Diamondbacks general manager Mike Hazen listed adding some right-handed help to his lineup as an area of focus back in early October, and much of the team’s pursuits to this point in the offseason have reflected that desire to balance out a heavily left-handed lineup. Arizona has already bought low on 2020 AL Rookie of the Year Kyle Lewis, and Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports that they’ve spoken to veteran corner infielders Evan Longoria and Justin Turner as well (Twitter links).
Arizona currently has left-handed bats as its primary options across the outfield (Jake McCarthy, Corbin Carroll, Daulton Varsho, Alek Thomas), at third base (Josh Rojas) and likely at designated hitter (Pavin Smith, Seth Beer). The Snakes aren’t devoid of righty-swinging options, as switch-hitting Ketel Marte provides a strong right-handed presence, as does first baseman Christian Walker. Catcher Carson Kelly and shortstop Nick Ahmed are both generally light-hitting options, but both righties at least have above-average career marks against left-handed pitching.
That contingent of righties wasn’t enough to make the 2022 D-backs anywhere close to passable against left-handed pitching, however. As a team, the Diamondbacks batted .227/.292/.363 against left-handed pitching in 2022, and the resulting 83 wRC+ ranked 28th in baseball, leading only the Pirates (81) and Marlins (71). The aforementioned Lewis might be a slight upgrade over some in-house options, if healthy, but that’s a substantial “if” — and he’s had reverse platoon splits to this point in his career anyhow.
Both Longoria and Turner, however, would represent marked upgrades to that glaring team deficiency against lefties. Longoria, 37, hit .282/.333/.479 against southpaws in 2022 and has tormented left-handed pitchers with a .281/.359/.509 slash throughout his 15 Major League seasons. The 38-year-old Turner, meanwhile, posted a .275/.349/.389 slash against left-handers in 2022 and has a .276/.358/.460 output against them throughout the duration of his own 14-year career in the Majors.
At this point in their careers, neither Longoria nor Turner is likely viewed as an everyday option at third base. Both played fewer than 600 innings at the position in 2022, although injuries to each played a role in that limited defensive work. Still, Turner spent half of his 128 games at designated hitter, while Longoria spent about 20% of his time serving as a DH with the Giants last year. Both players once drew strong defensive marks at the hot corner but have seen them dwindle in recent seasons. Turner drew slightly negative marks in each of Defensive Runs Saved (-1), Ultimate Zone Rating (-2.1) and Outs Above Average (-2), while Longoria was dinged by DRS (-4) but credited as a scratch defender in the eyes of both UZR and OAA. Even if neither is viewed as a full-time option at third, either Longoria or Turner could split time with Rojas while also logging regular work as the D-backs’ designated hitter.
Beyond their inquiries into veteran corner infielders, the D-backs have been on the hunt for catching help throughout the winter. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the names to which they’ve been primarily connected — A’s catcher Sean Murphy and free agent Christian Vazquez — both hit from the right side of the dish.
Evan Longoria is still a very good player when healthy, good dude too.
Giants 4th place next year. No farm, no tradable assets, and premium free agents do not want to go there.
I feel like Kapler is probably a bigger hindrance in the Giants trying to sign players than we realize.
Baseball is always better when the Giants are competitive but things definitely are not looking good right now
they assumed too much in trying to sign Judge when most people knew Judge would resign with NY. Its all you heard in SF the last few months. Now they are changing plans. many of the free agents signed have been way over paid. Giants problem is they went all in for only 1 player and told everyone they will get him.
No they didn’t. You might have heard it, but it didn’t come from the Giants. Strict “no discussing free agent discussions” is part of their process this year. They do love a process.
Pavlovic, who was at the winter meetings indicates that Giants people were far from confidant. Slight increase in optimism in the last couple of days but that was it. They understood it was like Buster leaving the Giants. A long shot. They were confidant that they had put together a good case. That’s what they do, the worry about the process, not the outcome.
Also, the hotel foyer video raised some eyebrows and lowered some expectations.
