Your 2004 Arizona Diamondbacks?

[KingLouieLouie]

With all these trade rumors circulating, the roster is obviously in flux.... It may be too early to speculate on what the make-up of the '04 roster may be, but if all of this comes to fuition, this is how I see it......

Starting Line-up

1. Steve Finley-CF
2. Matt Kata-2B
3. Luis Gonzalez-LF
4. Ritchie Sexson-1B
5. Shea Hillenbrand-3B
6. Robbie Hammock-RF
7. Alex Cintron-SS
8. Rod Barajas-C

They will definitely pursue a FA RF and Hammock will be '04 version of Counsell (who might receive the same fate that Matt Williams and Jay Bell did last year).....

The bench will be interesting..... I see Spivey, Bautista, and Moeller being traded.... They should re-sign Baerga ASAP..... I hope McCracken is finally gone.....

Chad Tracey would more than likely will make the roster out of Spring Training.... The Dbacks would probably carry 13-pitchers and 12-position players to start the season.....

Pitching wise:

Rotation:
Johnson
Webb
Dessens
Capuano
Good/Patterson

Middle-relief:
Villarreal
Koplove
Randolph (LH specialist)
Édgar González
Orosco?????
Another FA reliever?

Closer: Valverde

Wonder if Gosling will finally prove that he his a ML caliber starter? That would certainly dictate a lot...

Mantei should be traded and Miguel Batista still could be re-signed for marginal money....

I wouldnt be shocked if both Lyons/Fossum are dealt with Spivey and Bautista to get Sexson......

Obviously this is all speculation and quite hypothetical.... This is just how I foresee the roster shaping up.....

 

[minercon]

If Shilling leaves we just better get Batista back or we are stone soup. I can't believe they are going to trade him. Colangelo must be hurting for cash....BIG TIME. J and S were our 1-2 punch. BTW, if Hammock plays RF then we can't trade away Moeller unless Brenley wants to catch if Barajas goes down. Of course, they could bring someone up from triple A. We need 3 catchers on the team at all times. I'm beginning to get real disgusted with all the trades the C's do with the teams they run. I think they ought to sell the D'Backs and Suns and buy the Cardinals real cheap....then they can trade to their hearts content, because the only way is up for them and the fans in that situation.

 

[KingLouieLouie]

The believe it's best for the Diamondbacks to trade Schilling now so they can get anything of value in return for him.... How many times has a team knew a player isn't in their long-term plans and just let him walk for nothing?

This is shrewd of Jerry C and co. to remain competitive even when reducing the payroll..... It's just extremely critical for the Dbacks to acquire Sexson......

 

[Ryanwb]

If Joe Jr. finds a taker for Mantei and we don't have to take any huge salaries in return....he should instantly be named GM of the year.

 

[KingLouieLouie]

Originally posted by Ryanwb
If Joe Jr. finds a taker for Mantei and we don't have to take any huge salaries in return....he should instantly be named GM of the year.

The only scenario they can hope is that a contender loses their reliever in Spring Training and is in dire need of a closer... Mantei more than likely would be the first one targeted.....

 

[Ryanwb]

Love your avatar and sig

 

[KingLouieLouie]

Originally posted by Ryanwb
Love your avatar and sig

Thanks....Always will think of what might have been?... Oh well....

 

[Ryanwb]

Originally posted by KingLouieLouie
Thanks....Always will think of what might have been?... Oh well....

I just watched the AIC Unplugged DVD last night....how weird

 

[devilalum]

Originally posted by KingLouieLouie
The only scenario they can hope is that a contender loses their reliever in Spring Training and is in dire need of a closer... Mantei more than likely would be the first one targeted.....

Maybe they can trade Mantei for a servicable right fielder that just needs a change of address.

 

[KingLouieLouie]

Originally posted by devilalum
Maybe they can trade Mantei for a servicable right fielder that just needs a change of address.

That could actually happen if they shred Spivey's and Bautista's salaries from the payroll..... I don't have the figures of what they both earn in front of me, but it has to be roughly $5-10 million for '04 alone....

just watched the AIC Unplugged DVD last night....how weird

Probably Layne's spirit is being channeled by everyone.... I just have to say it right now.... The killer wasn't me........

