Arizona Diamondbacks' Options at Third Base Are Limited

With the Arizona Diamondbacks recently adding a starting pitcher, two relief pitchers and a left fielder, Kevin Towers has been busy. The Diamondbacks roster appears as if it is mostly set, but are there still areas of need that should be addressed?

Third base remains a question mark. Ryan Roberts is expected to get the bulk of the playing time with Willie Bloomquist filling in. Neither Roberts nor Bloomquist is a true third baseman. Additionally, neither player has been an everyday player for the majority of his career.

Bloomquist and Roberts did a fantastic job in 2011, and without their contributions, the Diamondbacks would not have won the NL West.

Can the Diamondbacks trust that Bloomquist and Roberts will repeat their 2011 seasons?

If there are other options available, the Diamondbacks would do well to explore them.

Unfortunately, the free-agent market for third basemen is thin.

The Diamondbacks' only options would be to make a trade, possibly with Gerardo Parra in the wake of the Jason Kubel signing, or hope that Ryan Roberts can play like he did last season until some of the team’s prospects are ready for the big leagues.

The Diamondbacks have two nice third base prospects in their farm system in Matt Davidson and Ryan Wheeler.

Davidson spent last season in A ball and likely won’t be ready for MLB for several years. Wheeler could be closer to being called up. He has been in AA the past two seasons, batting .294 with 16 home runs and 89 RBI in 2011. 

While Roberts may not be the ideal player to start at third base on Opening Day, he is likely the team’s only option at the present time.