The Diamondbacks run to the playoffs with the Western Division title back in 2011 was a great season for Arizona. Then in 2012 they made the playoffs again. But in 2013 and 2014 Arizona went cold as they finished 81-81 then 64-98. In addition they fired Manager Kirk Gibson in September. The D-backs of the last two years (especially 2014) have been totally different as the moves they have made are very interesting. It seemed that starting last winter meetings the main goal was to compete in the NL West in 2014 because of the acquisitions of Mark Trumbo, Addison Reed, and then Tony Larussa in May, but instead of competing they finished last.
Going into the offseason this year it certainly looks like Larussa and his front office are looking to renovate the team, which the Gibson firing indicated. Not completely rebuild though, which was clear when they signed Tomas. But was this plan to renovate put in place on a timetable? It defiantly wasn’t due to the fact that additions and subtractions have been alternating since last year in Florida. First it was the trades to get Addison Reed and Trumbo, and then it was the hiring of Larussa to give the team the extra push. But after having an awful first half, the D-backs seemed to have gone from playoff hopes to refurbishing their club as they traded Gerrado Parra to the Brew-Crew for two prospects in July. Two months later Kirk Gibson was gone. Three months of grieving Gibson and welcoming the prodigy son of Bob Melvin, Chip Hale, the D-backs were ready for to put their king on the checkered board. That piece was Yasmany Tomas. A couple weeks after the signing, the D-backs trade their veteran catcher Montero for two more prospects and trade Didi Gregorious for a couple prospects with major league experience. Also they are now actively shopping Mark Trumbo at the Winter Meetings.
What this leaves the D-backs with is two leaders in Tomas and Goldy. They then have young talent around these two players like Chris Owings, Peralta, Pollok, and Inciarte. Since it is tough though to have two young stars lead a field without some veterans can be difficult, so Aaron Hill will be that veteran role and play 2nd in 2015. Speaking of veterans, that is what the rotation looks like as Wade Miley, Josh Collmenter, Chris Anderson, and Patrick Corbin along with a fairly young bullpen will try to continue without the likes of Montero behind the plate.
After a year of advisement under Chip Hale, Larussa and Dave Stewart things should heat up again in 2016, which has the potential to be a blaze rising up in the NL West.
