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Arizona Diamondbacks

2012 – Finished third in NL West

Record: 81-81

In a division that gave us the World Series champions of 2012, it’s easy to forget about the Arizona Diamondbacks. The San Francisco Giants’ success, coupled with the fact that the division-rival Dodgers are spending more money than any team in the major leagues, means the Diamondbacks will be hoping for some sort of recognition in 2013.

Last year was a major disappointment for several reasons. A .500 record over a 162-game season is OK if you are a team on the rebound, but Arizona were the NL West champions in 2011 and they didn’t come close to defending their crown, finishing 13 games back and seven back in the wild card. They had a roster packed with young talent and expected to do more.

It has been a very busy offseason for the Diamondbacks – GM Kevin Towers has been as proactive as anyone – but although his shopping list of a shortstop, third baseman, power arm for the back of the bullpen, situational left-hander for the bullpen and starting pitcher were all ticked off – his questionable decisions, particularly trading away 25-year-old Justin Upton, mean Arizona’s outlook for 2013 is precarious at best.

INGOINGS

SS Cliff Pennington, Didi Gregorious, Nick Ahmed
SP Brandon McCarthy
RHP Heath Bell, Randall Delgado, Zeke Spruill
LHP Matt Reynolds, Tony Sipp
1B Lars Anderson
3B Martin Prado, Brandon Drury, Eric Chavez
RF Cody Ross, Eric Hinske

OUTGOINGS

SS Yordy Cabrera
RHP Trevor Bauer, Matt Albers, Bryan Shaw
1B/3B Ryan Wheeler
3B Chris Johnson
RF Justin Upton
CF Chris Young

Outfielders

With Arizona it’s definitely worth starting with the outfield moves during the hot stove period, their most controversial area of dealings this winter. It has been common knowledge for over a year that the number one draft pick Justin Upton – just 25 years of age and entering his prime – was never a favourite of GM Towers or manager Kirk Gibson.  Those two believed he lacked the intensity and hard-nosed play that Arizona felt it needed in order to compete, but it makes no sense to get rid of a potential 40 home run, 100 RBI man. Upton has hitting prowess, is a capable defender and finished fourth overall in NL-MVP voting in 2010. Upton was sent to Atlanta to join brother B.J., while Arizona acquired Martin Prado and Randall Delgado. Upton is an MVP candidate when healthy, a number three hitter with speed and power. That was obviously good enough reason for Towers to trade him.

A small positive from all of this is that Arizona still has Jason Kubel in leftfield, who led the team last year in home runs (30) and RBIs (90).

Trading Chris Young to Oakland is another strange one when you consider Young was an All Star in 2010. The outfielder is 29, and although he is perpetually disappointing, is also a potentially dynamic outfielder. Most baffling are the players coming in for him (Heath Bell and Cliff Pennington), but we’ll get to those guys later.

Cody Ross signed a three-year, $26-million contract with Arizona in December and is, in all intents and purposes, here to replace Young. Ross is three years older than Young and despite a career season with Boston last year is essentially a fourth outfielder. Ross hit 22 home runs and drove in 81 runs for the Red Sox in 2012, but averages just .262 at the plate over his career, a similar trait to Young. With older signings a recurring theme here, Towers clearly thinks he can ‘win now’ with these moves.

Infielders

The above mentioned Pennington was part of the Chris Young trade, so here are some numbers for you. The shortstop hit .215 for Oakland last season while posting an OPS of .589. Pennington was a late-inning defensive replacement for the A’s in 2012, but will be used as the starting shortstop in Arizona.

As a way of mitigating the loss of Justin Upton, Towers extended the incoming Martin Prado’s contract through 2016. The third baseman was set to be a free agent after the 2013 season but is now under contract with the Diamondbacks for longer than Upton would have been. Prado has been in Atlanta all his career (he is 29) and last year batted .301 with 10 HRs, 70 RBIs, 186 hits and a .345 OBP.

Newly acquired shortstop Didi Gregorius will also be running for the starting position but will begin the season on the DL with a strained UCL ligament. That isn’t a tough break for Towers though, who didn’t bother to give Gregorius a physical.

Third baseman Eric Chavez comes in at third base (behind Prado, but he is a utility player), and last year with the Yankees filled in nicely for Alex Rodriguez (16 HRs, 37 RBIs).

Catchers

Miguel Montero will be the starting backstop at Chase Field this year. He played in 141 games last year, hitting 15 long balls and 88 RBIs while hitting for a healthy .286 average.

Wil Nieves will provide backup. His 2012: Games 32, AB 83, AVG .301, HR 2, RBI 8.

Starters

Brandon McCarthy is the new face in the Diamondbacks staff and will join left-handers Wade Miley – who led Arizona with 16 wins last year – and Patrick Corbin (6-8), along with righties Ian Kennedy (15-12 last season) and Trevor Cahill (13-12).

McCarthy was the opening day starter for Oakland last season but in September took a line drive to the head and subsequently underwent surgery but has recovered to sign a two-year, $15.5million contract with Arizona. He was 8-6 with a 3.24 ERA before the accident, and could yet be one of the big surprises this season.

Relievers

J.J. Putz had 32 saves last year and will resume his role again. 35 year-old Heath Bell comes in from Miami after practically killing their season in April last year. He finished 2012 with an ERA of 5.09 and is projected to be a mop-up reliever.

Matt Reynolds and Tony Sipp join David Hernandez (2-3, 2.50 ERA) and Brad Ziegler (6-1, 2.49 ERA) in the bullpen.

2013 PREDICTION: 74-88 (Fourth in NL West)

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ATLANTA BRAVES