 

[Stan C]

I've got to agree with Ryan, I don't think we will find many takers for Mantei at over 7 million.
But as long as we're playing fantasy baseball, why not start a rumor of Mantei and Bautista for Trot Nixon, save salary and improve. The last piece the Red Sox need is a good closer, and a healthy Mantei fits that bill.

 

[KingLouieLouie]

I'm not necessarily "tooting my own horn" here, but it seems most of my speculation has been right thus far after both major trades.... I plan on keeping this thread updated until Opening
Day...

With Moeller being traded, it appears that the team has complete faith in Barajas being the every day catcher and Hammock replacing Counsell in his role.... The key advantage to today's trade is that they indeed did remove Spivey's (possibly Counsell's) salary for the '04 season, which might free-up some funds to either re-sign Mondesi or acquire a power-hitting RF....

The only player I'm disappointing in them losing is Capuano since it appears he can be "lights out" starter... Lyons and Fossum though can easily fill that void....

The next trade should definitely involve Mantei..... They should release Bautista since it appears he doesnt have any redeemable value with his salary.....

 

[DbaxJ]

Hammock will be the everyday catcher.. with Barajas sucking up backup duty. Robby is an excellent catcher, and a solid back up anywhere on the infield and even the outfield. He was used as a back up because of a problem with his arm that needed some time off. He has a better than average bat, by that I mean average by the standards who we have had behind the plate recently.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

Originally posted by DbaxJ
Hammock will be the everyday catcher.. with Barajas sucking up backup duty. Robby is an excellent catcher, and a solid back up anywhere on the infield and even the outfield. He was used as a back up because of a problem with his arm that needed some time off. He has a better than average bat, by that I mean average by the standards who we have had behind the plate recently.

An excellent catcher? From what I remember, teams would run at will on him. He is clearly the better offensive player, but Barajas is a much better catcher. Too bad Rod can't hit.

 

[Ryanwb]

Originally posted by ASUCHRIS
An excellent catcher? From what I remember, teams would run at will on him. He is clearly the better offensive player, but Barajas is a much better catcher. Too bad Rod can't hit.

I didn't really get to see Hammock play that much behind the plate to make a decision on his defensive capabilities. He made a few nice stops that I can remember, but his delivery time to 2nd base was an issue if I remember. I think he can work on his technique though and iron out a few of those issues. He is valuable because he can play so many positions.

 

[KingLouieLouie]

I personally feel that Hammock's value will decrease dramatically if he becomes the every day catcher, especially with his versatility being his biggest asset....

They might be able to sign a FA catcher to minimal contract or do they have enough fate in Ansman or Cresse being the 2nd string catcher (considering that Hammock would platoon in RF and ocassionally spell Sexson at 1B).......


The following came from this link

The Diamondbacks' payroll, about $94 million last season, is at $77.5 million and will stay around $80 million for the coming season, Colangelo said. Arizona's overall payroll rose by about $3 million with the Sexson trade, he said.

To ammend what I said earlier, the Diamondbacks are more in need of speed, but I don't believe $2.5 would be adequate to lure back Mondesi or sign Shannon Stewart and insert him in the lead-off spot and put Finley back at #6....Or would they consider giving Terrero a shot in RF (if he recovers from his injury in time) or do they put Tracey in RF? (as someone mentioned in another thread).... It will be interesting to see how this all sorts out.....

 

[Ryanwb]

Originally posted by KingLouieLouie
To ammend what I said earlier, the Diamondbacks are more in need of speed, but I don't believe $2.5 would be adequate to lure back Mondesi or sign Shannon Stewart and insert him in the lead-off spot and put Finley back at #6....Or would they consider giving Terrero a shot in RF (if he recovers from his injury in time) or do they put Tracey in RF? (as someone mentioned in another thread).... It will be interesting to see how this all sorts out.....

I agree with you that speed is definately an issue in this lineup. There is ZERO base stealing threats in this lineup. Unless they could find a sucker to take Finley, Mantei or Bautista I don't think someone like Shannon Stewart is in the cards. Stewart would be awesome, I loved how he changed the Twins lineup last year after the trade

 

[KingLouieLouie]

I just checked to see what McCracken is slated to earn in '04...
A staggering $1.75 mil! (doesnt include incentives). And for what?
Bautista is slated for $3 mil.....

