Who DO you want the Dbacks to sign?

[devilfan02]

There's obvioulsy another thread about who we don't want to sign so I figured I get this one up.

Starting Pitching-

I would love to see us get Jason Schmidt. I know there are several here that don't like this idea and I understand. My basis for wanting Schmidt is he's well worth the risk (age and injury) as I think he can be dominant while serving out one more contract. He has averaged just under 200 IP since the 2001 season and his ERA and K's have been in the top-10 of the NL nearly every season in that time. He would be a great compliment to Webb (expensive, I know). We got outbid for the Japanese pitcher, Zito is not a good fit at Chase and will be more expensive, Ted Lilly is a fly ball pitcher as well who I'm not intrigued by. Tom Glavine just filed for FA but he'll prob either pitch for NYM or ATL. I think Byrnes should try hard to sign Schmidt.

There are plenty of other pitchers who are not as good that we can look at. List includes Jeff Weaver, Jeff Suppan, Gil Meche, Randy Wolfe. I'm undecided at who of those I would want, if any.

Relief Pitchers-

Byrnes should take a good look at Justin Speier, right handed relief pitcher who played for Toronto this past season. Many regard him as the best set-up man on the free agent market and think he has the physical and mental skills to make the leap to the closer role. He has three pitches that he throws with great command- low-90's fastball, slider, and a spliter that's his strikeout pitch. Before his stint in Toronto, Speier pitched and faired well as a set up man in Colorado. He would be a great addition

Also take a look at Keith Foulke. If he is finally healthy he could be a decent addition to the pen. Who knows though, this guy has proved to be extremely unreliable while in the bigs. Teams continually give up on or trade him which is a sign of thinigs to come. He has a home here and has made it clear he wants to play close to home next season. Hometown discount worthy?

Power bat-

Not sure yet. It starting to look like we will have to add a bat through a trade. Too bad Frank Thomas can't play in the field, he would be a good short term plug-in. I gotta take a look at some options, Soraino/Lee/Ramirez obvioulsy not among them

 

[HooverDam]

Please no Jeff Suppan. He is a one year playoff wonder. I lived in St Louis the last 4 years and have watched him a lot, I promise if he came here he would stink up the place. I'd only want him if it was on the super cheap, as like a #5 starter- which won't happen since his value will be overestimated because of this year.

As far as position players go, the team is nearly set. Though I wouldn't mind moving either CoJack or Tracy. Neither seem like they'll ever get it going defensively, and their skills are somewhat redundant offensively. It would be nice to have a power bat at one of the corners.

The only offensive position the team probably needs help at is catcher, but thatll probably be more of a cheap veteran type player, like a Barajas or Stinett. I just hope one of the baby backs can develop some power.

As far as pitching goes, I'd like to see Ted Lily maybe as a back of the rotation type of guy. Mark Moulder would be a great one to pair w/ Webby. Gil Meche from Seattle could be someone who could fill Miguel Batistas role, plus he's only 28. I'd also like to try Kerry Wood as a reliever, see if you can get him on a small deal, could be a small risk/big reward type of situation.

Also, did we officially lose out on the Japanese pitcher?

 

[Evil Ash]

Also, did we officially lose out on the Japanese pitcher?

Yup the Red Sox won the rights to negotiate with him

 

[overseascardfan]

Mulder and Zito, best young SP's in FA market, Wood as closer like John Smoltz, no big bat but veteran depth at C, OF.

 

[FArting]

randy wolf

we can do the wolfpack like the fans did in philly

 

[Treesquid PhD]

Mulder

 

[overseascardfan]

Cheap, efficient route Redman & Meche.

 

[devilfan02]

Meche is far from cheap.......

 

[Diamondback Jay]

Randy Wolf, Mark Mulder and Keith Foulke.

 

[overseascardfan]

Meche is far from cheap.......

Compared to Zito and Schmidt he will be.

 

[Diamondback Jay]

Compared to Zito and Schmidt he will be.

Yeah, but that's akin to saying compared to Soriano's, Gary Matthews is cheap.

 

[devilfan02]

Compared to Zito and Schmidt he will be.

Would you rather get complete mediocrity (Meche) for around 10 per year or Schmidt who could very easly give us the Randy/Curt punch next year for 15-18 per year? Schmidt would give us one of the best 1-2 punches in all of baseball. Sure he will cost us money but having pitchers like Webb, Schmidt, and Livan could get us very deep in the playoffs. The same can't be said about a rotation consisting of Webb, Livan, Meche

 

[Espo]

Would you rather get complete mediocrity (Meche) for around 10 per year or Schmidt who could very easly give us the Randy/Curt punch next year for 15-18 per year? Schmidt would give us one of the best 1-2 punches in all of baseball. Sure he will cost us money but having pitchers like Webb, Schmidt, and Livan could get us very deep in the playoffs. The same can't be said about a rotation consisting of Webb, Livan, Meche

I'm sorry but comparing a Webb Schmidt rotation to Randy, Curt is a bit of a stretch. I mean Schmidt is on the decline he has lost up to 8 miles an hour off his fastball and he wont throw breaking balls because of elbow pain. I think he is as big a risk as Mulder. I wouldn't want to pay 15-18 mil for him when you could make a trade for a better pitcher at a better price.

