MLB: 5 teams that may shock us all in a unique 2020 season
By Nick Stevens
The Arizona Diamondbacks added a number of MLB veterans to their roster and are ready to challenge in the NL West.
We’re going back to the National League West for this last team in the Arizona Diamondbacks. They may not have a large group of budding superstars in their lineup like other teams on this list, but they did hit the market over the last few months to add plenty of veterans who can take this team to the next level.
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Starling Marte and Kole Calhoun joined the Diamondbacks after both spent the last eight seasons with their former clubs in the Pittsburgh Pirates and Los Angeles Angels, respectively. Calhoun improved on his down 2018 campaign, logging 33 home runs last season, while Marte hit a career-high 23 long balls with a .295/.342/.503 slash line in 132 games.
With Ketel Marter, Nick Ahmed, and Eduardo Escobar around the infield, Arizona will have very few holes in their lineup. If Carson Kelly (.348 OBP, 37 extra-base hits) and Christian Walker (29 HR) can maintain their production in their second full seasons as MLB starters, the Diamondbacks will be serious contenders in the NL and a challenge to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
We haven’t even mentioned the new ace in Arizona, Madison Bumgarner. The four-time All-Star is coming off a 2019 season in which he logged 200+ innings and struck out 203 hitters. If the rest of the rotation which will likely include the likes of Robbie Ray, Luke Weaver, and Zac Gallen perform up to expectation, watch out.
dark. Next. A surprise team has offered Yasiel Puig a contract
Don’t sleep on the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2020. Their opening series against San Diego should be must-watch baseball (truthfully, every MLB game is a must-watch game this year) and a great opportunity for at least one of these teams to generate a lot of early buzz.