Arizona Diamondbacks GM Dave Stewart On Hot Seat
By Ron Juckett
As they slide further down he standings, the Arizona Diamondbacks are considering what to do with GM Dave Stewart. Will they dismiss him?
Dave Stewart’s time as the general manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks may be short.
Brought in before the 2015 season as part of Tony La Russa’s management team, Stewart’s moves have puzzled insiders as the team spirals down the National League West standings. At 50-71, they are in the cellar, one game behind the equally moribund San Diego Padres. At least the Padres retooled for the future this year.
The D’backs did not. Thinking they had the chance to compete with the San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers for a division title/Wild Card, Stewart signed pitcher Zack Greinke to a six-year deal for $206.5 million. Greinke spent time in the disabled list this year and has not set the world in fire with an ERA of 4.31 and a WHIP of 1.222. Yes, he is 11-4, but his Adjusted ERA+ of 102 is nowhere nearly worth the $34 million he makes this year.
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To double-down on contending, Stewart shipped Dansby Swanson, last year’s first overall draft pick, to the Atlanta Braves for Shelby Miller. Swanson raced through the minor leagues and now is in Atlanta. Miller pitched so poorly, he now toils for the Pacific Coast League’s Reno Aces. In 14 forgettable starts, Miller went 2-9 and posted an ERA of 7.14. In Triple-A, his record is 4-1 in six starts and the ERA is a solid 3.55. Last year for the Braves in 33 starts that number was 3.02
Although you cannot blame Stewart for the rash of injuries that have five players on the disabled list, or a core of young starters who are struggling, you can lay on him and La Russa why the team is underperforming.
Around a month ago, rumors were rampant manager Chip Hale was on his way out with Reno skipper Phil Nevin taking his seat. In the midst of a disastrous road trip, the move made sense. With around a third of the season left, giving Nevin an extended audition was a good place to start towards 2017.
Hale is still the manager as he faces questions about his future after every loss. The front office never squashed the rumors and looks bad in letting him play the scapegoat for their bad decisions.
An inexperienced general manager, there are times, as pointed out by CBS Sports, where Stewart did not have a full grasp of the rules. From international signings to Rule 5 picks, he allegedly made mistakes that needed to be corrected. As his boss, La Russa should be equally to blame. A lifer in baseball, he knows better.
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With Stewart’s contract expiring after the season, the decision to bring him back falls on La Russa. To let Stewart go will reflect badly on La Russa’s thinking process. Yet, a fresh start and a clear plan is the best option going forward. They let Hale out to dry long enough. With a solid core of young players, a change in the dugout and the front office is best. They gambled this year and lost. Whether La Russa is ready to admit that will determine Stewart’s ultimate fate.