The hotel saunter by Judge was obviously a stunt by Judge to let NY he was being seriously courted. The Giants put him up in the hotel strictly to meet with him. As you state foppert, that stunt sent the message to SF that Judge was a long shot and that he wanted NY to up the ante. And it did motivate NY to spend. These Kapler takes are way off. He doesn’t platoon everyday players. He gives them needed days off. What player wouldn’t want that? He didn’t win manager of the year pissing off his team. These are everyday players who didnt “platoon” but were given spot rests: Estrada Crawford Davis Yaz Flores. That’s 5 out of 8 positions. And if healthy, Longoria and Belt would have played regularly (though belt started to sit more vs lefties). Haniger will play everyday. As will the next signings. Personally, Judge was a huge risk at 9 years. As will be the other big signings so far. Foppert, my choices are Swanson (way cheaper than Correa with less years and risk IMO) Benitendi, Bassitt Lugo Rogers (7 years for Rodon is nuts)
Poster Tad sold me on Correa. I also think they need a more experienced leader type to anchor them into the future. Also, Kapler has said they are focussed on defence. In the 2021 washup, it is believed that bad defence in May June July cost them the playoffs. Outfield and infield. Sounded keen to sort that out.
2022 washup.
Yes, good point. But Swanson and Benitendi won gold gloves. Need arms. Can’t afford much having Correa. Tad knows his stuff BUT I’m not sure Correa is the leader into the future Tad expects him to be. The best reason to get Correa, to me, is to piss off Dodger fans.
Ok. Thanks. I won’t be calling for anyone to be sacked if we get Swanson and Benitendi.
Tad was about the numbers on Correa. Put together a comparison.
The leader part was me. The reports from Twins territory are all really good on the clubhouse front. Im not a fan of some of his comments, but im thinking if he gets his fortune that might stop.
Correa is overall better. Swanson steals bases which will increase with new pace of play rules and bigger bases. Defensively more equal than not. My main reason to want Swanson is to spend more elsewhere. But don’t sleep on the Correa Dodger dynamic. That might be a real thing when adding in the existing rivalry as is. If Ticket sales are a continuing problem, Correa could spark interest due to Dodger issue. Who knows
they assumed Judge would sign with them. Go back and do some research just on here saying Giants had the best chance of singing Judge.
You’re completely wrong Arc. I know what I’ve read and it’s obvious what you haven’t read. Start with trade rumors top 50 free agents article from Nov 14. All 4 writers predicted the Yankees would sign him. Then read some Pavlovic and Baggerly. Just to be clear, just because some “sources” liked the Giants chances, the Giants themselves were not in the “sources” realm. Sounds like you just read stuff wrong.
@Rsox
Maybe. He is certainly not your crusty old traditional manager. Progressive guy. That’s not a slight in any way on crusty old traditional managers. Just different.
I do think they limit their targets to characters who are going to be ok with that. Who the person is always seems to be top of the list when discussing their targets.
Why would Kapler be a hindrance when he was NL Manager of the Year in 2021?
It will take some getting used to seeing Justin Turner in another team’s uniform, other than the Dodgers. Yes, he played for the Mets, too, but he grew as a Dodger.
It’s so obvious. I wanted something a little more.I so much rather JD! If anything let’s get turner. I’ll take 20 hrs and a 275 average.
Take a look at Jake Burger on the White Sox.
I ate him up
Id keep Burger if I were the Sox, Sox are good to go IMO, maybe add another MIRP and an OF but rather they sign FAs and keep all their trade chips for the deadline.
Arizona has three lefthanded hitting outfielders.
Technically Arizona has: Carroll, Varsho, McCarthy, Thomas, Smith, and Fletcher as LHH OF on the 40-man roster.
That’s even better. Seems like they could match up with the White Sox.
It’s not that simple to move them, because the majority are pre-arb (or just hit their Super Two arb season) and have multiple options.
Everyone but Smith and Fletcher are viewed as above average regulars (Thomas is based on simplifying his swing, though), so any deal would have to reflect that.
No team has offered a package that fits the DBacks valuations, and there’s no incentive to sell lower.
Highheat,
Agree there is no incentive to sell lower than the current exorbitant price the Dbacks are asking. Currently. But maybe in a year or two there will be incentive.
If at least two of the top 4 don’t learn to hit left handed pitching, then having the top 7 OF all left handed will be a problem. It already is a problem as much as it is a luxury.
When Kristian Robinson is promoted, then there will be 5 stud OF and there will be incentive to trade 1 or 2 of the left handed bats.
Have Beer hit after him. Unless you want to drink first, then have Beer bat ahead of him.