 

[overseascardfan]

Would you rather get complete mediocrity (Meche) for around 10 per year or Schmidt who could very easly give us the Randy/Curt punch next year for 15-18 per year? Schmidt would give us one of the best 1-2 punches in all of baseball. Sure he will cost us money but having pitchers like Webb, Schmidt, and Livan could get us very deep in the playoffs. The same can't be said about a rotation consisting of Webb, Livan, Meche

Due to health issues I would not go for 15-18 mil a year. I admit Meche is mediocre and has had some health issues but at 8 mil a year that is what #4 and 5 SP's are getting. I would rather trade a couple of elite prospects and get a D-Train or Santana, who deserve 15 mil a year than sign Schmidt for that much

 

[devilfan02]

Part of the problem is nearly all the frontline starters you say we should trade for are untouchable. Willis is off limits so what makes you think Peavy, Carpenter, and freaking Johan Santana are available?????? We could package Drew, Upton, and Young together and we wouldn't be able to get a pitcher of Santana or Carpenters caliber. If we think we want a frontline starter, 15-18 million for a guy like Schmidt is the most logical option. I would much rather give that type of money to Schmidt then trade Young, Montero, and another top notch prospect for Willis

 

[Espo]

Part of the problem is nearly all the frontline starters you say we should trade for are untouchable. Willis is off limits so what makes you think Peavy, Carpenter, and freaking Johan Santana are available?????? We could package Drew, Upton, and Young together and we wouldn't be able to get a pitcher of Santana or Carpenters caliber. If we think we want a frontline starter, 15-18 million for a guy like Schmidt is the most logical option. I would much rather give that type of money to Schmidt then trade Young, Montero, and another top notch prospect for Willis

Peavy has be rumored to be on the block for the past two weeks but there is no way the Padres trade him to a team in their same division. I agree though with you that Willis is off limits and Carpenter and Johan Santana will never be dealt. I think you can get a second tier pitcher like a Freddy Garcia or a Burhele from the White Sox for a cheaper price in a trade which would benefit the dbacks more than an expensive contract to Schmidt that could anchor down this team for years.

 

[devilfan02]

Peavy has be rumored to be on the block for the past two weeks but there is no way the Padres trade him to a team in their same division. I agree though with you that Willis is off limits and Carpenter and Johan Santana will never be dealt. I think you can get a second tier pitcher like a Freddy Garcia or a Burhele from the White Sox for a cheaper price in a trade which would benefit the dbacks more than an expensive contract to Schmidt that could anchor down this team for years.

Now I'll agree with that. Beurhle is intriguing although he has become very inconsistent. Either way we look at it, getting a frontline guy will "break the bank." Would you rather spend money or prospects? To truly become a serious threat it will have to with good pitching. We don't have a Pujols or a Sheffield type bat to save us. I would prefer to spend the money to get a legit #2 but I'm also not the one writing the check.

 

[Espo]

Now I'll agree with that. Beurhle is intriguing although he has become very inconsistent. Either way we look at it, getting a frontline guy will "break the bank." Would you rather spend money or prospects? To truly become a serious threat it will have to with good pitching. We don't have a Pujols or a Sheffield type bat to save us. I would prefer to spend the money to get a legit #2 but I'm also not the one writing the check.

See I am a believer in the fact that you build up your farm system not only to give you big league talent but to make trades. If you could trade an Alberto Callaspo or a Chris Young, positions you have people who can play at, then it would be very tempting. The beauty of having some money and a solid farm system is the chances to get better increase greatly. Plus in a deal for prospects you are usually dealing from a position of strength and we could get proven talent for unproven talent. Either way we need more pitching like you said to be a contender. I wouldn't be shocked if Dana Eveland turns into a decent pitcher and could help out at the back end of the rotation.

 

[devilfan02]

Darren Oliver is still on the market and would be a quality signing. He's a solid lefty reliever who held lefties to a .208 batting avg last season. I have no idea what kind of money/years he's looking for but he would be an instant upgrade to our bullpen.

It also seems to become more evident that Byrnes is opting to go with the trade market as opposed to signing eitehr Mulder/Ohka. I really hope that the David Wells rumor was very false. Not sure who he can swing a deal with and for who...