Ex-D-Back Craig Breslow had a great 2013 season for the Red Sox. Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
If the current Arizona Diamondbacks couldn’t make it to the 2013 World Series, perhaps the next best thing is to point out that there are some former D-Backs’ participating in this year’s Fall Classic. Although there are only three of them, each has played a solid role in helping the Boston Red Sox and the St. Louis Cardinals to get this far. During their stay in Arizona, they had varying degrees of success although only one of them saw the playoffs with the team.
Craig Breslow: The lefty reliever came from the Oakland along with Trevor Cahill in exchange for Jarrod Parker, Ryan Cook and Colin Cowgill before the 2012 season. In 40 games, Breslow went 2-0 with a 2.70 ERA covering 43 1/3 innings. He was then traded to the Sox on July 31st for Matt Albers and Scott Podsednik. He has played a huge role in the bullpen this season for Boston going 5-2 with a 1.81 ERA in 61 games. Before his throw in Game 2 of the Series allowed the go-ahead run to score, Breslow appeared in seven games covering seven innings and allowed no runs and only three hits.
Stephen Drew: A former first-round pick, Drew had some fairly productive seasons in Arizona before a broken ankle in the middle of the 2011 season derailed his career. His best year was 2008 when he hit 21 home runs and had 67 RBI’s, both career highs along with a line of .291/.333./.502. In August of 2012, Drew was traded to the A’s for Minor League infielder Sean Jamieson. He was signed by the Sox to a one year deal and had a decent season. Drew connected for 13 HR’s and drove in 67 runs with a line of .253/.333/.443. With super prospect Xander Bogaerts playing well, expect Drew to find a different home in 2014.
Randy Choate: In 2004, he appeared in 74 games for the D-Backs after coming over from the Montreal Expos (after being traded there three months earlier by the Yankees). He then began an up and down tenure with the team as he was released by the Snakes on May 5th the following season only to be re-signed a week later. He pitched in only eight games in 2005 and 30 in 2006 before being released again. Choate signed with the Twins in January only to be released and return to the desert in March, appearing in only two games in the Majors before leaving the organization for good after the season. He pitched well for the Cardinals this season appearing in 64 games with a 2-1 record and a 2.29 ERA.
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