Ross Signing Leaves More Questions Than Answers

The Arizona signing of Cody Ross raises questions in the desert. (US Presswire: Kim Klement)

What does the recent signing of Cody Ross mean to the Arizona Diamondbacks? In a surprise move this past week, Arizona inked the journeyman outfielder to a 3 year deal worth $26 million dollars and raised numerous questions in the process. Does the Ross signing indicate a trade involving a D’backs outfielder is imminent? If so, which one? Has GM Kevin Towers shown too much of his hand piling up outfielders? Has the team decided that prospects A.J. Pollack and Adam Eaton are not quite ready to contribute at the major league level? Let’s unpack these and see if that offers any perspective on this interesting move.

Does the Ross signing indicate a trade involving a D’backs outfielder is imminent? If so, which one? This seems to be the most logical idea. Signing a player the caliber of Cody Ross for that amount of money would not be a move for a fourth outfield option. If Ross is going to be on this roster, Ross is going to play. Seems logical that in that scenario, Ross would likely play CF, Kubel in LF, and Upton in RF, leaving Parra as the odd man out once again. Could that be an indication that the D’backs would be looking to deal Parra? Could there be a scenario where Arizona decides to give Parra the LF job and deal Kubel? There are still a number of team that could use a bat and Kubel had what most would say was a career year in 2012. Could this once again stoke the fire of the recurring Upton trade rumors? Of all of the existing Arizona outfielders, it is Upton that would command the most in return.

Has GM Kevin Towers shown too much of his hand piling up outfielders? With Upton, Kubel, and Parra already in tow and Pollack and Eaton seemingly on the brink of breaking the big league roster, one would think that by adding another outfielder would create a scenario where Towers is dealing from a surplus. With teams knowing the D’backs situation, could it be used against them limiting the value they could possibly get in return? Knowing Towers has a crowded house could in fact work against Arizona on the trade market.

Has the team decided that prospects A.J. Pollack and Adam Eaton are not quite ready to contribute at the major league level? With the exposure and at bats that they received at the major league level and the fact that Arizona dealt Chris Young this offseason, it seemed as if one or both of these prospects was going to get a significant number of at bats and playing time in 2013. It is possible that the team could be seeking deals for Pollack and/or Eaton or establishing different plans for them.

After it appeared that this team was fairly set following the Bauer trade and that this team had a pretty good idea of what players would be going to spring training. This new development has raised a number of questions and leaves Diamondback fans waiting for the other shoe to drop. Only thing we do know is that questions will continue to linger until this outfield situation is sorted out.