The deal sends RF Jayson Werth and 2B D.J. LeMahieu to Chicago in exchange for a variety of prospects and 2B Brian Roberts. Werth had a very good season in 2013 after a sluggish start, but with the soon-to-be 35 year old's $9.1 million a year contract set to expire it was doubtful that Arizona would resign him. Werth has been on the wrong end of the OF depth chart during the offseason with CF Peter Bourjos and RF Domonic Brown filling his likely positions, this move seems to indicate that management is interested in giving LF Dayan Viciedo the starting job.
The centerpiece of the deal on the Diamondbacks side is SS Luis Sardinas, originally drafted by the Texas rangers, who is ranked as the #76th overall prospect by MLB.com. Sardinas was drafted in the same class as 2B/SS Jurickson Profar, but took slightly longer to develop, he has still impressed scouts and is only 20 years old. If things work out the Diamondbacks could have a solid 2B-SS combo with Chris Owings and Sardinas in the near future.
Is Sardinas the future at SS?
The remaining prospects featured two former Diamondbacks in RHP Jake Barrett and LHP Eury De La Rosa. With Matt Reynolds going down for the season and being released, the Diamondbacks desperately needed RP depth. Barrett had been rated behind fellow hard tossing RHP Matt Stites, but coming into this season most scouts put Barrett above Stites in the closer-of-the-future pecking order. De La Rosa is a poorly rated reliever who seems destined for a LOOGY role, not to say his skills will not be needed.
The final pieces of the deal were former Royals SS Orlando Calixte and comeback-minded 2B Brian Roberts. Calixte was of interest as Arizona looks to build MI depth in it's system, and Roberts was mostly thrown into the deal to balance team salaries ($8.0 million left) and serve as a back-up to the equally injury prone 2B Aaron Hill. Roberts has only managed 192 games in the past four years, with his 17 game 2012 season particularly worrisome, and hasn't been productive since 2009. If Hill suffers another injury setback and 2B Grant Green doesn't live up to expectations Roberts should get the call.
With Arizona's failure to sign an OF in free agency, a move that would have pushed Brown to LF, this looks like a risky move for the 2014 season. An injury to any of their starters would push utility OF Tony Campana or Ryan Raburn (another bloated expiring contract) into the starting lineup. The loss of LeMahieu also complicates this scenario, but it looks like Arizona's GMs are acutely aware that any injuries would scuttle their bid for an NL West title and probably end their season no matter what position is compromised.
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