The Diamondbacks are probably out of the mix for free-agent righty Doug Fister, GM Mike Hazen tells FanRag’s Jack Magruder (Twitter link). Last week, reports had indicated that Fister was likely to sign in the near future, with Arizona being mentioned as one prominent possibility.
Fister made sense as a depth option for the Snakes following the season-ending injury to Shelby Miller, but it seems as though they’ll stick with internal options. Zack Greinke has reestablished himself as an ace atop the rotation in his second season with Arizona, with Patrick Corbin, Taijuan Walker and Robbie Ray occupying the next three spots in the starting five. Right-hander Zack Godley has been outstanding in two starts as well, and the D-backs also have right-hander Braden Shipley and left-hander Anthony Banda on the 40-man roster and in the Triple-A rotation.
[Related: Arizona Diamondbacks depth chart]
SB Nation’s Chris Cotillo mentioned the D-backs, Mets, Giants, Angels and Blue Jays as possible landing spots for Fister, though Joel Sherman of the New York Post has since suggested that Fister won’t land with the Mets or Jays (or the Marlins, for that matter). That leaves the Giants and Angels as possibilities from that initial list, and Sherman did note that the Halos were believed to be one serious consideration. FanRag’s Jon Heyman, though, suggested that an NL team was likelier to sign Fister when first reporting that a deal was close.
It’s been mostly quiet on Fister since the initial reports of his market heating up, and it remains unclear if that market has changed for some reason or if perhaps his proximity to an agreement was overstated. Fister remains arguably the top unsigned player on the market, though it’s also been awhile since he’s been an above-average contributor in the Majors. The right-hander’s velocity has plummeted in recent seasons, and though he proved himself a durable rotation piece last year (32 starts, 180 1/3 innings for Houston), interest in him has seemingly been tepid.
Perhaps Fister’s camp is waiting to see if an injury with another club creates an opportunity that does not presently exist, but he’ll presumably need quite a bit of time to ramp up to the point where he’s ready to join a rotation after sitting out Spring Training and the season’s fist six weeks.
I want to know why the red sox arent in the market. The pitching depth just isnt there for the red sox right now. You cant count on kyle kendrick, brian johnson or henry owens.
Or Pom for that matter. Id rather dump him back into the pen and run someone else in his slot but we have no options for that now.
I think Johnson deserves another start. If we could afford to give Kyle Kendrick 2 starts than I think he deserves at least one more
Twins maybe in the run for Fister’
Only way it makes sense for the Giants is if they are looking to have more pieces to sell at the deadline.
Are you the real Joey Pankake?
I am a pancake.
There is a real Joey Pankake?
Is anyone the real Joey Pankake?
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Seattle ??. CauseThey have no one left.
Seattle would have to be in.
DL list is terrible.
Felix Hernandez
Drew Smyly
Hisashi Iwakuma
James Paxton
They have been crushed by injuries. What other team has 4 starters on the DL?
Angels have 4 starters on the DL
Richards
Skaggs
Tropeano
Heaney
Along with our bullpen
Street
Bedrosian
Bailey
I can keep going if you’d like
Ouch.
Yup. Not at all optimistic about any of that except maybe Pax.. although I think Fister has either not shown that he’s capable of his old production or he wants too much money. I think Dipoto is at a loss for what to do and I think, although sadly, Fister is too uncertain.
Come to the Giants
We need you Doug
I have not heard them mentioned, but it seems to me that the Padres would be a perfect home for him when they dump Weaver.
Depending on cost I don’t see why the Cubs wouldn’t kick the tires on fister.
Pirates make sense… well kinda.
With Taillon likely done for the season they have a spot that needs filled in the MLB at least until july. Glasnow a bit shaky.. Kuhl inconsistent and Nova is bound to crash add on Coles injury history.. would be nice to have another arm for depth.
Pirates have other options in Williams at the MLB level along with Hutch and Brault in AAA but if someone can “fix” Fister its the pirates.. probably boils down to how cheap Fister will be.
EDIT: don’t think i’d really want this to happen.. just makes some sense.