The Future

[coyoteshockeyfan]

Well, all the losing and ridiculous rumors going around are enough to make any Dbacks fan upset right now, so lets talk about something more promising, the next few seasons. Theres nowhere to go but up, plus we have a solid group of prospects at all levels, so discuss your vision for the Dbacks in the next coming seasons.

Heres my lineup for the 2005 Dbacks and what Id do if I were GM. This team isnt designed to win the World Series next year, but should turn this organization's fortunes around. Im not blowing up this years team, as I dont think we will get much out of that anyways. Id prefer a slower, smoother transition.

1st Sexson -- Must resign, as a power hitter he has the ability to hitters around him so much better, something that we have been missing since the decline of Williams after the 2001 season.
2nd Hariston -- Future at second base.
SS Cintron -- Decent stopgap till Santos or Drew are ready to go.
3rd Tracy -- This team needs him to continue to grow.
LF Gonzalez -- Climbing in age, but team is pinning on him to come back from injury and be the hitter he can be.
CF Terrero -- Has all the tools to be a star, but now needs to prove it for the first time at this level.
RF Bautista -- Must resign, provides consistent hitting that this team needs.
C FA vet? -- Yikes. We dont have anybody currently that Im comfotable with, possibilities next year include Ansman, Snyder, or Myers, that is if one steps up and performs. I doubt any of our rookie catchers will be able to be a decent starting catcher, so Ill say go after one in the off season.

Bench:
McCracken -- Decent switch hitting 4th outfielder
Hillenbrand -- Could be traded if Tracy and Sexson perform well.
Kata -- Utility role.
Baerga -- Switch hitting pinch hitter specialist on the team.
Another catching spot.

Starting pitchers
#1 Johnson -- No, I wouldnt trade him. We wont get what we deserve for him and we dont have a huge need for prospects anyways. Prospects are always nice, but we are stocked at almost every position at most levels already anyways.
#2 Webb -- Continue to grow and do what he has already shown us he can. Awesome #2 guy.
#3 FA -- We desperately will need to sign a great starting pitcher (maybe two if we can?) to fill this spot.
#4 Fossum -- I think he can perform as a solid pitcher on this team for several years.
#5 Fifth spot to be determined. Candidates would include another FA vet and E. Gonzalez.

Bullpen:
FA vet
Valverde
Villareal
Koplove
Choate
Randolph
Mantei -- Said he might return another year at a significant paycut because of how well the team has treated him.

A FA vet will need to be brought in to stabilize our rocky bullpen. Hopefully our bullpen will be much healthier or else will again be the achilles heal. Im not crazy about our two lefties, but Im not sure who in the FA market next year will be better. Other candidates for the bullpen next year include Aquino and Bruney.

Gone:
Finley -- Traded for whatever pitching (or even catching) prospects we can get from him. Use his $7 million to improve the team elsewhere.
Alomar -- Wont stay, dont really need him.
Mayne -- Same deal as Alomar, possibly traded?
Dessens -- Take his $4 million and put it to use elsewhere.
Mantei -- Ok, not gone, but he's not getting $7 million.
Colbrunn -- $2 million for a pinch hitter? Ill pass, there are better options on this roster.

Total savings to be put to use next year: approx. $22 million

Please add criticism and your own plans for the 2005 (and beyond?) Arizona Diamondbacks.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

I have some opinions. I have never hidden my feelings that this team should be blown up and rebuilt for the future and that includes trading Johnson, Finley, Bautista, and Hillenbrand (if anyone wants him). According to sources, the players we'd get from the Dodgers for Finley and Johnson are Brad Penny, Koyie Hill, Edwin Jackson, Chad Bilingsley, Jayson Werth, and Bill Murphy. I'm going to assume for argument's sake these trades go down even though I'm skeptical about Jackson ending up here. It's highly unlikely anyone we get in a Bautista, Alomar, Hillenbrand deal will be ready next year so I won't even get into who they could be traded for.

I could care less about Sexson and Finley coming back to play here. Sexson is a very overrated player and while Finley has been great, he's still forty and is going to start breaking down at some point. Plus I have a feeling he's going to want a multi-year deal and Conor Jackson and Carlos Quentin should be ready by 2006. I've heard these one of these guys may get the call in September along with Noochie Varner and Josh Kroeger. Whoever looks best next spring training and in September will get the call in the outfield. So with that $15 million saved I don't sign any major free agents. I'll get some cheap, veteran good clubhouse guys: a back of rotation starter, a utility infielder, a backup outfielder, and a bullpen guy or two. I'd go into the season as one of the youngest teams in baseball. Lineup would look like this:

CF - Terrero
2B - Hairston (2B of the future although I have questions about his range)
LF - Gonzalez (bridging the past and future with a weak arm and an Adam's grapefruit)
1B - Werth (a few years ago a great prospect and has showed signs this year that he's finally getting it, averaging a HR every 15 ABs)
C - Hill (The Dodgers system has been pounding out great catchers for years, hopefully this guy is the next)
RF - Kroeger (we'll see what he can do in the bigs but put up monster numbers in the minors. If he fails we got plenty of help coming soon)
3B - Tracy (is on a short leash considering how pitiful his defense is. Santos an option at third in 2006)
SS - Cintron (I can't think of any other options but to wait until Drew gets here)

Of course if the veteran FA's end up performing beyond our expectations then we can sub them in for any of these guys. Pitching should be the strength anyway.

