Diamondbacks Deep Roster Destined Drury’s Departure
By Josh Burke
The Diamondbacks traded utility player Brandon Drury to New York in a three-way love triangle involving the Yankees and Rays that produced Tampa Bay outfielder Steven Souza Jr. for Arizona. Although their roster has dramatically improved in only a few days time, the D-backs now have more outfield questions than ever.
Oops I did it again! Immediately after positing that the Diamondbacks’ Jarrod Dyson signing would start the dominoes toppling, Arizona announced another trade. Not Chris Owings, as I imagined, but his former fellow-utility man and sometime double play combo in the middle infield, Brandon Drury.
The D-backs got the big-name commodity in the deal. Powerful corner outfielder Steven Souza Jr. will join the Diamondbacks crowded outfield from Tampa Bay. Also coming to Arizona is Taylor Widener, a minor league pitcher from the Yankees.
The Rays received left-handed pitcher Anthony Banda from the D-backs and other varied prospects. The Yankees acquired Drury. Done deal.
There’s some talk of Drury manning the hot corner for the Yanks this season. It sounds like chances are good he’ll get a decent share of playing time in the Big Apple. New York will enjoy the workman-like attitude and production that Drury displayed during his three solid years in Arizona.
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Drury’s presence will be missed in AZ. Once Dyson signed earlier this week, though, it became obvious that someone was going to get squeezed.
Souza joins A.J. Pollack, David Peralta, and recent addition Dyson as Arizona’s top four outfielders. There appears to be absolutely no room at Chase Field for another player who can play only OF. To be more blunt, there’s no room for a player who maybe doesn’t even play defense well at any position.
In our post on Dyson signing with AZ, I mentioned Yasmany Tomas possibly getting straight-up released. The fact is that Tomas’s contract may make him untradeable.
Now that the D-backs have Souza, I’m intrigued by the front office’s end game. If anything, adding Souza to the outfield mix makes matters more complicated for Arizona. Keeping Yasmany Tomas would seem an odd fit for this team with its current construction.
Next: Dyson Signing May Set Up Trade
Diamondbacks infielder Brandon Drury is now a Yankee. Tampa Bay outfielder Steven Souza Jr. joins Arizona from the Rays thanks to a 3-team trade. The chances of Chris Owings opening the season as a Diamondback are better now with Drury gone. But it does certainly seem that Yasmany Tomas’s days in Arizona are numbered.