by FOXSports.com

Updated: March 19, 2008, 7:19 PM EST 19 comments

add this RSS blog email print

While teams throughout baseball were weighing the high cost of pitching — from proposed Johan Santana trades to signing Carlos Silva or Kyle Lohse — Byrnes dipped into the Diamondbacks' bountiful farm system, offered up six players and plucked an ace in Oakland's Dan Haren.

Haren, 27, has averaged 14 wins and 221 innings over the past three seasons. Just as important, he's under contract for a very reasonable $16.25 million for the next three years. That means perennial Cy Young candidate Brandon Webb and Haren will be tormenting opponents in tandem through at least 2010.

The Diamondbacks had plenty of reason to feel good even before Haren's arrival. While most people were targeting 2008 as a possible breakthrough year for Arizona, manager Bob Melvin and his young club bumped up the timetable by winning the National League West and sweeping the Chicago Cubs in the Division Series.

Never mind that the Diamondbacks received their share of breaks (they posted a 90-72 record despite being outscored 732-712), or that the team ranked 14th in the league in runs scored, or that fans in the desert haven't exactly embraced the new look. Arizona was 12th in the National League in attendance and plenty of good seats were available in the postseason.

That may not be the case for long. All those Chicago transplants wearing Cubs garb might soon be tempted to swap it in for the Diamondbacks' Sedona red.

Pitching

The Diamondbacks had little to do to improve their position players except let them get older and (presumably) better, so they focused on the pitching staff over the winter, adding Haren to bolster the rotation. They also sold high on closer Jose Valverde, trading him to the Astros for three players, including righthanders Chad Qualls and Juan Gutierrez. Those two can help in the bullpen right away, and moving Valverde opens the closer job up for several internal candidates, with Brandon Lyon getting first shot.

Starters

Brandon Webb — RHP
2007 line: 18-10, 3.01 ERA, 34 GS, 236.1 IP, 209 H, 72 BB, 194 SO, .237 BAA, 7.96 H/9, 2.74 BB/9, 7.39 SO/9.
Significant stats/injuries: Led the NL with 236.1 IP, four complete games and three shutouts; was fourth with 194 Ks, second in NL with 18 wins and posted a 3.01 ERA.
Scouting report: Ground-ball pitcher. Long three-quarters delivery. Relies heavily on a sinking fastball (88-91 mph) that moves down in the strike zone almost like a split; moves his sinker to both sides. Mixes in a slurvy breaking ball and a circle-change that fades from lefthanded hitters. Loses the strike zone at times because of all the action with his sinker. Improved fielder.
Grade: 4.0.

Dan Haren — RHP
2007 line: 15-9, 3.07 ERA, 34 GS, 222.2 IP, 214 H, 55 BB, 192 SO, .247 BAA, 8.65 H/9, 2.22 BB/9, 7.76 SO/9.
Significant stats/injuries: Was 4-0 with Oakland with a 2.25 ERA in four games against the NL in '07. Was 10-3 with a 2.30 ERA before the All-Star break, 5-6, 4.15 after.
Scouting report: Smooth three-quarters delivery. Fairly long in the back. Commands a fastball (90-93 mph) with good movement down in the strike zone. Varies the speed and break of his curveball. Puts hitters away with a deadly split that bites late and deep; gets most of his strikeouts with the split. Consistently pitches deep into games.
Grade: 3.8.

Doug Davis simply needs to eat innings. (Jeff Gross / Getty Images)

Randy Johnson — LHP
2007 line: 4-3, 3.81 ERA, 10 GS, 56.2 IP, 52 H, 13 BB, 72 SO, .245 BAA, 8.26 H/9, 2.06 BB/9, 11.43 SO/9.
Significant stats/injuries: Was limited to 10 starts after having a herniated disc repaired for the second time in a year. Led the team with 5.54 K-to-BB ratio.
Scouting report: Compact delivery. Three-quarters arm angle. Pitches downhill with a tailing fastball that ranges anywhere from 92 to 96 mph when healthy; pitches inside with it. Complements his fastball with a well-above average slider that's sharp and breaks late. Mixes in some good late-diving splits. Inclined to lose his arm slot and his pitches flatten out. Has more problems out of the stretch. Poor fielder.
Grade: 3.5.

