The latest from Arizona…
- Robbie Ray threw a bullpen session on Tuesday and is on track to be activated off the injured list when first eligible on Sunday. (Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic was among those to report the news.) A lower back spasm sent Ray to the IL on August 15, and while the southpaw’s back has been something of a recurring issue lately, Ray feels the 10-day minimum absence was a long enough break to correct the problem. Ray is scheduled to start the Diamondbacks’ game against the Brewers on Sunday, and he’ll be a welcome addition to an Arizona team that is battling to stay in the wild card race.
- It has been a trying couple of years for Jake Lamb, who played only 56 games in 2018 due to shoulder surgery, and has been limited to just 50 games this season after a quad strain kept him on the IL for almost the entire first half. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Lamb has yet to get into a rhythm, hitting .211/.346/.391 with five homers over 156 PA. Despite these struggles, Diamondbacks GM Mike Hazen told the Athletic’s Zach Buchanan (subscription required) that he expects Lamb to get on track, and reacted with surprise when asked if Lamb could potentially be a non-tender candidate. “Wow, I wouldn’t anticipate that being a consideration for him,” Hazen said. Lamb is making $4.825MM this season, so a projected raise won’t be too large for Lamb’s final year of arbitration eligibility. There’s not much financial risk for the D’Backs in retaining Lamb to see if he can regain the form that saw him hit 59 homers in 2016-17, and make the NL’s All-Star roster in 2017.
- Nick Ahmed is slated to hit free agency after the 2020 season, though Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic suggests that the shortstop is the team’s best extension candidate, and that the D’Backs should look to keep Ahmed in the fold. Long regarded as one of baseball’s best defenders, Ahmed has taken a significant step forward at the plate this season, hitting .271/.333/.465 with 17 homers over 497 plate appearances. While this only grades out as roughly league-average production (101 wRC+, 103 OPS+), Ahmed had only a .229/.279/.368 slash line in 1584 PA prior to 2019, with a 67 wRC+ and 69 OPS+. Given that Ahmed’s offensive numbers are still modest, it could pave the way for an extension at a reasonable price for the team, and Ahmed might prefer some contractual security rather than test the market heading into his age-31 season. Ahmed is earning $3,662,500 this season and is set for a healthy raise on that figure in his final trip through the arbitration process this offseason.
Question for Arizona fans are you guys disappointed that your team didn’t trade Ray I mean you guys could have had a really good young outfielder probably allstar caliber for a good pitcher who seems to always break down. I would be mad at my team for being too greedy are you guys good with their desition.
I had come to terms with the fact that he’d likely be traded at the deadline. after all the rumors, it was definitely disappointing to see him not get moved, especially if the reported offers were accurate. I can see NYY still being interested in him in the offseason, with CC retiring and uncertainty surrounding Happ, along with Severino’s health questions
So what were those reported offers? All we know is that the Yankees supposedly rejected to trade Frazier+Schmidt+2 others but we will not know for sure or what the Yankees were prepared to give up. I am happy the DBacks did not do any lousy trade like the Blue Jays with Stroman. #InMikeHazenWeTrust
I personally didn’t think Frazier was enough to be a centerpiece, he’s not really shown himself to be an NL type of player (especially in the the cavernous OF of the NL West). I do wish that there was more interest in Ray, because he’s worth more than what the Yankees were trying to give up for him. Maybe somebody will bite in the off-season to have the benefit of extending a QO. Who knows at this point now though.
Frazier was a poor centerpiece for the return on Ray. The NL doesn’t have a DH and the NL West has some of the largest outfields in baseball. Given Arizona’s problems with pitching health, taking anything less than full asking value would have been a mistake. They have all winter to shop him if they are truly motivated to move him rather than giving him a QO.
Not particularly upset. They had a price and no one met it. Given all the injuries to the rotation and the fact that they don’t have anyone left to step up, they had little incentive to take less than full asking price. He can still be moved this winter or, for less, at the trade deadline next season.
I was glad that Ray wasn’t traded away at the same time as Greinke, that would have been throwing in the towel. This could be a fun September wild card race if the pitching staff shows any sign of consistency. I know we’re not alone in that regard. Last Fridays game against the Giants was proof of that. I know the offence is wildly up and down too but there is a good core defensively and we do have Ahmed, Marte, Escobar and Kelly having career offensive years. Time to start looking at the coaching. What measurement allows Mike Butcher to keep his job? Maybe I dont know what a pitching coach does,
The question should be is the Yankee fans going to be disappointed this year after 11 years in a row of missing the World Series by not giving up enough to get a stud left handed? Do you really think you will go anywhere come post-season with a rag armed starting staff. A quality pitching team will roll in and shut that offense down no problem. The mighty offensive teams seem to somehow not cut it when the postseason rolls by and they face a quality staff.