MLB 30 Team Preview: Arizona D-backs

[AZ_]

Manager:

Kirk Gibson (5th Season) 290-279 (.510)

Last Season:

81-81, 2nd in NL West

-Fourth worst runs per game allowed in the National League (4.29)
-Despite their record and league-leading 29 blown saves, were 13 games above .500 in one-run games (34-21)

Key Additions:
DH – Mark Trumbo
SP – Bronson Arroyo
RP – Oliver Perez
RP – Addison Reed

Key Departures:
3B Matt Davidson
OF Adam Eaton
SP Tyler Skaggs
RP – Heath Bell
RP – David Holmberg


Projected Lineup:

(ZIPS PROJECTIONS: AVG/OBP/SLG)
CF AJ Pollack (.268/.315/.391)
2B Aaron Hill (.274/.331/.436)
1B Paul Goldschmidt (.271/.364/.504)
3B Martin Prado (.287/.333/.425)
DH Mark Trumbo (.269/.320/.514)
C Miguel Montero (.250/.337/.398)
SS Chris Owings (.270/.298/.392)
RF Gerardo Parra (.271/.327/.410)

Projected Rotation:

(ZIPS PROJECTIONS: W-L, ERA)
Wade Miley (12-9, 3.81)
Trevor Cahill (12-10, 4.04)
Brandon McCarthy (8-7, 4.05)
Bronson Arroyo (10-10, 4.25)
Randall Delgado (8-10, 4.88)

Projected Bullpen:

(ZIPS PROJECTIONS: W-L, ERA, WHIP)
CL Addison Reed (4-2, 3.21, 1.14, 33 Saves)
RP JJ Putz (3-1, 3.21, 1.14)
RP Brad Ziegler (4-2, 3.23, 1.24)
RP David Hernandez (5-3, 3.31, 1.19)
LP Joe Thatcher (2-2, 3.81, 1.27)
RP Josh Collmenter (5-3, 3.35, 1.18)

Best Case:

They can find any sort of consistency from a starting rotation already hampered by injuries. Their best starter, Patrick Corbin, will miss the season after having Tommy John surgery last week. Bronson Arroyo is battling a bulging disk in his back. Archie Bradley is waiting at Triple-A and is a legitimate ace potential prospect, he could have a Matt Harvey type impact on a ballclub. That said, he’s still young and inexperienced, possibly leaving him in Triple-A to work on command would be a good idea. They’re going to hit, they’re going to field (outside of the DH in left), but if they can pitch they will challenge the Dodgers and Giants for the postseason.

Worst Case:

The injury bug is too much to overcome with just the addition of Bradley, and they flounder to a less than impressive third or fourth place finish in a relatively top heavy NL West division race.

Prediction:

They’ll finish right around .500 for the season. Paul Goldschmidt is a legitimate MVP candidate and will have a bit more protection in the lineup if Trumbo continues to hit behind him. Archie Bradley bursts onto the scene in June or earlier, but it’s not enough as they’ll be clearly out classed by better teams in San Francisco and Los Angeles.