NATIONAL LEAGUE WEST OUTLOOK
This won't surprise anyone who follows baseball, but the NL West might need to be renamed the NL Giants. San Francisco is loaded for another run at the title with probably the best roster in baseball. The Diamondbacks and Padres are probably going to duke it out for worst in the division, with the Rockies and Dodgers looking like sub .500 teams.
WINTER MEETINGS
The Diamondbacks basically lit a fire to their roster and gutted the MLB squad, even more than previous seasons, to make way for the future. By the time pitchers and catchers were due to report the Diamondbacks had completed ten different trades that mostly sent MLB regulars packing for prospects. The biggest surprises were the trades of SP Patrick Corbin, OF Yasmany Tomas, OF Ender Inciarte, and SS Chris Owings. Arizona's management clearly lost their patience with Tomas and Owings, loaded up on expiring contracts, and turned toward the future.
Will Gonzalez be around to pitch the Diamondbacks' opener?
ARIZONA FREE AGENCY PREVIEW
The influx of expiring contracts and prospects left the Diamondbacks maxed out as far as their budget goes. The team might have a little over $1 million left to sign someone, but they are more likely to let a fan fill if a roster spot opens up due to injury. Things are going to get ugly in the desert for 2016.
PROJECTED 2016 ROSTER (WINTER)
The Diamondbacks are definitely at a crossroads when it comes to their roster, and this team could either be bad or terrible. Either way, it's all building up to the next few seasons. The projected roster has a gaping hole at SS and major issues in the rotation.
Arizona Diamondbacks Depth Chart - 2016
- Catcher
- Y. Gomes
- First Base
- P. Goldschmidt
- Second Base
- D. Uggla
- M. Izturis
- Third Base
- J. Lamb
- Shortstop
- Left Field
- A. Marte
- M. Krauss
- Center Field
- M. Taylor
- Right Field
- E. Rosario
- T. Campana
- Starting Pitcher
- G. Gonzalez
- J. Weaver
- K. Lobstein
- M. Lorenzen
- R. Detwiler
- B. Penny
- Relief Pitcher
- E. Marshall
- C. Thielbar
- A. Torres
- M. Reynolds
- T. Cahill
- D. Holmberg
- Closer
- A. Colome
- R. Belisario
- Designated Hitter
- G. Jones