D-backs’ Porter addresses losing Buchholz, optimism for Carson Kelly
Mar 6, 2019, 3:03 PM | Updated: Mar 7, 2019, 9:23 am
Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Clay Buchholz works in the first inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2018, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)
(AP Photo/Eric Risberg)
The Arizona Diamondbacks came into spring training with a lot more questions than answers.
After losing three All-Stars this offseason in first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, center fielder A.J. Pollock and starting pitcher Patrick Corbin, the D-backs have been forced to answer to some questions heading into the regular season.
D-backs senior vice president and assistant general manager Jared Porter has been someone who has been trying to answer those questions all winter long.
He touched on some more recent events Wednesday morning.
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Buchholz signing with Toronto
Former D-backs starter Clay Buchholz officially became a member of the Toronto Blue Jays on Mar. 5 after spending last year in the desert.
With the D-backs looking for starting pitching depth early in the winter, Buchholz seemed like an option to possibly provide depth without spending too big.
“We feel pretty good about the depth of our starting pitching,” Porter told Doug & Wolf on 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station. “We did talk to [Buchholz] early, but we had kind of made or moves and at that point we were pretty much set in our rotation.”
Porter also added that the acquisitions of pitchers Luke Weaver and Merrill Kelly played a factor in building their depth without re-signing Buchholz.
Buchholz pitched to a 2.01 ERA last season with D-backs in 16 starts.
The optimism around Carson Kelly
One of the most coveted pieces of the Goldschmidt trade to the St. Louis Cardinals is the young catcher, Carson Kelly.
Catching is a position the D-backs failed to get production out of a year ago after losing Chris Iannetta last offseason. In 2018, the D-backs ranked 25th in the league in total catcher WAR (wins above replacement) by posting a disappointing -2.1.
The acquisition of Kelly has brought the optimism to the D-backs front office that Kelly can become their future full-time catcher.
“He’s been impressive,” Porter said. “The things that we are most excited about right now are the leadership that he’s shown at his age which we think can really help us moving forward.”