SP - Penny (eats up innings and deals pretty well)
SP - Webb (needs better defense behind him, notably on the garbage left side of the field)
SP - Jackson (should turn into a solid starter)
SP - Murphy (will be a solid pitcher but will take his lumps as a rookie. Think mid to high 4.00s ERA)
SP - Fossum (he's not good, but he's not this bad)

This rotation will take its lumps as all young stafs do but watch out as early as 2006 when Billingsley is ready.

CL - Brandon Lyon (should be up here soon, but apparently has great stuff and a good closing attitude)
SU - Jose Valverde (very underrated and should be a good SU man)
SU - Brian Bruney (regarded as one of the best closers in the minors, Brenly rewards him by overusing him in his first stint in the majors)
BP - Oscar Villareal (will have a chance to win starting job)
BP - Mike Koplove (under no circumstances should this guy ever face a LH hitter)
RP - Randoplh (get him some contacts or something)

The next six spots will be filled by cheap, veteran FAs. Let's see what we have first before we start spending. The Santos, Drew, Quentin, Jackson foursome need to be here before this team starts contending so let's put the money in the bank and spend it wisely when we're ready to contend as opposed to spending it to ensure mediocrity. Also I cannot stress enough the importance of getting a good coaching staff. We're going to need a pitching coach that can handle the youth of our pitchers as well as someone who can teach the left side of our infield how to catch the damn ball. And a hitting coach who will get our hitters to learn that there's no point in being impatient in a hitter's park like the BOB.

 

[nathan]

According to sources, the players we'd get from the Dodgers for Finley and Johnson are Brad Penny, Koyie Hill, Edwin Jackson, Chad Bilingsley, Jayson Werth, and Bill Murphy. I'm going to assume for argument's sake these trades go down even though I'm skeptical about Jackson ending up here.

Where did you hear Edwin Jackson's name mentioned?

Sexson is a very overrated player and while Finley has been great, he's still forty and is going to start breaking down at some point.

I agree.

Plus I have a feeling he's going to want a multi-year deal and Conor Jackson and Carlos Quentin should be ready by 2006. I've heard these one of these guys may get the call in September along with Noochie Varner and Josh Kroeger.

Conor/Carlos will get promoted to AAA by the end and not to the majors (they're not on the 40 man roster yet). According to an underling subbing for Tommy Jones on the Farm Report, Josh Kroeger and Jerry Gil (who Mark Grace said had the best infield arm he'd ever seen) will be up. I wonder what they intend to do with Jerry Gil next year. He's still fairly young and has hit for some power, but for a low average with no walks and lots of strikeouts.

 

[Evil Ash]

Where did you hear Edwin Jackson's name mentioned?

Peter Gammons mentioned him on Baseball Tonight.

They also said they have some late breaking news as it comes to RJ. I'll keep everyone posted

 

[Evil Ash]

Peter Gammons says he's leaning towards staying.

 

[NJYAJ09]

2005 Arizona Diamondbacks

CF- Luis Tererro
SS- Edgar Renteria
LF- Luis Gonzalez
1B- Richie Sexson
RF- Jayson Werth
2B- Scott Hairston
3B- Chad Tracy
C- Koyie Hill

BENCH: Matt Kata
BENCH: Juan Brito
BENCH: Tim Olsen
BENCH: Quentin McCracken

SP- Brad Penny
SP- Brandon Webb
SP- Eric Milton
SP- Edwin Jackson
SP- Casey Fossum

CL: Eddie Guardado
SU: Jose Valverde
SU: Chad Fox
LRP: Steve Sparks
MR: Oscar Villareal
MR: Mike Koplove
MR: Greg Aquino

FA signings: Chad Fox, Eddie Guardado, Eric Milton, Edgar Renteria

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

There's no way we are going to be able to sign Renteria, Milton, Guardado, and Sexson. Remember we're cutting payroll after this year to $55 million. These four contract will probably add up to at least $35 million plus Gonzo's $10 mil give you less than $10 mil to spend on twenty players. With Penny eligible for arbitration he'll take up most of that remaining money. Not going to happen.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

Where did you hear Edwin Jackson's name mentioned?

http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/N...0730&content_id=814270&vkey=news_la&fext=.jsp

"And DePodesta is reported to have deals in place to obtain Arizona pitcher and four-time Cy Young winner Randy Johnson and outfielder Steve Finley by sending the Diamondbacks Penny, outfielder Jayson Werth, pitcher Edwin Jackson and minor leaguers. Finley already has waived his no-trade clause for a trade to Los Angeles, Randy Johnson has not."

I felt it was unlikely to get Jackson as well but according to this it's likely for RJ. If this trade goes down, we have a chance to be very good again in short time. Penny, Webb, Murphy, Billingley, and Jackson would scare the NL for a long time.

Conor/Carlos will get promoted to AAA by the end and not to the majors (they're not on the 40 man roster yet). According to an underling subbing for Tommy Jones on the Farm Report, Josh Kroeger and Jerry Gil (who Mark Grace said had the best infield arm he'd ever seen) will be up. I wonder what they intend to do with Jerry Gil next year. He's still fairly young and has hit for some power, but for a low average with no walks and lots of strikeouts.

My bad on Quentin and Jackson. I have heard good things about Kroeger and am excited to see him in September.