Doug Davis — LHP
2007 line: 13-12, 4.25 ERA, 33 GS, 192.2 IP, 211 H, 95 BB, 144 SO, .281 BAA, 9.86 H/9, 4.44 BB/9, 6.73 SO/9.
Significant stats/injuries: Led the NL with seven pickoffs. Tied for fourth in NL with 10 wild pitches. Held lefthanded batters to .252 average.
Scouting report: Slow, methodical windup and delivery. Long, high three-quarters arm action. Works the edges of the strike zone with a fastball (86-88 mph), a cutter, a big, slow curveball and a changeup he turns over. Lives and dies with his cutter; slides it in on righthanders and away from lefties. Nibbles a lot. Runs up a lot of high pitch counts that lulls his defenders to sleep. Solid fielder.
Grade: 2.5.

Micah Owings — RHP
2007 line: 8-8, 4.30 ERA, 27 GS, 152.2 IP, 146 H, 50 BB, 106 SO, .253 BAA, 8.61 H/9, 2.95 BB/9, 6.25 SO/9.
Significant stats/injures: Tied for second in NL with 14 hit batters. Threw 15.1 scoreless innings in his final two starts of the regular season.
Scouting report: Moving-parts, three-quarters delivery. Difficult to pick up. Pitches to contact with a tailing fastball (89-91 mph), a quick-biting slider and a pretty good changeup. Needs to stay away from the barrel to be successful. May very well be the best hitting pitcher in the game; displays very good swing mechanics and never seems overmatched. Excellent athlete.
Grade: 2.3.

Relievers

Tony Pena — RHP
2007 line: 5-4, 3.27 ERA, 75 G, 85.1 IP, 2 SV, 63 H, 31 BB, 63 SO, .207 BAA.
Significant stats/injuries: Led the team with .289 opponents' OBP. Held opponents to .207 BA and 6.64 hits per nine innings. Was sixth in the NL with 30 holds.
Scouting report: Very good arm speed. Three-quarters-to-overhand angle. Consistently pitches in the mid 90s with good life. Complements his fastball with a tight, late-biting slider that has a chance to be above average. Mixes in a changeup, but doesn't have much feel for it. Figures to get the first shot at closing. Still raw.
Grade: 3.5.

Brandon Lyon — RHP
2007 line: 6-4, 2.68 ERA, 73 G, 74.0 IP, 2 SV, 70 H, 22 BB, 40 SO, .251 BAA.
Significant stats/injuries: Led the NL with 35 holds; has a franchise record 59 in three seasons with Diamondbacks. Allowed a career-low 8.51 hits per nine innings.
Scouting report: Very good delivery. High-three-quarters arm slot. Locates his fastball (90-93 mph) to both sides. Commands a power curveball with extremely tight rotation; throws it anytime in the count and to both rightand lefthanded hitters. Has developed a solid changeup that moves away from lefties. Could close.
Grade: 3.4.

Chad Qualls — RHP
2007 line: 6-5, 3.05 ERA, 79 G, 82.2 IP, 5 SV, 84 H, 25 BB, 78 SO, .272 BAA.
Significant stats/injuries: Had a 1.86 ERA with 34 Ks in 38.2 IP (with Houston) after the All-Star break. Nine of the 10 HRs he allowed were against righthanders.
Scouting report: Herky-jerky delivery. Deceptive motion. Throws a very heavy fastball (90-95 mph) with consistent bore and sink. Complements his fastball with a sharp-breaking slider with good depth. Inclined to be inconsistent with his release point and consequently his command. Durable despite rough mechanics.
Grade: 3.0.

