Weighing in on the Diamondbacks’ off-season

The Arizona Diamondbacks won 94 games last season, taking
the NL West title and the Brewers to five games in the
NLDS. Kevin Towers was not one to rest on his laurels,
though, as the team made plenty of moves over the
offseason, each one designed to get the D-backs to the
next level. Will they? Our panel of baseball experts at
Arizona Sports weighs in.

Best move

Dave Burns: Trevor Cahill. I talked to a baseball
scout who loves Cahill’s stuff and thinks it will play
well at Chase Field. The Dbacks traded a “later” guy for a
“now” guy and I think it will pay off.

Vince Marotta: Trading for Trevor Cahill. Sure the
Dbacks gave up on Jarrod Parker, but they pick up a
battle-tested ground ball pitcher in Cahill, who’s only 8
months older than Parker and already has 40 career
victories. Plus, Kevin Towers didn’t have to trade Tyler
Skaggs, Trevor Bauer or Archie Bradley. Great trade.

Doug Franz: The Cahill trade.
I think Jerrod Parker is going to be an excellent number 2
pitcher but it’s still a trade for a Major League pitcher
and you gave up a minor leaguer after elbow rehab.

Adam Green: Trading for Trevor Cahill. Jarrod
Parker may end up being a good pitcher, but Cahill already
is one. He gives the D-backs one of the best starting
rotations in baseball, which will carry the team all
season.

Worst Move

Dave Burns: Not locking up Miguel Montero long
term, though that could change between now and the start
of the season. And I suspect that one is not all the
Dbacks fault.

Vince Marotta: The signing of Jason Kubel. It’s not
that I don’t like this deal. I think Kubel is a fine
player who hopefully will add some pop to the lineup, but
no matter how you slice it, this takes away playing time
from Gerardo Parra, who was one of Arizona’s unsung heroes
last season. Parra played Gold Glove defense, stole some
bases and even hit well against left-handers. But if this
was your worst move of the offseason, you’re in pretty
good shape.

Doug Franz: Saying this is the worst sounds like it
was an idiotic move and I don’t think signing Kubel was
bad but out of every move I liked it the least. If I was
told it was just a move to keep Parra humble and reaching
then it was great. I have a sense it was a great belief in
Kubel and I don’t share that.

Adam Green: Nothing the D-backs did this offseason
was particularly bad, but the Jason Kubel signing was
puzzling. Why send a Gold Glove winner to the bench?

Most Surprising Move

Dave Burns: Joe Saunders. On both sides. The Dbacks
for keeping that door open and more importantly, Joe, for
walking through it. Jason Kubel’s acquisition is a close
second.

Vince Marotta: The re-signing of Joe Saunders. It
looked like Saunders was history. Heck, he even told Burns
and Gambo “I thought for sure I was done.” Surprising, yes
– and a good move. It’s a one-year deal for $6 million,
and Saunders is at least an innings eater at the back end
of the rotation, although there many times he was much
more than that in 2011.

Doug Franz: Joe Saunders returning. I was shocked
when I got the “YOU’RE NEVER GOING TO BELIEVE THIS” phone
call.

Adam Green: The re-signings of everyone. Joe
Saunders, Aaron Hill, Henry Blanco, Lyle Overbay, Willie
Bloomquist — somehow the team that won the NL West last
year remained in tact, ready for another run.

Move That Needed to Happen But Didn’t

Dave Burns: Bolstering third base. I know Ryan
Roberts is a fan favorite but I sense that a drop off is a
comin’.

Vince Marotta: Not exploring an acquisition for a
third baseman. Ryan Roberts had a magical 2011 season, and
was a big reason why the Diamondbacks won the NL West. Can
he repeat that performance in 2012? We’re gonna find out.

Doug Franz: I think Ryan Roberts is the greatest
role/bench player in baseball. To go from playoff
contender to Championship contender, you need a stronger
everyday 3rd baseman

Adam Green: Finding someone better than Ryan
Roberts to play 3rd base. He had a nice season last year –
– for Ryan Roberts – – but he’s not exactly “starting 3rd
baseman on a championship team” material.

Least Surprising Move

Dave Burns: Kevin Towers and Kirk Gibson contract
extensions. I mean,duh.

Vince Marotta: Extending the contracts of manager
Kirk Gibson and GM Kevin Towers. Much deserved.

Doug Franz: A very general statement but the
continually tweaking of the bullpen. I think every
offseason GM Kevin Towers will continually enhance the
pen.

Adam Green: The contract extensions given to Kevin
Towers and Kirk Gibson. They earned every new penny.

Under the Radar Move

Dave Burns: Takashi Saito. Love the way he deepens
that bullpen if he can stay healthy most of the year.

Vince Marotta: Getting Craig Breslow in the Cahill
deal. He’s a lefty, but he’s actually better against
right-handed hitters in his career. And he’s durable…at
least he has been – pitching in more games than any other
American Leaguer over the last three seasons. He gives
Gibby a little added flexibility in the bullpen.

Doug Franz: Avoiding arbitration with Montero.
Arbitration keeps players on your roster but it pisses
them off and they strongly consider leaving when they earn
free agency. By getting Miggy signed, the chances of him
staying long term increase dramatically.

Adam Green: Re-signing Aaron Hill will prove to be
huge, as he plays excellent defense and provides pop from
a position where you don’t normally have any.

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