Hazen expects D-backs to be active at Winter Meetings
The D-backs head to the Winter Meetings subsequent week in San Diego with a listing of must fill and a few coveted commerce chips to supply as they appear to take one other step ahead following a 22-win enchancment in 2022.
General supervisor Mike Hazen mentioned commerce and free-agent discuss had picked up fairly a bit just lately, which might imply the D-backs are in a position to pull off a transfer or two at or simply after the Meetings.
“I think we have an opportunity in front of us to improve our baseball team, and that makes me excited,” Hazen mentioned. “I don’t know what we’re going to end up doing. And managing expectations here in terms of what the Winter Meetings actually mean — in some cases, I’ve been to plenty of Winter Meetings where a lot of things haven’t necessarily happened, but they’ve happened right after or they happened in January. But yes, I get the sense that there’s a lot of potential activity, and we could be involved in some of that activity.”
• Sunday, Dec. 4: HOF Contemporary Era Ballot outcomes launched (Albert Belle, Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Don Mattingly, Fred McGriff, Dale Murphy, Rafael Palmeiro, Curt Schilling)
• Monday, Dec. 5: All-MLB Team introduced
• Tuesday, Dec. 6: Inaugural Draft Lottery, AL/NL Relievers of Year introduced
• Wednesday, Dec. 7: Rule 5 Draft
Improving the again finish of the bullpen stays a precedence for the D-backs, who struggled in that space this previous season regardless of including veterans Mark Melancon and Ian Kennedy. They would additionally prefer to discover a right-handed bat to assist stability out the lineup a bit, and that might come within the type of a 3rd baseman. Finding a backup for catcher Carson Kelly or somebody to push him for the beginning job is one other space of want, as is starting-pitching depth.
Potential commerce candidates
The D-backs have continued to obtain a gradual stream of calls about their younger group of outfielders — Daulton Varsho, Corbin Carroll, Alek Thomas and Jake McCarthy. They have let groups know that Carroll is unavailable, however they appear open to buying and selling one of many different three in the fitting deal.
While the outfielders stay their highest worth property, the D-backs might look to maneuver Madison Bumgarner, who nonetheless has two years and $37 million left on his contract. They would probably have to choose up a big portion of the cash remaining or discover a crew seeking to dump a participant making related cash.
The D-backs’ outfield prospects have gotten essentially the most consideration, however the group has some younger pitchers who additionally debuted in 2022 and are loaded with expertise.
Two gamers the D-backs didn’t add to the 40-man roster who at the moment are eligible for the Rule 5 Draft are outfielders Dominic Canzone and Wilderd Patino. Arizona likes each gamers, however given the depth of outfielders within the system, it merely didn’t really feel there was room.
The D-backs might find yourself making a Rule 5 Draft choice, but it surely must be a participant who actually jumps out at them, Hazen mentioned, given what number of younger gamers Arizona already expects to have on the roster.
Will the D-backs commerce one in all their younger outfielders, and in that case, which one? This has been the most well liked matter for the membership for the reason that remaining month of the 2022 season as McCarthy completed off a robust second half.
Dealing one of many outfielders looks like a given with all of them being left-handed hitters, however selecting which one to maneuver is a good greater choice, with no simple reply.
