Arizona Diamondbacks Roster Report

The Diamondbacks addressed several of their offseason needs immediately after the World Series, accepting the $8.5 million 2010 option on RHP Brandon Webb's contract, acquiring 2B Tony Abreu as the player to be named in the RHP Jon Garland deal and trading for a veteran reliever, RHP Aaron Heilman.

BIGGEST NEEDS: The D-backs must add at least one starting pitcher, even after retaining Webb to go with RHP Dan Haren and RHP Max Scherzer at the top of the rotation, and they want to add another veteran reliever despite acquiring RHP Aaron Heilman in mid-November. Another solid arm (such as RHP Jon Garland in 2009) will be sought for the rotation because of uncertainty below the top three. RHP Billy Buckner pitched well enough down the stretch to be given first shot, but his resume is hit-and-miss. RHP Jarrod Parker, the ninth player taken overall in the 2007 draft, would have been a candidate, but he underwent Tommy John ligament replacement surgery on Oct. 28.

ARRIVALS: RHP Edwin Jackson (trade with Tigers), RHP Ian Kennedy (trade with Yankees), 2B Tony Abreu (trade with Dodgers), RHP Aaron Heilman (trade with Cubs).

DEPARTURES: RHP Max Scherzer (traded to Tigers), LHP Daniel Schlereth (traded to Tigers).

FREE AGENTS: LHP Doug Davis, LHP Scott Schoeneweis, 3B/1B Chad Tracy.

The D-backs did not offer arbitration to any of their three free agents, although they mulled the decision on Davis until the Dec. 1 deadline. The D-backs need a No. 4 starter, and Davis fills that position exactly, but they believe they can either get a replacement at cheaper than the $8.5 million they paid Davis last season or acquire a No. 4 in a trade.

ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE: RHP Blaine Boyer, SS Stephen Drew, RHP Aaron Heilman, OF/1B Conor Jackson, C Miguel Montero, INF Augie Ojeda, RHP Chad Qualls.

The D-backs have never gone to arbitration in general manager Josh Byrnes' four years, preferring to settle at the midway point if figures are exchanged. Drew, Jackson, Montero and Qualls certainly will be back. Ojeda is their best defender and wants to return, but the addition of Abreu thickens the middle-infield cast. Jackson's case will be interesting, as he missed almost five months with "valley fever" following a 2008 season in which he hit .300. Heilman was acquired on Nov. 19, so the D-backs will offer him if the sides do not settle beforehand.

IN LIMBO: OF Eric Byrnes has fallen to fourth outfielder, even fifth if Conor Jackson regains his health, and he will be shopped again, although he is owed $11 million in the final year of his contract in 2010 and has a no-trade clause. C Chris Snyder signed a contract extension that will pay him $3.5 million in 2010 and $4.5 million in 2011, and the D-backs already took a shot at moving that money when they discussed a trade with Toronto for 1B Lyle Overbay. Clubs no doubt will want to see Snyder healthy in spring training before a deal could be made.

MEDICAL WATCH:

RHP Brandon Webb (right shoulder cleanup surgery in August 2009) played catch the second week in November, the first time he had thrown a ball since his operation. Both he and the D-backs expect him to be full-go for spring training.

OF/1B Conor Jackson (valley fever) played well with Escogido of the Dominican winter league, showing no signs of the fatigue that marked his earlier attempts to get back on the field.

RHP Chad Qualls (left knee surgery in September 2009) is expected to be ready for spring training.

C Chris Snyder (microdiscectomy in September 2009) is expected to be 100 percent when spring training begins.

RHP Jarrod Parker (Tommy John surgery in October 2009) has begun the rehabilitation process, but he will miss the 2010 season. Parker, 20, was considered the D-backs' best minor league pitching prospect.