ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS (69-93), 4TH, NL WEST
uSeason snapshot: The team crashed and burned after an offseason push to finally get back to the playoffs. Instead of upgrading the previous year’s 79-83 record, the D’backs had their fifth consecutive non-winning season. The predictable result: General manager Dave Stewart and manager Chip Hale were fired Monday, and team officials were negotiating a new role for that wouldn’t include running the baseball operations department. One of baseball’s tougher challenges — maintaining an effective pitching staff in Arizona’s hitter-friendly arid conditions — again overwhelmed the team, and Arizona went 33-48 at home as opponents scored an average of six runs a game.
the $206.6 million centerpiece to the team’s offseason push, posted a 4.81 ERA at home, where he struck out nearly three fewer hitters per nine innings than on the road. Center fielder broke his elbow April Fool’s Day during an exhibition game, damaging both the offense and the defense.
uWhat now: There are a lot of highquality players on the roster, so the expected move is to try to contend for the playoffs instead of launching a rebuilding project. First baseman is a perennial MVP candidate, Pollock is a well-rounded performer, third baseman
had a .509 slugging percentage, second baseman led the league with 203 hits and right fielder many Tomas hit 31 home runs.
uFree agent focus: The difficulties of pitching in hot, elevated Phoenix can inflate the team’s price for pitchers in free agency, but selective purchases are needed for the rotation and the bullpen. The monster contract of Greinke will influence financial decisions. A surplus of position players will allow the team to explore trades for pitching.
uProspects to watch: The offseason trade of shortstop Dansby Swanson took away the team’s top prospect and brought a big-league pitcher, who melted in the desert (7.39 home ERA). Swanson placed No. 7 on Baseball America’s 2016 midseason top-100 list before finishing the year with the Atlanta Braves. Arizona’s only prospect to appear on the same list, at slot 63, was pitcher
But his low strikeout rate and high home run rate don’t mesh with Arizona’s hitting conditions, and he had a 5.27 ERA in 13 late season games. Overall, Baseball America rated the system as “very barren” in terms of impact prospects.
Tom Krasovic