NL West Season Preview: Arizona Diamondbacks

What’s new in 2018?

How can the over-achieving 2017 D-Backs replicate their unexpected success this year? With J.D Martinez hitting free agency, how can Arizona continue to make some noise in the National League this year? What moves have they made and what pieces are missing?

 Key Additions:

Steven Souza Jr – OF (Trade with the Tampa Bay Rays)

Souza is a big addition to the D-Backs lineup that just lost one of the best sluggers in all of baseball. In 2017 with the Rays, Souza slugged 30 homers and drove in 78 runs. Coming to Chase Field will only benefit the 28 year old right-fielder, and should provide Arizona with another power bat to compliment Goldy and Lamb.

Jarrod Dyson – OF (Free Agent signing)

Dyson is a speedy center fielder who plays great defense and steals bases. Competing with AJ Pollock, Dyson will provide depth and great defense in multiple outfield positions. Other than stealing bases, he’s not much of a threat offensively and if you keep him off the bases then you wont have any problems with him.

Alex Avila – C (Free Agent Signing)

Another important depth move Arizona made this off season was bringing in Alex Avila to compete for a starting job with catchers Jeff Mathis and Chris Herrmann. A catcher with some pop, Avila should provide an offensive upgrade over the other two, who will be trying to fill the hole at catcher left by Chris Iannetta.

Subtractions:

J.D. Martinez – OF (Free Agency)

The biggest free agent of the off season, the guy who clubbed 45 homers and drove in 104 RBI’s, did not re-sign with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Thank god. Martinez came to Arizona and destroyed National League pitching, homering at a greater rate than sluggers Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge. He hit over .300 and put together an on-base percentage of (.376). Filling the hole that Martinez left is almost impossible. The jolt he brought to an already solid lineup cannot be replaced by many, and losing his bat could be huge for the D-Backs in 2018.

Brandon Drury – 3B (Traded to NYY)

Chris Iannetta – C (Free Agency)

Fernando Rodney – RP (Free Agency)