SCOTTSDALE - With pitchers and catchers already in camp, it looks like the Diamondbacks will be adding one more. Well, technically they aren't adding one, they are just keeping one that might have left. Trevor Cahill, who went through the worst year of his professional career in 2014, has agreed to a new two-year deal with the Diamondbacks. The deal has been reported at $2.6 million per year, a decent raise but still manageable for the organization.
Cahill is entering his seventh year as a major league pitcher, but he's still just 26 which seems amazing since most would think he was much older. He's entered a prime age for players, and most his age would be lucky to have one or two years of major league experience.
Arizona ownership seemed comfortable with letting him walk after the disaster of 2014, but with Corbin a bit of a question mark and his relative youth it looks like the team was willing to reinvest. If things don't work out there may be trade avenues available as a number of other teams expressed interest during the bidding process.
Friday, February 27, 2015
Saturday, February 21, 2015
Hill Traded, Campana Injured
SCOTTSDALE - Pitchers and catchers haven't even officially reported yet, but things are already heading south for the Diamondbacks. A trade and an injury have shaken up the roster before a single D-Bat has hit the fryer.
The infield logjam became a little clearer earlier this week as Aaron Hill was traded to the Cleveland Indians in exchange for two prospects. The prospects, 2B Willi Castro and LHP Luis Lugo, are both former IFA that are quite a ways off. Castro is just 17, having signed for $825,000 out of the Dominican Republic in 2013. Lugo is a little closer to the majors at 20, but the Venezuelan hurler still has some work to do to break into the big leagues. Considering how bad the Diamondbacks figure to be, the departure of Hill mostly represents a contract walking out the door. Getting anything for him was a real win for management.
The real downer came earlier this week as Tony Campana, slated to start in LF, came down with a torn ACL during a workout session. While not much of a hitter, Campana figured to be a decent defensive option with the upside of stealing bases. His departure, likely for the season, forces Marc Krauss into a starting position. The lack of OF depth may force manager Chip Hale to abandon the Yasmany Tomas Experiment at 3B as playing Jake Lamb at 3B might be a better option than Krauss in the outfield.
While Campana's injury is hardly the difference between finishing last and making the playoffs, it brings a dark cloud over a team that suffered numerous season ending injuries in 2014.
The infield logjam became a little clearer earlier this week as Aaron Hill was traded to the Cleveland Indians in exchange for two prospects. The prospects, 2B Willi Castro and LHP Luis Lugo, are both former IFA that are quite a ways off. Castro is just 17, having signed for $825,000 out of the Dominican Republic in 2013. Lugo is a little closer to the majors at 20, but the Venezuelan hurler still has some work to do to break into the big leagues. Considering how bad the Diamondbacks figure to be, the departure of Hill mostly represents a contract walking out the door. Getting anything for him was a real win for management.
The real downer came earlier this week as Tony Campana, slated to start in LF, came down with a torn ACL during a workout session. While not much of a hitter, Campana figured to be a decent defensive option with the upside of stealing bases. His departure, likely for the season, forces Marc Krauss into a starting position. The lack of OF depth may force manager Chip Hale to abandon the Yasmany Tomas Experiment at 3B as playing Jake Lamb at 3B might be a better option than Krauss in the outfield.
Losing Campana makes the outfield a mess for 2015.
While Campana's injury is hardly the difference between finishing last and making the playoffs, it brings a dark cloud over a team that suffered numerous season ending injuries in 2014.
Friday, February 6, 2015
Diamondbacks Bring Back J.J. Hardy
SCOTTSDALE - With Spring Training just around the corner and Arizona's coaches already populating their facility at Salt River Fields things are starting to come together for the 2015 Diamondbacks. It isn't really clear why, perhaps it's lingering concerns over Chris Owings' shoulder, but Arizona announced the re-signing of J.J. Hardy today.
Hardy was targeted as someone expendable, especially with a $7.5 million a year salary, but it seems that ownership had a change of heart. The Dodgers, Yankees, and Brewers were in on some low level bidding as fellow shortstops Elvis Andrus and Hanley Ramirez landed big contracts. Despite the interest, Hardy returned to Arizona for less money on a two-year $9.8 million deal.
The Diamondbacks infield is fairly uncertain heading into the spring. The only player locked in is Paul Goldschmidt at first base with some combination of Aaron Hill, Chris Owings, Yasmany Tomas, Omar Infante, Blake DeWitt, and possibly Jake Lamb filling out the remaining spots. Hardy has the best chance of anyone to man shortstop with Owings being preferred at second, but who knows how things will shake out at this point.
Hardy was targeted as someone expendable, especially with a $7.5 million a year salary, but it seems that ownership had a change of heart. The Dodgers, Yankees, and Brewers were in on some low level bidding as fellow shortstops Elvis Andrus and Hanley Ramirez landed big contracts. Despite the interest, Hardy returned to Arizona for less money on a two-year $9.8 million deal.
The Diamondbacks infield is fairly uncertain heading into the spring. The only player locked in is Paul Goldschmidt at first base with some combination of Aaron Hill, Chris Owings, Yasmany Tomas, Omar Infante, Blake DeWitt, and possibly Jake Lamb filling out the remaining spots. Hardy has the best chance of anyone to man shortstop with Owings being preferred at second, but who knows how things will shake out at this point.
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