You're the GM! Arizona Diamondbacks Edition

by John Sickels on Jun 26, 2025 2:00 PM EDT Comment 20 comments

You woke up this morning and found out that you are now GM of the Arizona Diamondbacks. After taking a large dose of antacid, you have to figure out your plans. Who, on your current roster, is a core player? How do you fix the bullpen? What is your draft strategy going to be? How long of a rebuild project is this?

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Well, I have to imagine that you field offers for everyone but Upton

That core probably isn’t going to be good enough to contend year-in, year-out.

They really need to build around Upton, though, his prime is likely going to be far too valuable to waste.

I like baseball.
I write for Beyond the Box Score and The Hardball Times Fantasy

by Satchel Price on Jun 26, 2025 2:22 PM EDT reply actions

+1

Blow it all up and deal everyone but Upton and maybe Kennedy.

President, Vice President and Secretary of the Casey Crosby Fanclub.

Assist. Editor, Minor League Division, Bless You Boys

by David Tokarz on Jun 26, 2025 4:55 PM EDT up reply actions

Montero doesn't seem like a good guy to move either

He should be a core player for the next 7-10 years

"Ninety percent I'll spend on good times, women and Irish Whiskey. The other ten percent I'll probably waste."

by strums on Jun 26, 2025 9:58 PM EDT up reply actions

How long do the D-Backs control him for?

President, Vice President and Secretary of the Casey Crosby Fanclub.

Assist. Editor, Minor League Division, Bless You Boys

by David Tokarz on Jun 27, 2025 8:44 PM EDT up reply actions

Through 2012

He’s a piece to build around but retaining him isn’t going to be too cheap.

I like baseball.
I write for Beyond the Box Score and The Hardball Times Fantasy

by Satchel Price on Jun 28, 2025 3:11 PM EDT up reply actions

My take

1. EJax is a hall of famer!! Never trade him!

2. My question with the D’Backs if I am GM—Will ownership let me spend money?
I think they have a strong young core already—Montero, KJ, Drew, Reynolds, Upton, Parra, CYoung, Kennedy, Demel. There are some other bullpen pieces that are in their mid 20’s.

3. Does anybody think the NL West should be up for grabs every year? I think if the D’Backs would invest a little money to get some consistency at SP, they could challenge to win the league.

4. What is their average attendance? I think they struggle getting butts in the seats so maybe that is their biggest obstacle for the future.

5. Get Jarrod Parker healthy!

The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. It reminds us of all that once was good, and that could be again.

by Savoy on Jun 26, 2025 3:34 PM EDT reply actions

I ask to re-do the draft...

-That was a poor draft in my opinion. A lot of back of the rotation guys at the top of the draft. I go after several players come July 2, Estellion Perguero, Yoel Araujo, Hector Veloz and Luis Heredia. There are many others, but those are the one’s I look at first unless my scouts tell me different. Depends on the budget too.
-I would try to trade Chad Qualls and Aaron Heilman as soon as possible as they are free agents after the season.
-I hang onto Haren unless I get blown away by an offer and Upton statys where he is. I listen to offers on everyone else but KJ and Drew are under control past this season, so I’m not in a hurry to get rid of them as they are solid core players. Mark Reynolds is not overpaid over the next couple years, but I would listen to offers on him too.
-I would have 20-23 million to spend in free agency and would look to shore up the bullpen and make a run at Carl Crawford or a high end pitcher if there are any available this season(Matt Cain?).
-Most of the minor league talent, at least high end talent, is a ways off. I would be patient with them, especially Parker.
-Hope my team goes on a huge losing streak and gets the 1st pick in the draft next year to get Rendon.

http://milbprospects.blogspot.com/

by garrioch13 on Jun 26, 2025 4:14 PM EDT reply actions

Tanking is usually a bad idea in the MLB.

Once you have a really bad team, it takes a long time to get a good one, and the drop off in sales, especially somewhere like Arizona, can put you in a hole for years.

You guys win. You can keep your little marked-out piece of internet territory. Spend your days communicating via keyboard with people too ugly for the real world and too nerdy for anyone to care, anyway. Your piece of land is here. Do the rest of civilization a favor and stay within its limits. You bore me. Have fun with your nightly sobs and screams into your pillow over your inability to attract a good mate, Radiohead. ~The Hooligan

by Daniel Berlyn on Jun 26, 2025 4:58 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm not saying to intentionally tank...

I would just hope they slide.
Honestly, I would rather go on a tear to end the season and get people to think the team is going in the right direction to help lure a free agent or two. Anybody in the top 10 to 12 look to be very good next year.

http://milbprospects.blogspot.com/

by garrioch13 on Jun 26, 2025 11:01 PM EDT up reply actions

KJ's not under control

past this year. Didn’t he only sign a 1 year deal?

by apoxonbothyourhouses on Jun 27, 2025 9:35 AM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, he only signed a one-year deal, but in doing so Arizona retained his 2011 rights because he hasn't accumulated enough service time yet

So after this season, Johnson will once again be eligible for arbitration for a final time.

That’s part of why the KJ signing is looking like such a brilliant move on Arizona’s part, they effectively got him on a one-year deal with a relatively cheap option for 2011.

