D-Backs will decide Bradley’s future role later in offseason
Archie Bradley has made no secret of his desire to ultimately return to a starting role, but the Diamondbacks don’t seem to be in any hurry to determine whether that might happen next year.
General Manager Mike Hazen said he and manager Torey Lovullo met with Bradley on Tuesday afternoon, telling him the club plans to mull over possibilities in the early part of the offseason.
“I think we all recognize the talent,” Hazen said. “We want to get him the ball. We want him to pitch as much as possible. We want him to have as big of an imprint as we can.”
A “big imprint” could come in the form of more innings as a starter. It could also come in the closer’s role, something that Hazen said is a possibility for Bradley for next year.
“Archie is a little nontraditional in that way because he’s so durable and I think he likes taking the ball for multiple innings and getting as many outs as he can on a given day,” Hazen said. “Maybe that causes us to rethink that role a little bit. But we haven’t made any of those ultimate decisions.”
Bradley spent the first five seasons of his professional career working as a starter. He struggled at times in the rotation last year, but he believes he’s matured as a pitcher and is better equipped to succeed in that role.
“I always have dreams of starting again, but I do understand what I did this year and how important it was to some of our success,” Bradley said. “It was a lot of fun. I enjoyed it. I’m sure there will be a time Torey, Mike and I will talk and figure out the best plan for me and the team and hopefully for us to win more games.”
No elbow issues
First baseman Paul Goldschmidt, who missed five games at the beginning of September with right elbow soreness, said the injury did not play a part in his late-season struggles or his lack of production in the postseason.
“I just didn’t play well,” he said. Goldschmidt said he expects to take a month or so off this offseason like he normally does and, at some point, will get the elbow re-examined.
“Probably check it out just to confirm it,” he said. “But it wasn’t bothering me, so nobody was really worried, including myself. But we’ll check it out just to make sure. It never hurts to give it another check. I think we’re good.”
Goldschmidt underwent an MRI and received a cortisone injection during the first week of September, and he said he expected to be able to return without issues.
“I was pretty confident that’s how it was going to go,” he said. “Based on the MRI, there wasn’t any structural damage. What the doctors and trainers were saying, that’s what I thought. It’s good that you come back to play and you think it’s going to feel good and it does, so that was a positive thing.”
Short hops
» Hazen was not prepared to commit to picking up Daniel Descalso’s $2 million option for 2018, but he was filled with praise for the veteran infielder. “Daniel had a fantastic year,” Hazen said. “I think with his leadership skills, his personality in the clubhouse – I think he embodied a lot of what we were trying to do in the clubhouse.”
» Catcher Chris Iannetta will be entering free agency following a highly productive season in which he hit 17 homers and posted a .354 on-base percentage in 272 at-bats. “I’d love to (return),” he said. “It’s obviously up to the organization if I’m in their plans or not. I definitely enjoyed it. I loved being here. I loved working with (Jeff Mathis) and Chris (Herrmann).”