Catching

Chris Snyder got better as the year progressed, hitting .292 after the All-Star break compared to a .212 average in the first half. The season was more of a struggle for Miguel Montero, Snyder's lefthanded counterpart. But Arizona's two catchers combined for 23 homers and 84 RBIs in 540 at-bats. Given their combined salary of $780,000 last season, that's pretty darned cost efficient.

Chris Snyder — C
2007 line: .252 BA, 326 AB, 37 R, 82 H, 20 2B, 0 3B, 13 HR, 47 RBI, 40 BB, 67 SO, .342 OBP, .775 OPS.
Significant stats/injuries: Hit .292 with 31 RBIs in 161 ABs after the All-Star Game. Batted .212 with 16 RBIs in 165 ABs before the break.
Scouting report: Big, strong backstop. Long, stiff swing. Likes to extend his arms and possesses power to left, left center. Doesn't hit the ball the opposite way much. Average receiver. Loses concentration; boxes some pitches, but has good mobility and range for a big catcher. Throws well. Calls a good game.
Grade: 2.5.

Infield

It looks like Conor Jackson, Orlando Hudson, Stephen Drew and Mark Reynolds around the horn, with Chad Tracy, coming back from a knee injury, providing flexibility with his ability to play both third and first. Hudson, the irrepressible "O-Dog," is the team's designated talker and energizer, and the Diamondbacks missed him when he went down with a thumb injury in September. Drew, J.D.'s younger brother, was a bit of a mystery man with his .238 average and .313 on base percentage. "He's a far superior player to what he's done production-wise," said a scout. Augie Ojeda and Chris Burke, acquired from Houston in the Jose Valverde trade, give Arizona middle infield depth.

Conor Jackson — 1B
2007 line: .284 BA, 415 AB, 56 R, 118 H, 29 2B, 1 3B, 15 HR, 60 RBI, 53 BB, 50 SO, .368 OBP, .836 OPS.
Significant stats/injuries: Hit .288 after May 1. Batted .320 with eight of his 15 HRs in 169 ABs in the cleanup spot.
Scouting report: Dead-red fastball hitter. Selective approach. Fires the bat head through the zone and makes hard contact to all fields. Generally pulls the ball to left, left center for power. Has some trouble with breaking stuff. Below-average 1B. Doesn't have very good hands or range. Throws well starting the double play.
Grade: 2.5.

Orlando Hudson provided solid offense last season. (Jeff Gross / Getty Images)

Orlando Hudson — 2B
2007 line: .294 BA, 517 AB, 69 R, 152 H, 28 2B, 9 3B, 10 HR, 63 RBI, 70 BB, 87 SO, .376 OBP, .817 OPS.
Significant stats/injuries: Won his third straight Gold Glove, second with the D'Backs. Missed the final month of the season following surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left thumb.
Scouting report: Switch-hitter. Quick bat either side. Covers the plate better and uses the field more lefthanded; appears to be more of an inner-half hitter righthanded. Shows extra-base pop both ways. Outstanding defender. Combines superior athleticism with uncanny instincts. Makes the play behind second base as well as anybody in the game. Turns the double play efficiently. Great makeup guy.
Grade: 3.7.

Mark Reynolds — 3B
2007 line: .279 BA, 366 AB, 62 R, 102 H, 20 2B, 4 3B, 17 HR, 62 RBI, 37 BB, 129 SO, .349 OBP, .843 OPS.
Significant stats/injuries: Hit .304 with runners in scoring position and two out. Tied an MLB record with nine consecutive strikeouts from Aug. 18-21.
Scouting report: Live bat. Quick, strong hands. Likes the ball in the middle of the plate — thigh-high and down; turns on it for power. Projects to 25-30 home runs. Can be handcuffed up and in. Has too many empty swings. Fringe-average 3B. Lacks reactions and range, particularly to the line. Possesses a strong arm, but isn't always accurate. Improved with the glove as the season wore on.
Grade: 2.5.

