Arizona Diamondbacks additions and subtractions
Key additions: Brad Boxberger, Alex Avila, Jarrod Dyson, Yoshihisa Hirano
Newcomer to watch: Alex Avila. After watching Chris Ianetta depart for division rival Colorado, the Arizona Diamondbacks needed to add an offensive threat to the catching duo of Jeff Mathis and Chris Hermann.
They did just that with Avila, who reestablished himself as a threat in the lineup last year. Although he has not been able to return to his All Star level from 2011, Avila produced a solid .274/.394/.475 batting line with 11 homers in his time in Detroit last year. While he struggled after being traded to the Cubs, he should get the majority of the starts at catcher in Arizona.
Avila even checks off the defensive boxes that the Diamondbacks look for. He saved three runs behind the plate last year, and his strong arm led to a 31% caught stealing rate. If he continues to play solid defense, and those improvements with the bat continue, Alex Avila could be a key part of the Diamondbacks success.
Biggest losses: J.D. Martinez, Fernando Rodney, Brandon Drury
Biggest loss: J.D. Martinez. Despite spending just over two months with the Diamondbacks, Martinez made quite the impact.
Martinez gave the Diamondbacks a consistent outfield, as David Peralta moved over to left and A.J. Pollock manned center. More than that, Martinez was a true power threat, and the missing piece in the lineup. In his 62 games in Arizona, he posted a phenomenal .302/.366/.741 batting line, hitting 29 homers. Despite that brief time in the National League, Martinez finished 14th in the NL MVP vote, as the writers took notice of his performance.
Now that Martinez has moved on to Boston, the Arizona Diamondbacks have a major hole to fill in the lineup. Jarrod Dyson is a solid fourth outfielder, and Arizona may be hoping that Yasmany Tomas can finally take that step forward they have been waiting for. If he does not, the Diamondbacks may be hunting for yet another outfielder at the trade deadline.