For the record, I’m against both moves.
Both on a one year contract with mutual option that has a two million dollar buyout.
One can play First Base and the other Third Base and rotate in the DH spot when needing rest off the fielding side of the game.
Neither needs to play First Base with Walker and Smith on the roster and both should only really be used as DH’s (with maybe an occasional game at 3B, if that). Turner is probably the better hitter at this point but Longoria did show he still has pretty good pop when healthy so you can’t go wrong with either on a one year deal
The Diamondbacks first baseman just had a 36 home run season and won the gold glove as far and away the best first base defenseman, he was the third best first baseman in mlb in fwar behind only Goldschmidt and Freeman.
Neither of these represent a clear offensive upgrade, even if healthy, over Emmanuel Rivera and Josh Rojas, Spend the money elsewhere, preferably on someone who moves the win needle more than these two.
You have to note the optics of signing either of these guys too. Both old players who gave their best or better years to division rivals. Screams of poor. Which we are, but still.
Not only do they not represent a clear offensive upgrade, but they also represent a defensive downgrade from Rivera.
It’s the DBacks. What were you expecting?
To play towards the 83-84 win mean projection and insulate the bullpen so as to not underperform their Pythagorean record.
Let the kids (Carroll, Jameson, and Nelson, specifically) solidify their spots and an upgrade at C/3B/SS is icing.
Sirbradford,
Unless you expect a big offensive improvement from Rivera, which is doubtful, Longoria and Turner are major upgrades because they are right handed. Because the Dbacks have 4 left handed OF, there is tremendous pressure on the Infield to be All right handed and All productive. That’s the reason the Dbacks are looking at Longoria and Turner, and they should be.
If the plan is to effectively platoon Rojas and whatever 3B, you wouldn’t need to expect Rivera to have big offensive improvements.
Longoria’s wRC+ against LHP was 5 points higher than Rivera (124 vs. 119) and Turner was actually better against RHP than LHP by every metric except BABIP.
Plus, Rivera will still be 26 to start next season and has a better glove than the other two at this point of their careers. Rivera even ran a wRC+ vs. RHP of 86, so he showed that he might be able to hang in there to a respectable degree.
I’m not counting on him as anything more than a shortside platoon 3B that makes numerous appearances as a defensive replacement in later innings, but isn’t that exactly what Longoria/Turner would be expected to bring to the table?
They’ll sell some jerseys but I don’t see either of these guys being anything more than placeholders for a season. I’m not seeing how this is a better option than what Arizona has internally already.
The Arizona Geriatrics.
Tell me you don’t follow the DBacks without telling me you don’t follow the DBacks.
Both guys are on the major downside of their careers and can’t be relied upon. Better to start someone with possible upside.
One upside is veteran presence.
In related news, I have shown interest in powerball winnings, and Kate Upton.
One of them should go to the Tigers. Starting third base job on Opening Day and mentoring the youngsters (Ryan Kreidler and eventually Colt Keith).
I could see the Tigers signing Brian Anderson and letting him play 3B til the young guys are ready and then getting some time in the OF aa well
That’s the widely held belief. I understand the move because Anderson would be much cheaper, but Longo or Turner would still be the better player and clubhouse leader.
Longo is a great player but is often on the IL.
Exciting! No wonder on any given night there are 11,000 people in the stands.
Its a below average sports town regardless.
Maybe I’m off on this but is Nelson Cruz still a free agent? Would rather have him as a right handed DH than either of these two.
With Kyle Lewis there now, DH is basically locked up. I do wish they would have had a reunion with JD Martinez. His time in AZ was fun and he hit very well at Chase field
White Sox unload 2 big contracts, Moncada and Hendriks to get Jake McCarthy LF and SP Madison Bumgarner
There’s still no telling how many lives were lost when Justin Turner came onto the field without a mask. He should be banned for eternity.
Unless they are planning a trade or they think one of their young guys is ready to take that roll.,Dodgers resigning Turner might be a best option for them now, unless his price has now soared as most of this years signings so far have been way more than most the propickers picked. Dodgers seem to be twiddling their thumbs abit, possibly helping drive the prices up to mess with other teams payrolls. It’s not hard when u have a big $$$ reputation.
Maybe a reunion with Drury if Hazen can get him on the cheap.