What to do this offseason?

[overseascardfan]

Should we just get pitching through free agency now that we seem to be set with our lineup especially with position prospects in the minors? With no pitchers ready were looking at this rotation next year:

Javier Vazquez - Inconsistent but dominating at times, may ask for trade
Brandon Webb - Very reliable and good numbers this year
Claudio Vargas - Has become the ace of the staff
Brad Halsey - Not just a throw in from the Big Unit trade anymore
Russ Ortiz - Must find a way to get rid of him
* Shawn Estes - Will be a free agent and most likely will not be back

If so there are some good pitchers out there:

A.J. Burnett - Probably the best SP on the market
Jeff Weaver - Getting him would take away from division rival
Jarrod Washburn - Decent LHP
Matt Morris - Ace type stuff
Ted Lilly - Another god LHP

Some guys w/ team or player options:

Jason Schmidt - Enough said
Jeff Supan - Former D'back who has put up some good numbers
Woody Williams - Productive pitcher last few years
Mark Redman - Drew interest from many teams before trade deadline

Relief Pitchers:

Kyle Farnsworth - Power Righty
Mike Timlin - Dependable
Octavio Dotel - Closer we need
Ugueth Urbina - Another closer option
Felix Rodriguez - Another former D'Back
Tom Gordon - Good RP

 

[nathan]

Jeff Weaver - Not that good. Dodgers might rather he stay in the division so they can face him.
Matt Morris - I really liked him when the Dbacks played the Cardinals in '01. His ace stuff is gone.
Ted Lilly - Wouldn't mind him if the price is right


Guys that I wouldn't consider giving much money to because there's a 50/50 chance that they'll be bad:
Jeff Suppan
Woody Williams
Mark Redman

Relief Pitchers:
Kyle Farnsworth - good arm
Mike Timlin - Old pitchers lose effectiveness quickly
Octavio Dotel - Elbow surgery???
Ugueth Urbina - Maybe if price is right
Felix Rodriguez - Older Greg Aquino

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

Sign nobody and trade anybody you can that makes more money than Brandon Webb.

 

[Diamondback Jay]

Should we just get pitching through free agency now that we seem to be set with our lineup especially with position prospects in the minors? With no pitchers ready were looking at this rotation next year:

Javier Vazquez - Inconsistent but dominating at times, may ask for trade
Brandon Webb - Very reliable and good numbers this year
Claudio Vargas - Has become the ace of the staff
Brad Halsey - Not just a throw in from the Big Unit trade anymore
Russ Ortiz - Must find a way to get rid of him
* Shawn Estes - Will be a free agent and most likely will not be back

Here's my two cents on what the D-Backs should do with this staff.

Vazquez: I like Javier, but facts are he's too inconsistent and makes WAY too much money to stick around. Fortunately, he's still got enough value IMO that someone out there in need of starting pitching (Texas, are you listening?) will take a flier on him and perhaps might throw some solid prospects our direction.

Webb, Vargas and Hasley: Obviously, you keep these guys and work your staff around them.

Ortiz: Like Vazquez, his numbers both financially and on the field make keeping him a difficult pill to swallow. Unfortunately, unlike Vazquez, Ortiz at this point has zero value, so basically Arizona's stuck with him and all we can hope for is that he starts pitching like the pitcher we saw in San Francisco and Atlanta for all those years.

Estes: Basically, from the get-go, Shawn looked like a one-year rental. I'd be shocked if he's brought back.

Now... on to the pitchers you suggested the Diamondbacks look at.

A.J. Burnett: As talented as they come with his stuff, however two things scare me off.. Number One, his asking price. From what I'm gathering, he's going to be looking for a contract in the 9-10 million dollar a year price range. Being he's had multiple shoulder surgeries, I'd avoid him at that price tag.

Jeff Weaver: Weaver is a bit enigmatic. On one hand, I don't think he's anywhere near as good as he was looking in Detroit. On the other hand, I don't think he's anywhere near as bad as he looked with the Yankees. Weaver would be a solid 3-4 pitcher, and getting him away from the Dodgers is an added plus, but at what price? If the bidding goes beyond 5-6 million a year, I'd pass.

Jarrod Washburn: Another sheer enigma. This guy was one of the best pitchers in baseball in 2002. Since then however, he's looked very average. Like Weaver, I wouldn't be 100 percent opposed to signing the guy, especially if he can perhaps recapture the lightning in a bottle he had in '02.

Matt Morris: He definately does have Ace stuff, however like Burnett has a history of arm/elbow troubles. By the numbers he's put up this season, I'm assuming he's going to command a healthy chunk of change on the free agent market, and like Burnett, I'd be weary of throwing too much of it his direction.

Ted Lilly: Of the names you mentioned, I'd MOST like to see Arizona get him. However, I have a real hunch with all the talks Toronto has had about expanding their payroll next season, that their first priority would be re-signing him.

Jason Schmidt: Call me foolish here, but I think Schmidt's better days are behind him. He's starting to show wear and tear (also has had a history of arm troubles) so I'd be weary of this guy and let the Yanks or Boston blow their stash on him.

Jeff Suppan: He'd be an upgrade over Estes. That much I'll give him. I wouldn't be too terribly against seeing Suppan return to Arizona.

Woody Williams: Getting up there in the years

Mark Redman: Pittsburgh has an $8 million dollar option on him for next year and for a while, the Pirates strongly considered picking it up (they still might). I don't know what he's going to be asking for on the market, but I know he'd be a damned fool to turn down $8 million (should the Pirates decide to pick it up) when he's not going to make anywhere close to that. If they elect to pass on him, he's not a bad veteran to have in the staff.


Relief Pitchers:

Kyle Farnsworth: Maybe he can kick the crap out of Ortiz and slap him back in to shape. I see Atlanta re-signing him though.

Mike Timlin: Dependable.. Also, old.

Octavio Dotel: As mentioned by NM, he's coming off of major surgery.

Ugueth Urbina: Very sporatic. I wouldn't be opposed to either he or Dotel if the price is right.

Felix Rodriguez: Ehhhh..

Tom Gordon: Gordon might not be too bad on a one-year deal.