Last year the Arizona Diamondbacks finished second in the NL West with an 84-78. This was good enough to secure the Wild Card spot, which the Diamondbacks turned into a World Series Birth when they lost to the Texas Rangers last year. Many people have been asking who this year’s Diamondbacks team will be and very few people are talking about how good this team will be this year. Everyone is focused on what the Dodgers have done with the big-time free-agent Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto signings. While everyone focuses on the Dodgers they are missing what the Diamondbacks have been doing in Arizona addressing concerns hoping to return to the World Series to earn their rings.
Finding that #3 Starter
Last year the Dbacks were one starter short in their eyes of being able to have a shot at winning the World Series, behind Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly. The team went out and grabbed their guy quickly this offseason when they went out and grabbed the Free Agent veteran Left-hand pitcher with post-season experience.
LHP – Eduardo Rodriguez
Eduardo Rodriguez will fit nicely with this Diamondbacks team bringing experience and grit. Rodriguez spent the last two seasons pitching for the Detroit Tigers making 26 starts last season throwing 152.2 innings, with a 13-9 record, 143 strikeouts, and a 3.66 ERA. Rodrigues paired with Gallen and Kelly gives the Dbacks a very tough rotation with Brandon Pfaadt and Ryne Nelson completing the rotation. Rodriguez hasn’t had a losing record since 2017 with the Red Sox.
Slugging Percentage
Last season the Diamondbacks finished 17th in Slugging percentage, 22nd in Home Runs, and 19th in total bases. They did lead the league in Triples so the team speed is there, they just struggled with the power numbers. Christian Walker led the team last season in Home Runs with 33 and had 103 RBIs during the regular season. Still, they only had 5 hitters with over 10 Home Runs during the season 4 of them recording more than 20 and the fifth had just 11 which was veteran Evan Longoria. So this off-season the team made two moves to improve the Slug and Home Run numbers.
3B – Eugenio Suarez
Suarez was acquired early this offseason in a trade with the Mariners. Last Season Saurez hit 22 Home Runs with 96 RBIs and slugged .391 in 162 games played for the M’s last year. Saurez does strike out a bunch but has routinely hit the long ball and drove runners in. By Adding Suarez to the lineup beefs up the lineup behind Walker with a long ball threat for the second half of the lineup. I think Suarez has a big season with 26 plus home runs and 100 RBIs this season for the DBacks.
OF/DH – Joc Pederson
Joc last year only played in 120 games for the San Fransico Giants. During those 120 games, Joc hit 15 home runs and drove in 51 with a .416 slugging percentage. Joc will provide a nice veteran left-handed bat for this young exciting lineup. If Joc can stay healthy and play in 140 games I would expect to see him back over the 20 home Run mark with 68-73 RBI this coming year with this exciting Diamondbacks squad.
Summary
The Diamondbacks are coming into this new year with losing very little in regards to impact pieces from last year’s World Series Runner-up team. What they have added though is huge regarding their gaps from last season. I believe this team can push the Dodgers for the division as long as they stay healthy that’s just how good I believe they can be. With Rodriguez a past Ace for the Red Sox and Tigers coming in to fill the 3rd spot in the starting rotation is a much bigger addition than people are giving it credit for. Then the trade for a power bat to take over the hot corner in Suarez and the power bat of Pederson from the left side of the plate is going to extend this lineup and make them very dangerous from top to bottom. I can see a 90-win season coming for the Diamondbacks with potential if the bullpen can stay strong to push the Dodgers for the division. A return to October baseball is in line for this young team, and the division race will be much tighter than anyone is talking about.
