Regular
season record: 77-85
Second in NL West, 5 games back of San Diego Padres
Home Park: Chase Field
New Faces:
Jeff
Bajenaru (RP) - Trade with Chicago White Sox
Luis Vizcaino (RP) - Trade with Chicago White Sox
Chris Young (CF) - Trade with Chicago White Sox
Jason Bulger (RP) - Trade with Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Miguel Batista (SP) - Trade with Toronto Blue Jays
Orlando Hudson (2B) - Trade with Toronto Blue Jays
Orlando Hernandez (SP) - Trade with Chicago White Sox
Johnny Estrada (C) - Trade with Atlanta Braves
Flex Heredia (RP) - Minor League Contract
Terry Mulholland (SP) - Minor League Contract
Jeff DaVanon (OF) - Free Agency
Eric Byrnes (CF) - Free Agency
Jason Grimsley (RP) - Free Agency
Damion Easley (IF) - Free Agency
Looking for Greener Pastures Elsewhere:
Alex
Cintron (IF) - Trade with Chicago White Sox
Javier Vazquez (SP) - Trade with Chicago White Sox
Alberto Callaspo (2B) - Trade with Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Troy Glaus (3B) - Trade with Toronto Blue Jays
Sergio Santos (SS) - Trade with Toronto Blue Jays
Lance Cormier (RP) - Trade with Atlanta Braves
Oscar Villarreal (RP) - Trade with Atlanta Braves
Royce Clayton (SS) - Decline of Arbitration
Shawn Estes (SP) - Decline of Arbitration
Michael Gosling (RP) - Designated for Assignment
The Skinny: Changes are aplenty in Arizona and they all started when GM Josh Byrnes took over the team after the departure of Joseph Garagiola Jr. Coming over from Boston, Byrnes brings a classroom education from Harvard and on-the-job with Theo Epstein. He wasted no time turning over some key positions on the roster, bringing in Hudson and Estrada. The biggest improvement is easily on defense, where Brandon Webb will finally have solid help up the middle to stop all the ground balls he produced at a 3.5:1 goundball/flyball ratio last year. While this year acts as a rebuilding project, there’s still enough talent on the team to compete in an otherwise weak NL West. It only took 82 games to win the division last year and the D-Backs could be capable of at least winning 80.
Strengths: Fans may not be able to see it, but Arizona’s farm system is easily one of the best in the majors and will start producing some stars as early as this year. Among the talented youth are projected first base platoon partner Conor Jackson, who spent the end of the season with the major league club after tearing up Triple-A Tucson. In 85 at-bats, he only produced a .200/.303/.306 line with two home runs, but showed the plate discipline that scouts love, striking out only 11 times to 12 walks. His former bashing mate with the Sidewinders, outfielder Carlos Quentin, could force his way into Arizona by mid-season or become trade bait because of the quantity (certainly not quality) of other outfielders. And don’t forget about number one picks Stephen Drew and Justin Upton. J.D.’s younger brother took minors by storm last year, hitting .303/.394/.520 between Single-A Lancaster and Double-A Tennessee and could end up in Triple-A before the year is out. Justin, BJ’s younger brother, will start his first professional season in 2006 after being drafted first overall in the 2005 draft.
Weaknesses: This is an easy answer: pitching. Aside from Webb, who’s become one of the National League’s better pitchers, the rotation is flagged by question marks. Number two starter, Russ Ortiz, is in the second year of a horrible contract that will pay him $7 million, $7.5 million and $8.5 million for the next three seasons. He threw a pathetic 115 innings last year and had a 6.89 ERA. Enough said. Assuming Orlando Hernandez’ arm doesn’t finally fall off, Batista will have regain the poise he showed in his first go-round with Arizona from 2001 to 2003. He spent last year as a reliever and hasn’t been a regular starter since 2004. He can be an average starter or an above average long-reliever, it depends on how manager Bob Melvin wants to use him. There’s also Brad Halsey, but he won’t accomplish anything worth mentioning in 2006.
Potential Lineup:
1.
Orlando Hudson
2. Eric Byrnes
3. Luis Gonzalez
4. Conor Jackson/Tony Clark
5. Chad Tracy
6. Shawn Green
7. Johnny Estrada
8. Craig Counsell
9. Pitcher
Keys To Success: The Diamondbacks luck-out for
the fact that they get to play in the easiest division in baseball.
The Dodgers could run away with the NL West, but if Arizona can
stay strong in divisional games, the Diamondbacks could have a
shot. The defense is a big improvement and with a healthy bullpen,
it’s not outrageous to say this team could win 80-85 games.
The only question is, how many will it actually take to earn the
division’s playoff spot?
Prediction:
While making strides toward an even better 2007, Arizona
once again finishes second in the NL West, although this time
to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
