NEW FACES IN PHOENIX
I know there are mixed feelings about some of the moves Mike Hazen and the front office have made this off-season. There are fans that think trading away Daulton Varsho was a mistake because of his all-around ability to help the team win games. Some fans think Longoria got more money than what he was worth; and yet some fans, are very happy with how this team has improved in the last couple of months…
Whatever side of the fence you are on, let me give you reasons to be optimistic. The D-Backs added many new faces this offseason; Lourdes Gurriel Jr., Evan Longoria, Kyle Lewis, Gabriel Moreno, and Miguel Castro to name a few. These additions should without a doubt, help this team win more than 74 games (2022 record). A guy like 3B Evan Longoria will be a great veteran presence in the clubhouse and this young Arizona team needs that presence desperately. In 2022, the Diamondbacks ranked 3rd youngest in average age of position players (26.5). Longoria is not only a great veteran presence and leader, he is also a great ball player. In the box, he is an above-average hitter, posting an .833 OPS in 2021, and a .766 OPS a season ago. At the hot corner, he is elite. When it comes to OAA (Outs Above Average), Longo is in the top 10 among third basemen since 2020. Yes, Longoria is 37 which seems ancient in the world of professional sports, but hey, go watch the movie Moneyball and let me know if you change your mind about this addition...
The next addition I want to look at is 22-year-old catcher Gabriel Moreno. Coming over in the Varsho trade, Moreno may soon be a fan favorite. In 62 AAA games last season, Moreno recorded an .806 OPS, knocked in 39 runs, and got on base at a rate of .386. If you don’t know, that is really impressive for a catcher. When he got the call-up to the Jays, Moreno had a .733 OPS, .319 AVG, and knocked in 7 runs in 25 games played. Moreno also boasts more than a solid bat in the lineup. According to MLB.com, “Behind the plate, it’s Moreno’s quickness and athleticism that appeal most to evaluators. Those skills, along with an above-average arm, are what give the Diamondbacks confidence in Moreno as a catcher not just today, but in his development going forward, as well.”
With many new faces coming to Arizona, you will likely see fans rocking some new apparel at Chase…