The latest column from the Arizona Republic’s Nick Piecoro is packed with quotes from GM Mike Hazen and info pertaining to the team’s offseason plans and 2017 outlook, with a heavy focus on the catching situation. Some highlights from the column, which I’d recommend checking out in its entirety…
- The D-backs have already non-tendered Welington Castillo, signed Jeff Mathis and claimed Juan Graterol off waivers this winter, but Hazen tells Piecoro they’re still keeping an eye on the catching market, including Matt Wieters. “Matt’s a really good player and a good leader,” said Hazen. “We’ve kept up on everybody on the catching market.” Per Hazen, the likely course of action for the D-backs is to add a third catcher-capable player to partner with Mathis and Chris Herrmann in a “three-way system,” but that does not appear set in stone. “If we found more of a long-term replacement for the position, it could morph into something different,” said Hazen, though he did note that a long-term option is likelier to surface on the trade market than in free agency.
- To that end, Piecoro again reports that the D-backs spoke to the Red Sox about catchers Blake Swihart and Christian Vazquez. However, he also reports that Boston is considered “unlikely” to move either young backstop. It’s not surprising to see a new-look D-backs front office that contains former Red Sox execs Hazen, Amiel Sawdaye and Jared Porter all show interest in two of their former top prospects — especially when the Diamondbacks lack a clear long-term option behind the plate. Piecoro has already reported on Arizona’s interest in Swihart and Vazquez once earlier this winter, and it doesn’t seem like anything has changed since that time. Vazquez, a defensive standout with a perhaps questionable bat, is controlled through the 2020 season. Swihart carries a much higher offensive upside but isn’t as proficient as Vazquez with the glove. He’s controlled through 2021.
- Hazen also tells Piecoro that catcher-turned-outfielder Peter O’Brien, whom the club recently designated for assignment, has drawn trade interest from both American League and National League teams. Hazen cited a need “to improve our defensive versatility and flexibility” as the driving factor behind removing O’Brien from the 40-man roster. The 26-year-old O’Brien has in the past posted impressive power numbers in the minors, but he’s never hit in the Majors and is also strikeout prone (32 strikeouts in 79 MLB plate appearances). Beyond that, scouts have long suggested that he’s a man without a position on the diamond, and the old front office regime had already moved him off his original position of catcher. Nonetheless, O’Brien has 50 homers across his past two Triple-A seasons plus another six big flies in the Majors in that time (albeit all in hitter-friendly settings).
- The D-backs are still on the hunt for another bullpen arm but would like to keep the commitment to one year, Piecoro writes. Hazen explained to Piecoro that there are enough (relatively) young arms already in the organization that have piqued the interest that the front office doesn’t want to potentially block someone down the road by committing to a multi-year deal.
The Dbacks should sign Greg Holland, I don’t trust Rodney in the closer role all season
i agree. but they should sign holland to a multi year contract because they won’t win the world series next year, but they have a chance to in the next couple of years, plus if he bounces back(i think he will) he could be a trade candidate and bring back some good bullpen prospects
Sign Joe Smith. He is a solid middle reliever.
Agreed
Peter O’Brian to the White Sox he is still young and very talented and could slot in at their starting RF or LF depending on other moves that they make or if they chose to move Abreu, 1st base seams to be the one position that they are lacking a top prospect right now
Well, giving O’Brien a starter’s role would certainly help the White Sox rebuild.
With his defensive prowess and his Strikeout-Champ potential, he’d helped them get a top draft pick for sure.
I think DH is the only realistic spot for him on an everyday basis
Orioles could use obrien hes the kinda of player they like
Peter O’Brien – has he cleared waivers after being DFA’d? If multiple teams have interest in trading for him, why don’t they just claim him??? Teams are really interested in trading for a 26 year old who’s played 236 games in AAA, but are unwilling to give him a 40 man roster spot?
Teams can both submit a claim for a player and work to swing a trade for him during the waiver period. He has not cleared waivers yet and is still in DFA limbo. It seems Hazen is trying to spark some team to make a trade offer he likes rather than just missing him outright to waivers.
he’s in DFA limbo, but that doesn’t mean he has been exposed to waivers yet. the d backs will try to trade him before they have to do so.
No ML team trying to win now can afford to give a player like O’Brien consistent AB’s at the ML level. Players like O’Brien and Gallo have to show more Barrel awareness during games and not just batting practice to justify a winning team giving them a opportunity to play every day in the ML’s. Feast or Famine approach is tough to win with at any level. The White Sox had to watch their 3B this year with that same approach, just doesn’t work. Can you imagine adding another swing and miss bat like O’Brien to their lineup?
Ur saying Todd Frazier swings and misses like Peter O’Brien. A career 250 hitter with an average of around 28 homers a year who’s been an all star and averages around 130ish strike outs a year. Yah good comparison
He said that Frazier had a feast or famine approach last year, in which Frazier hit 225, with 40 hrs, a 24.5 % k rate, 163 ks, and 766 ops. That’s pretty feat or famine-y. But I agree, that seems generous for o’brien vs mlb pitching.
Besides last season. When was Frazier “feast or famine”? I’d take him over a lot of dudes at 3rd.
Read what he said, “Feast or Famine approach is tough to win with at any level. The White Sox had to watch their 3B THIS year with that same approach, just doesn’t work.”
He is not talking about other seasons or who anyone would take. You are arguing against strawmen.
Wieters would be a nice fit for the DBacks if he’s available on a one or two year deal. Although if he goes to Washington, I can see a trade for Derek Norris making some sense as well
The thirst for Swihart is real.
Swihart is too valuable to trade now because he switch hits and has an option left. He provides AAA depth at C, OF &; DH. He can be recalled if any OF, C, 1B or DH is banged up. At AAA he can work on his “D”.. Next year the Sox will get value for whichever of the 3 catchers they decide to trade.
a 90ish ops+ DH is not really an option (or at least shouldn’t be)
Isn’t every position player a conceivable option at DH? Just seems weird to say he can DH, that can apply to every guy.
Indians trade McAllister and Gomes to D-Backs for Corbin, O’Brien and Koch.
D-Backs get a bounceback candidate at catcher, and a solid reliever.
Indians get starter depth, cut payroll a bit, and get MLB-ready prospects. Plus it makes Tomlin expendable, who I think they should sell high on.
no
They aren’t giving up on Corbin that easily. Nice try.
At first glance this looks like a decent enough trade, but after really looking at it I think it’s just a little too much in the Indians favor. I like Corbin’s upside more than Gomes, and think he comes with less risk. McAllister to me is a decent reliever, and just that, and don’t think he is worth a pitching prospect who flashed potential late last year in Koch and the throw-in of O’Brien.
Seems to me more like Gomes, his entire contract, and the risk he never returns to form after an abysmal 2016 to the Diamondbacks for O’Brien and Koch.
D-Backs get a catcher with a chance to bounce back in a three-catcher rotation and keep Corbin.
Indians cut payroll a bit, and get a decent MLB-ready arm and a power-hitting lottery ticket who maybe becomes a viable DH in the next year or two.