On Tuesday the Arizona Diamondbacks signed Cuban prospect Yoan Lopez to a record $8.27 million deal for an international amateur player. In the midst of an active offseason, is the team done making moves?
Senior vice president and general manager Dave Stewart spoke with reporters on Tuesday after the signing and only a few hours after it was reported the team was "in the mix" for free-agent starter James Shields. The addition of Lopez - which ended up being a $16.27 million expenditure because of taxes - came after they signed fellow Cuban defector Yasmany Tomas to a six-year, $68.5 million contract. These moves have brought their payroll up to $106 million, Stewart noted.
In 2014, Arizona finished with the worst record (64-98) in the MLB and had the franchise's highest payroll ever ($112 million). Despite their interest in Shields, Stewart told Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic that they "may have to" make additional moves to reduce payroll.
"The truth is, I haven't even thought about how," Stewart said. "We'll look at the numbers and look at who we'll have to possibly subtract, if that's what we have to do. I would like to be (under $100 million). I've not been told to be, but I would like to be."
That's a realistic goal if Shields isn't in the picture, but is there a way to sign the right-hander and keep the payroll under $100 million? Piecoro notes the team has a lot of money committed to the bullpen, with Brad Ziegler earning $5 million, Addison Reed projected to make $3.8 million in arbitration, Oliver Perez pocketing $2.5 million and David Hernandez making $2 million. They also have a few burdensome contracts in Trevor Cahill ($12 million), Aaron Hill ($12 million) and Cody Ross ($9.5 million).
Perhaps they first look to move one or two relievers since there are a number of teams looking to improve their bullpen. Unfortunately for the D-Backs, it's likely they'll have to eat a lot on the contracts of Cahill and Ross if they were to work out a trade. On the other hand, Hill could be an attractive trade piece for clubs looking for middle infield help, despite his poor 2014 campaign and injury-shortened 2013 season. The 32-year-old is only two seasons removed from slashing .302/.360/.522 with 26 home runs, 85 RBIs and 14 stolen bases. Arizona can probably work out a deal without paying for most of the remaining two years and $24 million left on his contract.
Although Shields is still in the picture, Stewart also made it known the team was not pursuing a catcher. On Monday it was speculated the team's next move would be to acquire one because they sent Miguel Montero to the Chicago Cubs earlier in the offseason and are now left with the largely inexperienced Tuffy Gosewisch and Oscar Hernandez as the options going into spring training.
"I've decided that I'm not going to pursue another catcher," Stewart told Piecoro. "I talked with my people and my coaching staff. They believe that [Peter] O'Brien is going to be around sooner than later. If that does happen, there's no need to go out and get another guy. We would have had to trade somebody we didn't want to trade to make it happen. We're going to be patient and allow the progression of O'Brien to take place and stand pat on that."
O'Brien is the 24-year-old prospect that came to Arizona in the trade that sent infielder Martin Prado to the New York Yankees before this year's deadline. In 106 games between Advanced Class-A Tampa, Double-A Trenton and Double-A Mobile, O'Brien slashed .271/.316/.594 with 34 home runs and 74 RBIs.
There's at least one way the team will save money. Piecoro also mentioned Stewart sounded uninterested in trading outfielder Mark Trumbo, so look for the previously mentioned names to be dealt if the team is serious about cutting payroll.
