The all-Diamondbacks dream team
Catcher: Miguel Montero
Good ol’ Monty. Miguel Montero is the face of catching for this franchise, no doubt about it. From 2006-2014 Montero served as the everyday backstop. In 906 games with Arizona, Miguel hit 97 HRs, 448 RBIs, and slashed .264/.343/.421 for an OPS of .763. His best season came in 2012 where he hit 15 HRs, 88 RBIs, and finished the season with a .391 OBP. Following the 2014 season, the Diamondbacks traded Montero to the Chicago Cubs for minor leaguers Jeferson Mejia and Zack Godley. Miguel would play for a total of 4 teams in his career, and on December 10, 2018, Montero announced his retirement…
1B: Paul Goldschmidt
This one will always sting. Paul Goldschmidt might be the best hitter in Diamondbacks franchise history. From 2011-2018, Goldschmidt laced his cleats up for Arizona. In 1092 games with the Diamondbacks, Goldy hit 267 doubles, 209 HRs, 710 RBIs, and slashed .297/.398/.532 for an OPS of .930. Video game numbers. On December 5, 2018, the Diamondbacks traded Goldschmidt to the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for Luke Weaver, Carson Kelly, Andy Young, and a Competitive Balance Round B pick in the 2019 MLB draft. Paul currently plays for the St. Louis Cardinals and on November 17, 2022, he won the NL MVP award for the 2022 season…
2B: Ketel Marte
On November 23, 2016, the Mariners traded Ketel Marte and Taijuan Walker to the Arizona Diamondbacks for Jean Segura, Mitch Haniger, and Zac Curtis. Since then, Marte has been nothing but productive. In 642 games with the Diamondbacks, Marte has hit 158 doubles, 79 HRs, 288 RBIs, and has slashed .283/.350/.476 for an OPS of .826. His best season came in 2019. In 144 games that season, Marte hit 36 doubles, 32 HRs, 92 RBIs, and finished the season with a .981 OPS. No wonder he got nominated to play in his first-ever all-star game. Marte is the only member of the dream team that is still playing for the D-backs. I predict a big 2023 for Ketel…
SS: Stephen Drew
Stephen Drew was about as consistent as they come. In 6 full seasons with the Diamondbacks (2006-2011), Drew hit 168 doubles, 70 HRs, 321 RBIs, and slashed .270/.330/.442 for an OPS of .773; side note, Drew was known for his ability to leg out triples (52 to be exact). Drew’s best season came in 2008 when he hit 44 doubles, 21 HRs, 67 RBIs, and recorded an .836 OPS. He actually received 2 votes for NL MVP that season. On August 20, 2012, Drew was traded to the Oakland Athletics for minor league shortstop Sean Jamieson. Drew would go on to play for 3 other teams and on April 2, 2018, Drew confirmed his retirement from baseball after 12 seasons…
3B: Mark Reynolds
When Mark Reynolds hit the ball, you could hear it from a mile away. Reynolds knew quite well how to mash a baseball. In 4 seasons with the Diamondbacks (2007-2010), the sheriff hit 95 doubles, 121 HRs, 346 RBIs, and had a .483 slugging percentage. Reynolds was known for striking out, but if he was locked in, he was locked in. His best season came in 2009; he hit 30 doubles, 44 bombs, 102 RBIs, and had a .543 slugging percentage. Reynolds and John Hester were traded to the Baltimore Orioles for David Hernandez and Kam Mickolio on December 6, 2010. Reynolds would go on to play for 5 other teams and on April 9, 2020, Reynolds announced his retirement.
LF: Luis Gonzalez
In 1999, Gonzalez was traded from the Tigers to the Diamondbacks for Karim García. It is likely that Luis will always be a fan favorite. Gonzo, as Arizona fans knew him, arguably led this team to their first and currently only world series title. In 1194 games with the D-backs, Gonzo hit 310 doubles, 224 HRs, 774 RBIs, and slashed .298/.391/.529 for an OPS of .919. His best season came in 2001; the year the Diamondbacks won it all. In that season, Gonzalez hit 36 doubles, 57 HRs, 142 RBIs, and slashed .325/.429/.688 for an OPS of 1.117. An unbelievable regular season. He capped off an unbelievable regular season with a game-winning RBI single in game 7 of the World Series versus the Yankees. I don’t know about you, but I think Gonzo was feeling like he was on top of the world in 2001. In his career, Gonzo played for a total of 6 different teams and on August 29, 2009, he announced his retirement and joined the Diamondbacks front office as a special assistant to the president…
CF: Steve Finley
In December 1998, Finley signed as a free agent with Arizona. Steve Finley was a massive part of the 2001 championship team. In 5 full seasons with the D-backs, Finley hit 134 doubles, 130 HRs, 431 RBIs, and slashed .278/.353/.501 for an OPS of .854. His best season came in 2000; he hit 27 doubles, 35 HRs, 96 RBIs, and scored 100 times. He also had an OPS of .904! In July 2004, Finley was traded by the Diamondbacks along with Brent Mayne to the Dodgers for Koyie Hill, Reggie Abercrombie, and Bill Murphy. Finley played for a total of 7 teams and after his short tenure with the Rockies in 2007, he retired…
RF: Justin Upton
Justin Upton is a name many people forget about when it comes to D-backs history. In 731 games with Arizona, Upton hit 147 doubles, 108 HRs, 363 RBIs, and owned an .832 OPS. Those are the kind of numbers that should make you remember him. His best season in Arizona came in 2009; That season he hit 30 doubles, 26 long balls, 86 RBIs, recorded an .899 OPS and stole 20 bags. Not bad huh? On January 20, 2013, the Arizona Diamondbacks traded Upton and Chris Johnson to the Atlanta Braves in exchange for Martín Prado, Randall Delgado, shortstop prospect Nick Ahmed, pitching prospect Zeke Spruill, and minor league first baseman Brandon Drury. After his time in Arizona, Upton would go on to play for 4 different teams and he is currently a free agent…
SP: Randy Johnson
Not much debate here; It will be hard to find a better pitcher for Arizona going forward. From 1999-2004, Johnson went 103-49 with a 2.65 ERA. He also had 11.9 strikeouts per 9 innings average. Just unreal numbers. He left Arizona after the 2004 season but then rejoined the D-backs from 2007-2008; in those two seasons, he went 15-13 with a 3.89 ERA and a 9.2 strikeouts per 9 innings average. His best season in Phoenix came in 2002; he went 24-5 with a 2.32 ERA and he averaged 11.6 strikeouts per 9 innings. The Diamondbacks traded the big unit to the New York Yankees for Javier Vázquez, Brad Halsey, Dioner Navarro, and cash in January 2005. In his illustrious career, Johnson pitched for 5 different teams, won 5 Cy Young awards, one Triple Crown, one WS MVP, 4 ERA titles, and was voted to the all-star game 10 times. His name now resides in the Hall of Fame….
RP: Jose Valverde
This one was the toughest of them all. I chose Valverde based on the fact that he has the franchise record for most saves. From 2003-2007, Valverde pitched 260 innings for Arizona. In that time he recorded a 3.29 ERA, 9 wins, 194 holds, and 98 saves. His best season came in 2007; he recorded a 2.66 ERA, 46 holds, and 47 saves. On December 14, 2007, Valverde was traded to the Houston Astros for pitchers Chad Qualls, Juan Gutiérrez, and IF/OF Chris Burke. In Valverde's career, he pitched for 4 different teams and appeared in 3 all-star games. After the 2014 season, Jose was done pitching in the MLB…