Footprints in the Snow is FanHouse's look at the paths to be forged by MLB teams this winter as they look ahead to 2009.The Diamondbacks made one of the biggest splashes of the 2007 Hot Stove season, landing ace Dan Haren in a trade with the A's. In the end, though, their offense, which is stocked with youngsters, didn't improve even close to enough for them to repeat as NL West champs.
The good news is that Haren and NL Cy Young runner-up Brandon Webb will be back in 2009, along with a cast of talented hitters who have their best years ahead of them. Furthermore, the NL West is wide open with the reigning champion Dodgers headed for a winter of major turnover.
Of course, Arizona has a few notable holes to fill before Spring Training, but it is the closest thing to a favorite the West has at this point. The D'backs simply have to make a few tweaks to return to the top of the division and the postseason.
Who May Leave?
Tony Clark, 1B, free agent
Juan Cruz, RP, free agent
Adam Dunn, LF, free agent
David Eckstein, SS, free agent
Orlando Hudson, 2B, free agent
Brandon Lyon, RP, free agent
Miguel Montero, C, possible trade
What Do They Need?
At first glance, that seems like quite a list of players to potentially lose, but part of the reason the Diamondbacks weren't able to hold on to the NL West in 2008 is because they were ravaged by injuries. They'll need to find a second baseman if they can't re-sign Hudson and they'll also probably need to go outside the organization for a starting pitcher whether the Big Unit returns or not.
But GM Josh Byrnes should also spend some time building up the team's depth. A few quality bench players and a solid bullpen signing or two will help Arizona better weather injuries to key players and the growing pains of some of its younger stars.
What Should They Do?
Stay out of the Hudson market and opt for one of the cheaper infield options. Hudson is a fine player, but he'll turn 31 next month and he isn't quite the defender he once was. Moreover, he's the best second baseman available, meaning he'll command a multi-year deal. That's not the type of player the D'backs should pay for as a cost-conscious club. Mark Loretta or Felipe Lopez can be 3/4ths of Hudson and Arizona might not even notice the difference with the expected improvement of players like Stephen Drew and Justin Upton.Every effort should be made to re-sign Randy Johnson. It's not merely out of sentiment, although seeing him win his 300th game in a Diamondbacks uniform would be nice, but also because he's still very effective, particularly in a No. 3 or No. 4 starter role.
The club seems intent on moving backup catcher Miguel Montero, which is fine, since he has more value to another team as a starter with Chris Snyder entrenched in Arizona and he can be turned into bullpen or rotation depth (or preferably both). The last thing on Byrnes' checklist should be to bolster the bench, particularly with a couple of corner bats. Raiding the Rays for Eric Hinske and Rocco Baldelli ought to do the trick.
What Will They Do?
Arizona seems to be one of the clubs that will be a little tighter with its money in the new economy. It's hard to see the Snakes bringing Hudson back even though he's been nothing but excellent since arriving in the desert.
It does seem like they'll find a way to bring Johnson back. It just makes too much sense. Of course, if they don't get a deal done soon with the Unit, he may fetch more than the Diamondbacks are willing to offer on the open market. That's the danger of free agency. But Johnson seems to value stability at this point in his career, making a return to the team he's already won 118 games for seem likely.A Montero deal seems like a foregone conclusion, and that should go a long way toward shoring up the rest of the team's big league roster, but Byrnes will probably still need to add a bullpen arm and a bench bat or two to round out a club that figures to be the NL West favorite. He'll also need to re-open extension talks with Webb.
Most of the front office's job, though, is to sit back and wait. That's how good the young core they've built over the last few seasons is.