The biggest blunder Jerry C and Co. committed was to sign Bautista to that 3-yr contract opposed to keeping Reggie Sanders (they could have overcame their differences after what happened in the '01 WS).....At least Sanders had a proven track record over Bautista who managed to get hot for a brief period....

Also,why did they sign Dessens for a multi year deal? He can only pitch 4-5 innings per start....They should have signed him to a 1-yr incentive laden deal with an option for 2-more years.....

But $4.75 million for McCracken and Bautista....Words just escape me at this time.....

Speed is definitely a must because it seemed they always did run themselves out of the inning more than anything (but sometimes it was poor coaching by Eddie Rodriguez) or couldnt execute the proper "small ball" mentality that it seems Brenly often resorts to...

They could acquire Stewart if they could release McCracken and hope someone is willing to take on half of his '04 salary.....

 

[schillingfan]

The Sexson deal added $3 mil to the D-Backs payroll. However, they cut over $35 mil not counting that deal.

Contracts gone from last year - Williams $11 mil, Womack $6.5 mil, Swindell $2.35 mil, Myers $1.75 mil, Botallico $1.5 mil (I didn't realize that was a guaranteed contract), Grace $1.75 mil and the biggie Schilling $12 mil (though only $6 mil last year).

And you cannot believe those payroll numbers from Jerry Colangelo - they count deferred payments from past years. So when he says payroll last year was $90 mil, that isn't true ACTUAL payroll was $75 mil. So when he says he wants $75 mil this year he means $60 mil in ACTUAL payroll.

That puts the D-Backs among the bottom feeders of MLB.

 

[mark1]

That puts the D-Backs among the bottom feeders of MLB.


And bottom feeding we shall remain for along time.

 

[KingLouieLouie]

Originally posted by mark1
That puts the D-Backs among the bottom feeders of MLB.


And bottom feeding we shall remain for along time.

The key being, that most of their main contributors are definitely not being paid near where they're worth. Quality is the essence.
When most of those players are past their 6th year, then that will be a major concern then. With prospects like Carlos Quentin, Conor Jackson, Jesus Cota, Sergio Santos, Brian Bruney, and Luis Terrero, the long-term future seems bright....

 

[KingLouieLouie]

Baerga Re-Signs

Good move!

Baerga re-signs with D-Backs



Associated Press
Dec. 5, 2003 12:00 AM


Infielder Carlos Baerga stayed with the Diamondbacks, agreeing Friday to a one-year contract.

Baerga, 35, came to the team last season as a free agent and established a club record with 19 pinch hits. His .345 average on pinch-hit at-bats was tops among all major league players with at least 40 pinch-hit at-bats.

Baerga also started 15 games at second base, 13 at first and four at third.

He hit .343 with four homers and 39 RBIs in 105 games.

 

[devilalum]

Originally posted by schillingfan
The Sexson deal added $3 mil to the D-Backs payroll. However, they cut over $35 mil not counting that deal.

Contracts gone from last year - Williams $11 mil, Womack $6.5 mil, Swindell $2.35 mil, Myers $1.75 mil, Botallico $1.5 mil (I didn't realize that was a guaranteed contract), Grace $1.75 mil and the biggie Schilling $12 mil (though only $6 mil last year).

And you cannot believe those payroll numbers from Jerry Colangelo - they count deferred payments from past years. So when he says payroll last year was $90 mil, that isn't true ACTUAL payroll was $75 mil. So when he says he wants $75 mil this year he means $60 mil in ACTUAL payroll.

That puts the D-Backs among the bottom feeders of MLB.

When are they done with all the deferments?

I figured you got traded with Curt?

 

[mark1]

Schillingfan

Are you posting on the sosh board yet? Curt is posting quite a bit over there.

 

[schillingfan]

Nope, haven't even gone to the SOSH board. I became a fan of the D-Backs (second to the Phillies) when Curt was traded there. It's pretty hard to be a fan of three teams. Two is enough. I'll watch his games, but really the RedSox just are not likeable the way the 2001 D-Backs were. That was a great team.