Afternoon Links: Stewart Comfortable with Current Payroll

Good afternoon Arizona Diamondbacks fans! All is quiet on the hot stove front as we approach spring training and the 2015 baseball season. As I am writing this, there are only 22 days until pitchers and catchers report to Salt River Fields. The roster is pretty much set except for a few positional battles, and Dbacks General Manager Dave Stewart is just about done making any off-season moves. We were all hoping that the Dbacks would be in on James Shields till the very end, but it turned out that the price was just to high, and that is fine. With that in mind lets check in on whats going on with the Dbacks and around the MLB! Here are your morning links!

Diamondbacks Links:

Stewart Comfortable with Payroll in the $91 Million Range-Dbacks.com

Stewart is comfortable with the payroll where is at right now, and doesn’t expect to make any more moves to cut salary before the off-season ends. This could help explain why the Dbacks bowed out of the Shields sweepstakes. If the Dbacks do make any cost cutting moves, Trevor Cahill and Cody Ross would be prime candidates to go, though its going to be hard to get rid of either contract, and get something valuable in return without eating a ton of salary, unless they simply cut both players.

Mark Grace Remembers Ernie Banks-Dbacks.com

A few days ago, Mr. Cub Ernie Banks passed away at the age of 83. He had such a big influence on the Cubs, and the game of baseball, and it was sad day for baseball when he died. Dbacks assistant hitting coach Mark Grace talked to Steve Gilbert of MLB.com about his former teammate.

Where does Josh Collmenter Rank Among #1 Starters?-AZSnakePit

Jim McLennan of AZSnakePit examines this question, and you might be shocked when you see the results.

Top Cant Miss Pitching Prospects for 2015-Bleacher Report

Is Archie Bradley on this list? Find out by reading Jason Catania’s article.

Five Players the Diamondbacks Should Trade For-Rant Sports

Here are five players the Dbacks should trade for before the 2015 season begins!

Around the MLB:

Yankees Plan to Fight Alex Rodriguez in Court for Bonuses-Yanks Go Yard

Remembering Ernie Banks: His Scouting Report– Grading on the Curve

Mets not Close to Trading a Starting Pitcher-Rising Apple