Rotation Predictions, Farewell to the Freight Train - Dbacks Newsletter: Preseason Edition

Miguel Montero (known to Dbacks fans as Miggy, seen to the left) is ready for Spring Training! So are all Arizona Diamondbacks fans. Pitchers and catchers reported recently and Spring Training began for all teams in the league on the 24th of February. The Dbacks played their first Spring Training game on the 25th of February.

Not only is spring camp starting, but it's also been a busy off-season for the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Dbacks' off-season moves have helped the team strengthen its lineup and bullpen. Things are looking up for the organization, making way for a higher chance at the playoffs than in years past. In today's Dbacks Newsletter, the first of 2023, we'll be covering the Dbacks' offseason moves and chatting with some current and former MLB players on various topics. Keep reading to hear about all of this and more!

Trades and Offseason

The Arizona Diamondbacks' front office had a busy offseason, with a couple of major trades, signings, and some players who are returning to Arizona for another go-around. Next are the Dbacks' biggest moves. You can see a complete list of the Dbacks' offseason transactions on MLB Trade Rumors' website, kept track of by Anthony Franco (who we'll talk to later).

Cooper Hummel, a switch-hitting catcher, was traded to Seattle for former AL Rookie of the Year Kyle Lewis. Lewis functions primarily as a designated hitter but can play outfield as well. This is a move that some fans may have disagreed about, provided that Hummel played more than double (66) the games that Kyle Lewis played last year (18), and that Hummel had over fifteen RBI (runs batted in), and Lewis had a mere 5.

However, Baseball Reference projects Kyle Lewis to have a .239 batting average next season with over 50 hits. Hummel, is projected to have a .213 batting average, also with over 50 hits. This move seems to be a mutually beneficial trade for both teams involved.

The Dbacks acquired utility man Diego Castillo from the Pittsburgh Pirates for minor leaguer Scott Randall. As far as trades go, this seemed to benefit the Dbacks more than it did the Pirates. The Diamondbacks got a 25-year-old who can play in the infield and outfield and has recent MLB playing experience. Scott Randall is a right-handed pitcher who is entering his age-25 season, and last year in the Minors, he had an ERA (earned run average) approaching 4.00, with more losses than wins. The Dbacks have a lot of pitching depth in the minors, and already have up-and-coming pitchers like Tommy Henry and Brandon Pfaadt ready to enter (or re-enter) the Major Leagues. The Diamondbacks can use a guy like Castillo because he can play in many positions, and fill in for players who are injured.

The Toronto Blue Jays acquired Catcher/OF Daulton Varsho from the Dbacks for Gabriel Moreno and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. It will be hard this season for the Dbacks to not have Varsho on their team, as he was one of the few Dbacks who had over twenty homers last year. Varsho had 74 RBI last year, helping the Dbacks win 5 more games than they would have without him (according to Baseball Reference's WAR statistic). What they got in return, however, will benefit this team greatly. Gabriel Moreno is a young top-prospect catcher who, last year in Toronto, played in 25 games and had a .319 batting average. Moreno is just the type of young player that the Dbacks need; full of raw talent and youth. Moreno is projected to have a .270 batting average next season, according to Baseball Reference. Lourdes Gurriel Jr., who the Dbacks also acquired in the trade, is an experienced outfielder (who can also play shortstop and second base). Gurriel has not had a season batting below .276, in his career, and last year, he had a .290 batting average with 132 hits in 121 games played. What makes Gurriel a lot more fun for fans is that his nickname is the piña (pineapple in English), due to his hairstyle, which helped inspire fans to give him that nickname.

Dbacks sign LHP Andrew Chafin, bringing him back to the desert. Chafin (who is a left-handed relief pitcher) was with the Dbacks from 2014 to 2020 and helped the Dbacks get to the 2017 NLDS. During his time in Arizona, he had 288 total strikeouts. Over 1/2 of the total strikeouts in his career came from his time in a Dbacks uniform. The best season of his career in the majors was recent, in 2021, when he sported a 1.83 ERA. He followed that up with an outstanding season in Detroit last year, with a 2.83 ERA and 67 strikeouts. In 2021, Chafin pitched in a combined no-hitter. The Dbacks signed him to a one-year deal.