I like baseball.
I write for Beyond the Box Score and The Hardball Times Fantasy

by Satchel Price on Jun 27, 2025 1:12 PM EDT up reply actions

I think the D-Backs aren’t all that far away. They have a lot of collateral on their big-league roster. The Conor Jackson trade was a step in the right direction, and shows that you can add quality pitching in a hurry. And, with the only untouchable player on the roster being Justin Upton, that gives the GM a lot of leverage to acquire big-league ready talent to begin competing in 2011.

by StickRat on Jun 26, 2025 6:55 PM EDT reply actions

rebuild your bullpen

and try and not to sign any relievers from the free agent market.
build through the drafts, starting with good solid pitching prospects.
otherwise hang on to your players, the hitting core is fairly good. you just need to build up the pitching staff.

"Fantasy, reality, science Fiction. Which is which? Who can tell?"

by feslenraster on Jun 27, 2025 9:56 AM EDT reply actions

Maybe a little sell-high on Edwin Jackson, anyone?

The guy is basically a solid No. 3/4 starter, and he’s getting awfully close to the point where he’s really not much of a bargain anymore.

I’m not really all that sure why the D-Backs traded Scherzer for him in the first place, honestly.

I like baseball.
I write for Beyond the Box Score and The Hardball Times Fantasy

by Satchel Price on Jun 27, 2025 1:13 PM EDT reply actions

Try to accumulate high quality arms

by using the trading chips you have. Upton and Kennedy are untouchables at this point. But either Stephen Drew (Boras client with 2 years to free agency) or Kelly Johnson can be dealt since Abreu seems to be ready for the bigs. Chris Young is the other big chip that would get a quality return. Now is the time to deal him since I’m not sold that this year isn’t a career year and that the last 2 years are the real CY.

All the rest is house cleaning. LaRoche, Roberts, Augie, Snyder, Qualls could just be addition thru subtraction if they clear the way for players in the minors who should get a shot at a reduced pay rate!

I would listen to offers for Reynolds and Haren but I would have to be knocked over to make a deal involving either one

As GM I would also invest more money in Player Development and Scouting to try and create a better pipeline of talent each year. Small market teams must do this to stay competitive. And when in doubt bet heavily on power pitching arms in the draft.

by dbacks watcher on Jun 27, 2025 4:21 PM EDT reply actions

Why must Kennedy be untouchable?

The ERA is nice, but his xFIP is at 4.45 and his FIP and tERA are even worse. He’s shown the ability to miss some bats, which is nice, but the command hasn’t been great and he’s always been a fly ball pitcher.

He’s a solid back-of-the-rotation guy, but I wouldn’t keep him off-limits if someone was willing to give up good value for him.

I like baseball.
I write for Beyond the Box Score and The Hardball Times Fantasy

by Satchel Price on Jun 27, 2025 5:28 PM EDT up reply actions

He's cost controlled

And he’s got a good pedigree.

President, Vice President and Secretary of the Casey Crosby Fanclub.

Assist. Editor, Minor League Division, Bless You Boys

by David Tokarz on Jun 27, 2025 8:45 PM EDT up reply actions

I'd be on the phone to Theo Epstein

With Chris Snyder and Kelly Johnson you have two fairly valuable assets that could be important for Boston with the injuries to Pedroia and VMart. The Sox have such a deep farm system you could grab 2 to 3 B-/C+ type arms that could be very helpful in the future. I’d be looking at guys like Stolmy Pimentel, Alex Wilson, and Roman Mendez as the more notable names.

As Satchel mentioned above, I’d absolutely be working the phones to see what I could get for Edwin Jackson. He’s solid, but he only has a short amount of team control left. There will be more teams looking for pitching than pitchers available most likely, so see what is out there. I’d love to try and do something with the Rangers involving him if possible, they have plenty of arms as well.

Adam LaRoche would be the next guy I’d try to move, you’re not likely to more than a relief prospect here but that’s a major area of need. Chad Qualls and Aaron Heilman would be ready to go also, I’d pack their bags and drive them to the airport myself.

Stephen Drew would be someone I’d shop, but I’d be looking for a pretty good return for him. He’s become a solid defender and is entering his prime offensive years. He’s going to get expensive but he also plays a hard position to fill. Reynolds, Parra, and Young are guys I’d listen on as well, though I’d need very strong offers to consider moving them.

Haren, Upton, and Kennedy would be the only guys I’d be hanging onto tightly. In Kennedy’s case I’m not terribly enamored with him, but he’s under team control for 5 more years so there is a good bit of value in him to the team. Haren is struggling this year and is expensive, but he’s also locked up long term and I’d rather wait for a strong year for him before I’d consider making a move. Upton is about as close to untouchable as there is.

In the offseason I’d look for 6 year minor league free agents and other cheap arms to try and build my bullpen. Teams like the Padres and A’s are able to build strong pens each year with that type of philosophy. I wouldn’t spend too much on stopgap type guys, instead earmarking that money for the draft and international signings. I’d be looking to infuse the system with arms in next year’s draft, both HS upside types and college arms that could move quickly and help shore up the back end of the rotation and the bullpen.

http://bullpenbanter.com

by gatling on Jun 28, 2025 2:31 AM EDT reply actions

For what it’s worth, the D-Backs are in the upper tier of NL teams in runs scored, and it’s not all because of their home park. You could also argue that a lot of their hitters have room for improvement. This is a strong offensive team.

Their pitching has obviously been the problem (again, it’s not all just the home park). I wouldn’t part out this team just yet (unless I were overcompensated), especially since the division seems up for grabs in any given year. A few solid offseason acquisitions, especially at the back of the rotation or in the bullpen, could make all the difference. If Kennedy is for real and Webb comes back strong, they could have a legitimately awesome team in 2011.

by limozeen on Jun 28, 2025 2:49 AM EDT reply actions