Stephen Drew — SS
2007 line: .238 BA, 543 AB, 60 R, 129 H, 28 2B, 4 3B, 12 HR, 60 RBI, 60 BB, 100 SO, .313 OBP, .683 OPS.
Significant stats/injuries: Hit eight of his 12 HRs after the All-Star break. Hit just .218 at home while batting .257 on the road.
Scouting report: Smooth swing with bat speed. Sound approach. Continues to cut down his movement at the plate and shorten his stroke. Likes to turn on middle-in fastballs. Flashes power to right, right center. Tends to get pull-minded and roll over on a lot of balls. Solid-to-average SS. Shows good hands, quick feet and plus arm strength. Struggles at times with balls hit directly at him.
Grade: 2.5.

Outfield

Here's where things really get fun. Born hustler Eric Byrnes, with his new threeyear, $30 million contract, is the face of the franchise. He finished 11th in the National League MVP voting. Centerfielder Chris Young's big power (32 home runs) and inability to draw walks (.295 on base percentage) are tempting the D-backs to move him out of the leadoff spot, where he spent the bulk of last season. The precocious Justin Upton, B.J.'s little brother, has only 385 minor league at-bats under his belt and hit .221 in a late callup to the majors. But he's shown enough at age 20 to prompt the Diamondbacks to trade away Carlos Quentin and Carlos Gonzalez to make room. Upton will start in right field.

Can Eric Byrnes keep it up in '08? (Harry How / Getty Images)

Eric Byrnes — LF
2007 line: .286 BA, 626 AB, 103 R, 179 H, 30 2B, 8 3B, 21 HR, 83 RBI, 57 BB, 98 SO, .353 OBP, .813 OPS.
Significant stats/injuries: Stole 50 bases in 57 attempts. Had an MLB-best streak of 31 consecutive stolen bases snapped Sept. 18. Led the D'Backs with 27 RBIs from the seventh inning on.
Scouting report: Fast bat. Doesn't get cheated. Gets on top of high fastballs and smokes them in the gaps. Jerks for power. Has become a little better breaking-ball hitter, but still tends to get out in front. Solid-to-average LF. Runs down the ball in the gaps; charges the ball well; displays arm strength. Plays out of control at times. Extremely enthusiastic player.
Grade: 3.0.

Chris Young — CF
2007 line: .237 BA, 569 AB, 85 R, 135 H, 29 2B, 3 3B, 32 HR, 68 RBI, 43 BB, 141 SO, .295 OBP, .763 OPS.
Significant stats/injuries: Hit nine HRs leading off the first inning; hit .290 leading off any inning. Was four SBs shy of becoming the first rookie in the 30-30 club.
Scouting report: Five-tool talent. Big upside. Generates excellent bat speed and power from right center on around. Crushes fastballs out over the plate. Can be pitched hard in or with breaking stuff away. Strikes out a lot. Natural CF. Takes a circuitous route on occasion, especially going back, but runs down the ball in all directions. Throws average to above.
Grade: 3.0.

Chad Tracy — OF/IF
2007 line: .264 BA, 227 AB, 30 R, 60 H, 18 2B, 2 3B, 7 HR, 35 RBI, 29 BB, 43 SO, .346 OBP, .800 OPS.
Significant stats/injuries: Limited to 76 games by a knee injury that required microfracture surgery in September and limited his offseason work.
Scouting report: Line-drive bat. Short, quick stroke. Controls the strike zone; centers the ball well and uses the entire field. Possesses power from center field to the right field foul pole. Stiff defender. Can play the infield or outfield corners without embarrassing himself.
Grade: 2.5.

Organization/management

People like to categorize Josh Byrnes as a "stat guy," but he spends a lot of time listening to Jerry DiPoto, Bob Gebhard, A.J. Hinch and the other baseball people in his front office. The Diamondbacks got themselves in a hole by paying out so much deferred money for years, but they're now taking a more prudent approach to roster-building. Melvin was rewarded for his contribution in 2007 by winning the National League Manager of the Year award. He's low-key, doesn't take himself too seriously, and creates a positive environment for the young players. Bryan Price is an excellent pitching coach, and the Arizona players get extra motivation from bench coach Kirk Gibson, who constantly preaches aggressiveness on the basepaths.