Where to start? The D-Backs traded six players to the A's to get Dan
Haren (widely regarded as the second-best pitcher available in the trade
market) and a minor league pitcher. Then, they turned around and traded
Jose Valverde to Houston to get a bunch of prospects to replenish their
farm system, as well as a legitimate major league bullpen arm (Chad
Qualls).
And finally, they unloaded Alberto Callaspo to Kansas City in exchange for
a pitcher named Billy Buckner, who does not appear to be related to the
infamous Bill Buckner.
Assuming that the rotation holds up, many people are expecting it to be
the strongest starting rotation in the NL.
It should be:
* Webb (R)
* Haren (R)
* Davis (L)
* Owings (R)
* Johnson (L)
The last three guys could get shuffled around, depending on how well they
pitch, how healthy they are, and how Melvin decides he wants to stack
lefties and righties in the lineup.
Most of the prospects the D-Backs gave up to get Haren are high quality
prospects, but their positions were relatively well-stocked at the major
league level. The Valverde trade allowed the D-Backs to get peak value
for a guy who may have just had his career year (and would have commanded
substantial dollars in arbitration), and it appears that they re-stocked
the farm system with prospects who play positions they need.
The only question is about who will take over as closer. Pena's got the
stuff, but struggled late last year. I don't see Lyon as a closer, but
one of the guys they got from Houston (Qualls) would have been Houston's
closer if they hadn't pulled off the Valverde trade, and top pitching
prospect Max Scherzer did some closing in the Fall League and claims to
have liked doing so.
The only downside to all this movement is that it fills out the D-Backs'
25 man roster, so they will not be re-signing Tony Clark.
Of course, none of this addresses the D-Backs' primary weakness last year:
Offense. The team appears to be hoping that the young guys will mature
and develop more consistent hitting strokes and power. It's a safe bet
that at least some of them will do so.
--Paul
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