Arizona Diamondbacks: Winter Meetings Day 3
By Thomas Lynch
Not much going on with the Arizona Diamondbacks during Day Three of the Winter Meetings.
The Arizona Diamondbacks stole the show during the second day of the Winter Meetings. Their acquisition of right-handed pitcher Shelby Miller from the Atlanta Braves was been praised and maligned. We may get into those reactions over the coming week as some of the negativity is downright unfair. As far as the third day of these meetings go, all has been quiet on the Arizona front as far as acquisitions and rumors go.
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That doesn’t mean everything involving the team was silent. Reliever David Hernandez departed the desert, signing a one-year deal with the Philadelphia Phillies. The 30-year old Hernandez had a tough 2015 allowing 33 hits and 11 walks in 33 innings after missing all of 2014 because of Tommy John surgery. He was tremendous for the D-backs in 2011 and 2012, appearing in a combined 146 games posting an ERA under three, registering 15 saves and striking out 176 batters in 137 2/3 innings pitched. We wish Hernandez the best of luck in the City of Brotherly Love.
In the wake of Ender Inciarte‘s departure to Atlanta, manager Chip Hale had this to say about Yasmany Tomas:
Chip Hale says Yasmany Tomas is "definitely our starting right fielder right now."
— Nick Piecoro (@nickpiecoro) December 9, 2015
The thought is Tomas will come into camp in better shape and will be better equipped to deal with the long grind of a Major League season. The adjustment coming over from Cuba presents many challenges, not the least of which is a language barrier. Cuban seasons are also much shorter than MLB ones and you can see the evidence as Tomas wore down toward the end of last season. Before Zack Greinke‘s smashing free agent contract, Tomas’ $68 million dollar deal was the largest outlay for a free agent in organization history. He needs to make good on it in 2016.
How about some more morning after fodder regarding the Miller deal?
#Marlins asked #DBacks for six players, four of whom were in majors last season, including Corbin. Asking teams to rip up their rosters.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 9, 2015
What Rosenthal is referring to was the asking price of Jose Fernandez. I am sure the D-backs weren’t the only team to hang up the phone when told of Miami’s demands. You can’t blame the Marlins for asking for a bundle as they are evaluating the young right-hander’s market value. Of course, asking Arizona for six players is absurd, no matter how good he is. I think I speak for most D-backs’ fans when I say I am glad they sat that one out.
Here is another pitcher the D-backs could have dealt for:
The #Dbacks also were in heavy discussions with the #Indians on Danny Salazar before acquiring #Braves Shelby Miller
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) December 9, 2015
Next: What's Next for the Arizona Diamondbacks?
Danny Salazar is a right-handed pitcher who will turn 26 in January. He is not as accomplished as Miller but he is a fine pitcher in his own right, going 14-10 with a 3.45 ERA in 30 starts last year for Cleveland. This was a team that was talked about as having a perfect pairing with the Snakes. The Indians have an abundance of starting pitchers and desperately need an outfielder. Salazar wouldn’t have cost the bounty Miller did but the D-backs did get the better arm.