It’s been a busy day for Diamondbacks news, thanks to such items as Zack Greinke hitting the 15-day disabled list, Paul Goldschmidt switching agencies and Robbie Ray generating some trade buzz. Here’s even more from the desert…
- Brad Ziegler and Daniel Hudson have been mentioned as both trade candidates and extension candidates, though Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic considers a merge of the two strategies: the D’Backs deal one or both of the relievers now for minor league help, then re-sign them as free agents this winter. Both Ziegler and Hudson say they would be open to continuing their careers in Arizona, though obviously if they were dealt, their opinions could certainly change based on what happens with their new teams. “I think I’ve heard [Ziegler] say that you maybe get one chance to get to this point in your career and get a pretty good payday. I’ve got to take advantage of it if it comes to that point and do what’s best for my family,” Hudson said. While obviously every player has such big-picture concerns in mind, long-term security is likely of particular importance to Hudson since he’s already undergone two Tommy John procedures in his career.
- On the extension front, Ziegler said isn’t sure of the D’Backs have reached out to his representatives yet, as he has told his agents that he wants to solely focus on baseball during the season. Hudson said that the team made contact with his agents but financial or length terms have yet to be discussed.
- In another item from Piecoro, Tony La Russa said he has no regrets about signing international prospect Yoan Lopez to an $8.27MM bonus, even in the wake of Lopez’s struggles both on and off the field in his first two pro seasons. “When you have a chance to get a guy like that, you don’t have any regrets. This guy has major potential. I have no crystal ball, but we’ve just got to keep working at it,” La Russa said. Three Diamondbacks scouts, according to La Russa, would rank Lopez as a top-three prospect within any organization in baseball, an opinion Piecoro notes isn’t shared by several scouts on rival teams. (Prospect rankings from Baseball America and MLB.com, in fact, don’t even have Lopez ranked within the top five in Arizona’s own system.) Beyond Lopez’s own issues, there is the larger fact that his signing put the D’Backs over the international signing pool limit and subjected them to a two-year ban on signings for more than $300K. When asked if the D’Backs should’ve exceeded the pool limit to sign many players beyond just Lopez, La Russa said no.
Feel bad for DBacks fans. Going from Kevin Towers to Stewart/LaRussa.
What’s there to feel bad about? At least they are trying. If they sat on their hells and did nothing, people would complain also. They’re going down swinging.
Tsolid there is plenty to feel bad about since LaRussa/Stewart have no clue what they are doing. How do you call that trying? Trying to do what? Make lousy trades? Bad signings? Trade former first round pitchers for money? If they are trying please express the plan?
Sorry they are clueless and I too feel bad for Diamondback fans
D’lusionals.
LaRussa is a perfect example of why you should stay retired once you retire. He and Stewart have no idea what they’re doing. If “at least they are trying” is the explanation, then please, stop trying….
I’m sure you are the BEST Armchair/Hindsight GM on the blog. Both of them together have forgotten
Apparently TLR found MLBTR
And that’s another reason the Diamondbacks perpetually suck.
Your mother sucks!
No, but really, if you’re a fan of that franchise you should not be okay with what those two clowns are doing to it. They operate on their own idea of “value” and completely ignore the market around them. That’s how trading a superstar-level package for Shelby Miller happens.
Please Name ONE superstar from the trade. I’ll wait. We’ve seen Blair get his hat handed to him
Inciarte .236 I know what Swanson “Could” be, but he’s not THAT, yet.
I believe what he said was “superstar level package” which means you should’ve gotten a superstar for that package not that they were all superstars and, quite honestly, that package should’ve gotten you a superstar…instead you got Shelby Miller. So yeah, that was a horrible deal even at the time of the trade.
Blair Bombed, Inciarte struggling, Swanson still in AA. Doesnt look SOOO bad, yet
Oh tsolid you are so dumb. Sure Swanson is not a star … Yet … Where is the vision? The plan. Its ok to trade a potential star since oh well he is not one yet? My Lord. How funny. How us Shelby working out for you idiots
It was awful, and you’re deluding yourself saying otherwise. You could have got something similar to Miller for a whole lot less, used those high level trade chips to get somebody better, or kept hold of them and seen how they panned out. Any of those options would be better than what the D’backs did, which followed on from selling Touki Toussaint for small change. Clueless leadership and I feel sorry for D’backs supporters.
Again, PLEASE tell me how many Superstars do the Braves have?? I’m not deluding anything. Ask a lot teams about all of those “Can’t Miss” prospects that Never Pan out. Keep Fallin in love prospects and see how that turns out
Again, you’re missing the point, dude.
The point being made here is that the Diamondbacks traded off resources that should’ve resulted in an A-level player, but instead devalued them and brought in a B- or C-level piece.
Their way of valuing players is clearly different than the rest of the league, and it’s pretty clear that it’s not working all that well. Even if Miller was performing at last year’s level it would be an overpay.
Again Tsolid … Is clueless in Arizona