Diamondbacks sign 3B Evan Longoria. Evan Longoria (nicknamed Longo), has played in the MLB for 15 years. He debuted for the Tampa Bay Rays in 2008, his debut season earning him a Rookie of the Year award. Longo has also won 3 Gold Gloves, and a Silver Slugger, and is a 3x All-Star. Last season, he had 14 homers and a .244 batting average. Evan Longoria is one of the most respected players in the game and will bring a lot of knowledge and experience to this team.

Farewell to the Freight Train

One of the moves the Dbacks made before the 2022 Trade Deadline that we didn't cover in our last Dbacks Newsletter was a trade involving David Peralta (nicknamed The Freight Train). Peralta was with the Dbacks for nine years, debuting in 2014. He has won a Silver Slugger and a Gold Glove award and was one of the most loved Dbacks players. Baseball Reference ranks Peralta as the 10th best Diamondback of all time, topping players like Dan Haren and Chris Young.

Peralta was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays at the 2022 MLB Trade Deadline. During the remainder of the season in Tampa Bay, Peralta hit .255 with 41 hits. As a token of his respect for the mentorship and talent that Peralta showed to the team, Dbacks outfielder Jake McCarthy did the Freight Train's signature "choo choo" arm pump the day Peralta was traded (video above).

Peralta recently signed a contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers for the 2023 season.

Starting Rotation Possibilities

One of the most interesting stories and competitions going into Spring Training this year is the Diamondbacks' starting pitching rotation. There are, however, a few spots that have been solidified for the season already, like Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly. Here is a look at a possible rotation for the Dbacks this season.

1. Zac Gallen (Righty who had a 2.54 ERA last year, with 12 wins and only 4 losses.)

2. Merrill Kelly (Another righty, who had a 3.37 ERA with 13 wins, and 8 losses last year.)

3. Madison Bumgarner (Left-hander who is a 4x All-Star, had a 4.88 ERA last season.)

4. Zach Davies (Recently resigned righty, he had a 4.09 ERA last season.)

5. Drey Jameson (Last season, the right-hander made his debut with a splash, and in 4 starts, had a 1.48 ERA, 3 wins, and 24 strikeouts. In Spring Training this year, Jameson has started two games and given up no runs so far.)

Other candidates for the number five spot include Ryne Nelson and Brandon Pfaadt, both stellar young pitchers. Nelson started in 3 games for the Dbacks last year, posting a 1.47 ERA. The other candidate, Pfaadt has yet to make his MLB debut.

Some Rule Changes...

Major League Baseball made a lot of rule changes for this year's season. Stay tuned for NWP Sports' next article about MLB's rule changes, scheduled for release before Opening Day of the 2023 MLB Season.

Mound Visit: Just Chatting

Oftentimes, our "Mound Visit" segments in Dbacks Newsletters are about all of the problems that the Dbacks have been having, but since Spring Training is barely underway, it's hard to judge what those problems are. So, instead of talking about the Dbacks' issues, it's time to have a blast from the past.

Over the past month, we have been asking questions via MLB Trade Rumors chats, which select transcripts of are available here. MLB Trade Rumors hosts current and former MLB players to chat about their experiences in the league, and answer any questions that fans may have. The chats are hosted in JotCast, an online chat room. Here are the questions we asked and the answers we received from those players, all right here, for your perusal.

Our chat with Chad Hermansen, a former outfielder who played with the Pirates, Blue Jays, Cubs, and Dodgers, his career spanning 1999 to 2004.

Q: Who was the most uncomfortable Dbacks pitcher to face?

A: "[T]he most uncomfortable was for sure Randy Johnson. It was weird seeing someone so tall up there on the mound it felt like he was releasing the ball right on top of you."

Q: What was your favorite stadium to play in?

A: "I loved PNC and Wrigley Field. Wrigley's playing surface was actually pretty poor in the late '90s [and] early 2000's but I think they have improved it drastically."

With current Oakland A's outfielder Brent Rooker.

Q: What is your favorite stadium to play in?

A: "I would say Busch Stadium has been my favorite so far. An incredible atmosphere and growing up in Memphis I was a big Cardinals fan growing up. It doesn't hurt that my first ML home run came there!"

