What's Next for the Diamondbacks?

Today marked the final day of the 2009 Winter Meetings in Indianapolis. The Arizona Diamondbacks went into this week with a lot of questions and not a lot of money to spend. What they came away with was a three-team blockbuster trade that landed them two starting pitchers who will be counted upon to bring the team out of the National League West cellar.

While the Diamondbacks were successful in filling one of their many roster holes with the addition of pitchers Edwin Jackson and Ian Kennedy, the team is not nearly ready to begin the 2010. So the question that begs to be asked, “What’s next?”

“The Trade” as it’s coming to be known around baseball could be classified as addition by subtraction when it comes to the Diamondbacks. They basically switched number three starters with the Detroit Tigers then added what they hope is a fourth starter in Kennedy.

Given Kennedy’s injury history there will be questions surrounding him throughout the year. If he stays healthy and if he pitches to his potential the Diamondbacks will have a formidable starting rotation.

As an Arizona Diamondbacks fan, I cringe to think the success of next season’s team relies heavily on two big “ifs” in the starting rotation. On paper and within the EA Sports video game universe, the trade makes sense.

So now that Arizona has filled their starting pitching holes what’s next for the team? According to General Manager Josh Byrnes the team is still searching for a veteran reliever and perhaps a bench player or first baseman.

The Diamondbacks took steps to rectify the first when they met with representatives for LaTroy Hawkins. Hawkins was interested in playing for Arizona but was looking for a two-year deal. The Diamondbacks were only willing to offer one year and Hawkins signed with Milwaukee.

Arizona may have helped in their quest when they drafted Zach Kroenke in the major league portion of the Rule V Draft. This marks the second year that Kroenke was selected in the Rule V Draft.

Last season while a member of the New York Yankees; the Florida Marlins claimed Kroenke. He appeared in two Spring Training games and was then offered back to the Yankees. Now a year later and with a season of Triple-A under his belt Kroenke comes to the desert with a chance to make the ballclub.

Based on his stats in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre along with his Arizona Fall League exposure; Kroenke looks like a serviceable arm that can get both left and right-handed hitters out. With the departure of Daniel Schlereth as part of “The Trade”, adding a second lefty would be valuable to the Diamondbacks.

Despite getting Kroenke, Arizona still feels they need one additional reliever preferably with a lot of experience to help mentor the young pitchers as well as provide some options late in the game.

Arizona has been rumored to be interested in former New York Mets reliever JJ Putz who is coming off injury. They have also been linked to Bobby Howry and Brandon Donnelly. Hopefully one of these three will be a fit for the Diamondbacks.

The Diamondbacks continue to focus on pitching despite the woes of the offense the past two seasons. Earlier this off-season the team attempted to trade for Blue Jays first baseman Lyle Overbay but Toronto backed out of the deal that would have sent catcher Chris Snyder north of the border.

Snyder’s name continues to come up but as of yet no team is willing to take a chance on trading for a catcher coming off back surgery. Likewise the Diamondbacks are finding little or no interest from teams for outfielder Eric Byrnes.

Given the comments by General Partner Ken Kendrick and GM Josh Byrnes, the Diamondbacks have suggested they would be willing to release Eric Byrnes so other teams may be waiting to see if that happens rather than giving up something in return.

With just $6 million to spend this season it is starting to look doubtful that Arizona will add another bat such as former Nationals first baseman Nick Johnson. While the baseball operations staff insists that the maturation of the young core of Diamondbacks players will result in better offensive numbers I am not sure I agree.

Arizona desperately needs to find someone to play first base who is great defensively and has a high on-base percentage. Perhaps then the offense won’t be so anemic. If the Diamondbacks continue to stock pile arms wile ignoring the offense it may be a very long summer in Phoenix as the team loses a lot of one run games.