The Arizona Diamondbacks will be reporting to spring training as the defending National League Western Division Champions for the first time since 2002.
Though the team could have stood pat during the offseason and been just as good as last season, they did just the opposite.
Arizona made a big trade with Oakland to bring in right-hander Dan Haren who, behind Brandon Webb, gives them a solid 1-2 punch in their starting rotation, though it did cost them 6 minor league prospects. A price Arizona felt they could afford to pay for a guy like Haren.
That wasn't their only big deal, they traded Jose Valverde, the National League's saves leader in 2007, to Houston in return for reliever Chad Qualls, infielder Chris Burke and reliever Juan Gutierrez. I think Houston made out like bandits in this deal.
One familiar face to DBack fans that won't be returning to the team is veteran 1st baseman Tony Clark. The Diamondbacks negotiated with Clark and his reps but were far apart on the dollar amount and decided to move in another direction. Clark was a big part of this team last season and he's going to be a hard player to replace.
Here's the full list of new arrivals and departures from the team:
Arrivals:
RHP Dan Haren
RHP Connor Robertson
RHP Chad Qualls
INF/OF Chris Burke
RHP Juan Gutierrez
RHP Billy Buckner
Departures:
RHP Jose Valverde
LHP Brett Anderson
LHP Greg Smith
LHP Dana Eveland
OF Carlos Gonzalez
OF Aaron Cunningham
1B Chris Carter
INF Alberto Callaspo
OF Carlos Quentin
1B Tony Clark
RHP Livan Hernandez
INF Jeff Cirillo
RHP Bob Wickman
The Diamondbacks rotation at this point consist of Brandon Webb, Dan Haren, Randy Johnson, Doug Davis and Micah Owings.
Yes, Arizona has, arguably, the best 1-2 punch in the NL West, but you could say the same thing about San Diego (Jake Peavy, Chris Young), San Francisco (Barry Zito, Matt Cain), Los Angeles (Jason Schmidt, Brad Penny) and Colorado (Jeff Francis, Aaron Cook).
Johnson is coming off back surgery and it's highly questionable that he gives them 20+ starts.
Owings was one of the surprises for Arizona in 2007, but not with his arm, but with his bat. Last season, he finished with a .333 batting average, 4 HR's and 15 RBI's in 60 at bats. The biggest surprise coming in Atlanta against the Braves where he hit 2 HR's and drove in 6.
The infield and outfield won't change much from 2007. Chris Snyder (C), Conor Jackson (1B), Orlando Hudson (2B), Mark Reynolds (3B) and Stephen Drew (SS) round out the infield, Eric Byrnes (LF), Chris Young (CF) and Justin Upton (RF) in the oufield.
All-in-all, Arizona is going to be just as strong, if not stronger, than last season. Their starting rotation will keep them in a lot of games and win them a lot of games, they will give San Diego, Colorado and the Dodgers serious competition for the NL West crown.
PREDICTION TIME:
Arizona will be in the race from April to the end of September, but if they're offense can't give their pitching runs to work with, they're going to be in trouble.
I believe it'll take 92-95 wins to win the NL West and I just don't think Arizona will get there.
Arizona - 85-77
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