With former San Diego Padre Brian Johnson, who played from 1994 to 2001 on multiple teams, with a career .248 batting average.

Q: You were with the Giants in 1998 when the league expanded - what was it like having even more teams to face? What was it like to witness the 2001 Dbacks season? Who was their most intimidating pitcher?

A: "The new teams were exciting. Dbacks in 2001 were tough always. Randy Johnson was, obviously the toughest. His FB [fastball] is what gets remembered the most, but his slider was what made him great. Hitters can hit big FBs, but it is much tougher when they can control something else."

With MLB pitcher Josh Lindblom, who has played most recently on the Brewers, in 2020. He has played in foreign baseball leagues as well, playing in the Korea Baseball Organization for a total of five seasons.

Q: What was it like watching the career of Paul Goldschmidt evolve (he debuted in 2011 when you played with the Dodgers)?

A: "I remember Paul's 2011 [season] (I think) in the Southern League. Paul got called up at the All-Star break and was the league leader in home runs at the end of the year. He is one guy that is hard to root against. Great competitor, great player, but an even better person."

And, finally, with MLB Trade Rumors' own reporter, Anthony Franco.

Q: What's your opinion on the Dbacks' offseason?

A: "They mostly hit on everything they wanted to: trade an outfielder for a top-catching talent, add a RHH [right-handed hitting] infield, few bullpen pickups. I liked it"..."Maybe they could've done a bit better than bringing back Davies at the back of the rotation, but the market there took off and they've got enough younger pitching talent that Davies probably doesn't hold a rotation spot all year."

The Final Inning

Well, that's it for this month's Dbacks Newsletter. The Dbacks haven't had a great Spring Training so far, with two wins and five losses. But, on Thursday, they tied with the Los Angeles Dodgers in a nail-biter of a game.

Stay tuned for our upcoming article on MLB's newest rule changes. A special shoutout to MLB Trade Rumors for helping us access so many great resources through their player chats.

Thank you for reading and go Dbacks!

Contact the Dbacks Newsletter team at dbacksnewsletter@natewileyproductions.com.

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Works Cited “Arizona Diamondbacks Team History & Encyclopedia.” Baseball-Reference.com, www.baseball-reference.com/teams/ARI/index.shtml. Accessed 4 Mar. 2023. “D-Backs 5, Dodgers 5 Final Score (03/02/2023) on MLB Gameday.” MLB.com, www.mlb.com/gameday/d-backs-vs-dodgers/2023/03/02/719302/final/wrap. Accessed 4 Mar. 2023. Franco, Anthony. “Offseason in Review: Arizona Diamondbacks.” MLB Trade Rumors, 28 Feb. 2023, www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/02/offseason-in-review-arizona-diamondbacks-15.html. Accessed 4 Mar. 2023. Friedman, Jesse. “Freight Train off the Tracks: Reflecting on David Peralta’s Remarkable Diamondbacks Career - PHNX.” Www.gophnx.com, 31 July 2022, www.gophnx.com/2022/07/30/reflecting-david-peralta-arizona-diamondbacks-career/. Accessed 4 Mar. 2023. “Mariners 6, D-Backs 3 Final Score (03/03/2023) on MLB Gameday.” MLB.com, www.mlb.com/gameday/mariners-vs-d-backs/2023/03/03/719292/final/wrap. Accessed 4 Mar. 2023. “Scott Randall Stats, Fantasy & News.” MiLB.com, www.milb.com/player/scott-randall-695246. Accessed 4 Mar. 2023.

All player statistics (unless cited above) were derived from Baseball Reference's player pages. Visit Baseball Reference here.

"Mound Visit" image credit Al_HikesAZ

Cover photo designed by Nathaniel Wiley

Cover image of David Peralta credit Arturo Pardavila III

Cover image of Evan Longoria credit Jeffery Hayes

NWP is in no way, shape, or form, connected to Major League Baseball, The Arizona Diamondbacks, any other MLB teams, MLB Trade Rumors, Baseball Reference, Minor League Baseball, Korea Baseball Organization, Baseball is Everything or PHNX Sports.