Arizona Diamondbacks: Does depth of relievers mean ‘quality?’

With off-season signings, general manager Mike Hazen of the Arizona Diamondbacks created competition among relievers.

One of the emerging core value of Arizona Diamondbacks GM Mike Hazen’s regime is building depth. That was evident when Hazen and field manager Torey Lovullo decided to go with three catchers last season, and also stock-piled position players throughout the minor league system.

After shortstops, Nick Ahmed and Chris Owings went down within one month of one another and each with a broken right hand, Hazen then went to Ketel Marte, acquired in the only major trade Hazen generated the last off-season. During the recent winter meetings in Orlando, Hazen told Call to the Pen, “we never expected to go with three shortstops in one season, and that’s highly unusual at the major league level.” The necessity to pull Marte out of the minors characterized the approach of building bodies for emergencies.

The same can be said for the bullpen Hazen has constructed. Currently, on the 40-man roster, there are 12 candidates for seven bullpen spots. Assuming Lovullo will go with a five-man rotation and carry 12 pitchers, the math adds up room for seven bodies in the pen.

That was similar to the situation last spring.

Here, Hazen brought in veteran Tom Wilhelmsen — as well as Josh Taylor, Keyvius Sampson, Fernando Rodney, Yuhei Nakaushiro, Brain Matusz, Evan Marshall, Joey Krehbiel, Tyler Jones, Kevin Jepsen, Steve Hathaway, Daniel Gibson, Frank Duncan, Miller Diaz, Rubby De La Rosa, Jorge De La Rosa, Erik Davis, and Enrique Burgos to compete for few jobs. Plus, current holdovers T. J. McFarland, Jared Miller, Randall Delgado, Andrew Chafin, J. J. Hoover, Archie Bradley and Jake Barrett were also on the 2017 spring training roster.

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As the season evolved, Rodney emerged as the closer, but the depth which Hazen sought to developed became evident. First, Wilhelmsen was cut early in the season, Hoover split time between the Diamondbacks and the minors, Hathaway was injured in spring training and sat out the entire season, and Rubby De La Rosa appeared briefly on the MLB level for nine games.

Others were cut in spring training but provide an essential component for Hazen, and that was to create competition. During the season, former Diamondback David Hernandez was signed in mid-season and supplied that depth which Hazen so highly seeks.

At the winter meetings last December, Hazen made the point that he finished construction of the back end of the bullpen. Here, he signed Yoshihisa Hirado as the potential closer and traded for Brad Boxberger, a former closer for the Rays. At the same time, Hazen told Call to the Pen that he does not expect to have an actual closer at the start of spring training, but promised, “we’ll have someone when the season starts.”

With the first workout for pitchers and catchers in less than two weeks, three of the seven bullpen spots seem secure. That would include Bradley as the set-up reliever, Hirado penciled in as “the closer,” and lefty Chafin for spot situations. Going forward, those on the bubble represent Hazen’s essential approach of letting the competition decide roster spots.

Beating the organization

Pitcher Shelby Miller became the second player in the current off-season to win his arbitration case.

Despite undergoing Tommy John surgery on his right elbow in late April and generally out until this July at the earliest, Miller will receive a raise. According to published reports, Miller will earn $4.9 million over the $4.7 million he received last season. The Diamondbacks offered the same amount as he received last year.

After a disastrous 2016 season, in which Miler went 3-12 with a 6.15 ERA, he seemed the turn the corner. Capitalizing on landing first pitch for strikes, Miller proceeded to record a 2-2 mark and sliced his ERA by over two runs per nine innings to 4.09. Plus, the velocity on his fastball increased and consistently reached into the mid-90s. Then, elbow surgery.

Miller hopes to be back in the rotation by the All-Star game.

More protection

The Arizona Diamondbacks announced enhanced safety for fans at Chase Field.

The netting, currently behind home plate, will be extended to the far end of each dugout, and the mesh is latest in high-tech advances. The Diamondbacks promise the netting will minimize the fans view of the playing field and boost overall safety.

Roster move

To make room for newly-signed catcher Alex Avila, the Diamondbacks designated outfielder Rey Fuentes for assignment. The current 40-man roster is now complete with 40 players

Next: Kevin Towers: A tribute to the MLB-talent guru

In 64 games last season with the Arizona Diamondbacks, Fuentes hit .236 with three homers and 9 RBIs.