MLB Teams that will be buyers ahead of the 2020 season
By Bill Felber
MLB Teams: Buyers in 2020
Arizona Diamondbacks
The D-Backs failed to close the deal on their 2019 post-season run. But victories in 24 of their final 38 games installed faith in GM Mike Hazen’s game plan, as did the growth of pitching discovery Zac Gallen.
Arizona enters the winter with only about $52 million in commitments, leaving as much as $50 million in playing-around money. Marte and Eduardo Escobar, the 2019 team leaders in home runs with 32 and 35 respectively – are under contract already.
But even assuming that the development youngsters like Gallen, Carson Kelly, Merrill Kelly, and Christian Walker and breakout star Marte showed is the real thing – there are still needs. Another reliable starter who can buttress youngsters Gallen and Taylor Clarke would be a very good idea.
Nick Ahmed is a third-year arbitration-eligible who may or may not be worth the kind of money a third-year arb player can command. If the verdict is negative, he might have enough trade value to justify the pursuit of an old D-Back acquaintance, Didi Gregorius.
One other possibility: Could Escobar play shortstop well enough to go after Josh Donaldson or Mike Moustakas, assuming the latter declined his mutual option with the Brewers?
Arizona’s plans could be influenced by outside events. If the Dodgers, for example, appear on course to land Cole, that may increase the pressure on Hazen to do something on the same bold level.