTY good on paper.

All the other players Arizona signed not named Kubel were all low end, low risk signings that noone should complain about.

Let's call a nutshell a nutshell here.. Right now, the National League is up for grabs and everyone is in play.

With Pujols gone, it's extremely hard to picture the Cardinals being in play with their current roster.

Ryan Howard is going to miss substantial time in 2012 and the Phillies as a whole aren't exactly getting younger.

Prince Fielder isn't coming back to Milwaukee and Ryan Braun's out for 50 games. Suffice to say, the Brewers are taking a step backwards next season, even WHEN Braun comes back.

The Marlins on paper look nice with their new toys, but we'll see how the chemistry dynamic works and if everything falls in to place the way Jeff Loria THINKS it's going to. I'll believe it when I see it.

Right now, the NL essentially is a two horse race with Arizona and Cincinnati. Washington COULD come in to play if the right pieces fall in to place, and they certainly aided themselves with the Gonzalez deal. Bottom line however is this, Arizona certainly can be considered a favorite. By getting a good, YOUNG pitcher to go along with their deveoping bullpen, it's not far fetched to think the Snakes could be poised for a pretty nice run for the future.

I applaud Towers for being just aggressive enough to know that he needed to make things happen without entirely morgaging their future. Frankly, losing Parker sucks, but I think bringing Cahill in more than compensates for that loss and frankly the other two players were tradable commodities IMHO.

 

[Lights]

Well said!

 

[azsportsfan01]

Right now, the NL essentially is a two horse race with Arizona and Cincinnati.

I know you gave your reasons for other teams but I do think you are over-looking the Phillies and the Cards. With the rotation the Phillies have they will always be in contention. The loss of Albert is huge for the Cards but they also get Adam Wainwright back. Their offense will take a hit but not as big as you think. Getting Allen Craig in there for a full season and adding Beltran will still give them a solid lineup.

All that said I do think the top 2 teams are Cincinnati and Arizona but it is close. Also, if the Nationals do sign Prince, which I think is where he ends up, then they will be a great sleeper team to contend. They have the rotation and the bullpen to compete. If they can get some offense they will be a scary team.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

I like the aggressive moves and really what's the worst case scenario? Parker becomes a stud and Cahill bombs? Even then we have Bauer, Archie, and Skaggs. Parker has better stuff but already had TJ and Cahill is the same age and actually proven. I think Cahill has some Webby in him personally.

And why does anyone care what we paid Kubel? The national guys fail to mention Kubel has balled out at Chase in the limited time he's been ther and has the right swing for the park. Conversely Parra is a .270 guy who isn't going to all of a sudden change his stripes. We needed thump and made a move.

And Joe Saunders? Lmao the worst thing they could have done is commit years to him. Yeah and keep Bauer out of rotation? Mark my words he will win job out of spring training. And if not Skaggs will. I never understood why tjeybwere going after Kuroda and glad they made a move for a bat instead.

Love these new Dbacks. Especially with Gibby being the guy tasked to get the most out of them.