As soon as he took over as D'Backs GM, Kevin Towers vowed to improve the Arizona bullpen. The team's relievers posted a 5.74 ERA last year, so Towers has a challenge ahead. The D'Backs play in Chase Field, a park so hitter-friendly the organization is considering ways to help pitchers. In particular, Chase Field is homer-friendly and has consistently been among the best launching pads in the game.
Towers will be looking for relievers this winter and he may be inclined to pick up pitchers who keep the ball on the ground. Here are some options the D'Backs may consider:
- Jamey Wright – The 35-year-old strikes out just 4.3 batters per nine innings, but his 62% ground ball rate placed him eighth among major league relievers with at least 20 innings pitched. Wright will be available as a free agent.
- Ronald Belisario – Belisario, who turns 28 in December, followed up his sensational rookie season (8.2 K/9, 2.04 ERA in 2009) with a disappointing year. He ran into personal problems and posted a 5.04 ERA. He still struck out twice as many batters as he walked and his 61% ground ball rate ranked tenth among big league relievers, so the D'Backs could have interest in trading for the promising righty.
- Bobby Jenks – Jenks is a non-tender candidate, so he could become a free agent within six weeks. The D'Backs coud use an ace reliever and Jenks boasts a 58% ground ball rate.
- Carlos Torres – A starter in the White Sox system, the right-hander just spent his third season at Triple-A. Torres, who turns 28 tomorrow, provides depth for the White Sox, but hasn't done much in two big league cameos. He limited opponents to 7.0 H/9 this year and posted a 48% ground ball rate.
- Chaz Roe – Roe, a 2005 first rounder, posted a 5.98 ERA at Triple-A and allowed 210 hits in 158 innings. The 24-year-old struggled as a starter, but the D'Backs could try to pry him away from the Rockies and hope that his 49% ground ball rate (14th in the PCL) translates to success in their 'pen.
How is it that Belisario is available? Isn’t he still under the Dodgers control? He may be out of favor for a number of reasons, but with their own bullpen weaknesses, I doubt the Dodgers trade him, especially within the division…
I see no way he is a target other than he is good…. He is controlled by a rival who wants to compete…. Why would we trade him???
Agreed. And In my opinion, Stange, Norberto, and Vazquez > Roe, Torres, and Wright. Anyway, Towers will spend a bit of money as well.
Perhaps the Padres can package Chase Headley and Ernesto Frieri for Mark Reynolds?
we need someone who can bring the heat. also someone with some f’n balls!
Belisario is a dick but hes cheap. Hes not going anywhere.
Jenks is an ace reliever? I had no idea it was 2007.
Jenks isn’t an ace reliever? I had no idea a 2.59 FIP isn’t freaking awesome.
Jenks, Linebrink,Quentin, and Teahen for Chris Young and Heilman
1. Heilman is a free agent.2. The D’Backs would say no to that.
ok jdub220 – lets make it easy – Jenks for a bag of balls (don’t have to be new)
I think we’ll just wait for you to non-tender him then snatch him up and have him be a super-awesome closer for us. : )
Sounds grand to me, at least.
Yes, this.
So the White Sox pretty much steal Chris Young from the DBacks?
It would be rather fitting, since the D’Backs stole Chris Young from the Sox originally.
Towers’ gift is the ability to take a 4A pitcher and turn them into a quality relief pitcher. He doesn’t really sign free agents as much as he trades for arms with certain skill sets conducive to short relief. Torres and Roe are the only 2 pitchers mentioned that halfway fit that description.
Not like he won’t get a Bobby Jenks if he’s available and non-tendered and begging to be taken. The reason Towers doesn’t necessarily have a reputation for going and getting closers is that one guy named Trevor Hoffman, but it doesn’t mean that he won’t do it if there’s a hole.
That said, holy crap did BABIP explode on Roe in 2010. I’d be down for both him and Torres in our ‘pen next year. Throw in a Josh Collmenter, Jamey Wright, and a random lefty or two with the parts that we’ve already got and I think we’d be pretty darn solid.
KT’s going to go out and get a bunch of guys nobody has ever heard of and they’ll probably end up being pretty good. It’s not going to be as easy in Chase as it was in Petco though.
I could see Jenks in our team on 2011, but one player Im guessing Towers will get is J.J Putz as our new closer.
Here’s an article from BP about this issue. Jenks is a name on both of these posts.
baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=11983
Does it get more random than Chaz Roe?
Okay Dbacks, just get Joaquin Beniott and convert him to a closer, add a JJ Putz or someone like him as insurance/ a setup man . And add a lefty. Then your looking at a decent bullpen.
CL=Joaquin Benoitt
SU= JJ Putz/ Jason Frasor/ Jessie Crain
RP= Joe Biemel ( any lefty)
RP= Juan Gutierez
RP= DJ Carasco
RP= Sam Demel
RP= Mike Hampton (if they bring him back)
Get a starter better than Saunders, and cut down on K’s and your looking at a bright future. Get to work KT.