For all the attention the Giants have received on the Beltran trade, the Diamondbacks quietly continue to hang in there, sitting just two games off the pace in the NL West. They've remade their Brandon Webb/Dan Haren-led rotation of the mid-to-late aughts into a staff led by Dan Hudson and Ian Kennedy, who have talent, youth, and a low price tag on their side. Still, GM Kevin Towers recognized the lack of ability at the back of the rotation, and addressed the problem by acquiring Jason Marquis from the Nationals for minor league shortstop Zach Walters, the 29th-best prospect in the organization per Baseball America. Marquis has bounced back impressively from last year's disaster season to post a solid 3.75 FIP, thanks to career lows in walk rate (2.9/9 IP) and home run rate (0.6/9 IP). He's exactly the kind of innings eater who fits well on a young staff trying to make it to the finish line.
The D-backs also picked up side-arming right-hander Brad Ziegler from the A's. If deployed correctly, Ziegler can be an elite reliever, his submarine delivery yielding a microscopic 2.02 FIP vs. right-handers; keep him away from lefties, though (4.10 FIP against). We're deducting points for giving up power-hitting first baseman Brandon Allen (more on him shortly). We're then adding points back for Arizona's ability to make solid upgrades. The Snake have a shot this year. But with Stephen Drew's absence hurting their chances in 2011, and a good foundation in place for the next few years, there was no reason to give up key pieces from the team's core.
http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/6824419/part-2-victors
The D-backs also picked up side-arming right-hander Brad Ziegler from the A's. If deployed correctly, Ziegler can be an elite reliever, his submarine delivery yielding a microscopic 2.02 FIP vs. right-handers; keep him away from lefties, though (4.10 FIP against). We're deducting points for giving up power-hitting first baseman Brandon Allen (more on him shortly). We're then adding points back for Arizona's ability to make solid upgrades. The Snake have a shot this year. But with Stephen Drew's absence hurting their chances in 2011, and a good foundation in place for the next few years, there was no reason to give up key pieces from the team's core.
http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/6824419/part-2-victors
