Tagged: Diamondbacks
Cubs still favorite, D-backs make huge jump in 2016 World Series odds
A trio of teams – the Cubs, Red Sox and D-backs – have garnered the bulk of the offseason headlines thus far.
Yes, plenty of teams have made moves to put themselves in a better position going forward, but the three teams mentioned above have made the biggest, most significant moves and the betting lines reflect that.
On November 2, the day after the World Series concluded, Bovada, an online casino and sportsbook, posted odds for the 2016 World Series. The Cubs (11/1) were the odds-on favorite while the Red Sox (20/1) were in the middle of the pack and the D-backs (50/1) seemed like a long shot.
Fast forward through the Winter Meetings, into the middle of December, and plenty of things have changed.
The Cubs are still the favorites, but the odds are now 8/1 after the club strengthened the rotation and signed John Lackey, in addition to bolstering an already potent lineup with the additions of Ben Zobrist and Jason Heyward.
Boston got a head start on the off-season wheeling and dealing when it traded four prospects to San Diego in exchange for Craig Kimbrel. The Kimbrel trade was a big move that strengthened a ‘pen that finished the season with a 4.24 ERA, 26th in all of baseball. However, it turns out it was just a precursor as Dave Dombrowski still had some tricks up his sleeve.
The Red Sox made another big splash when they inked David Price to a monster contract and as a result, their World Series odds jumped from 20/1 to 9/1.
But perhaps the biggest off-season shocker took place just before the Winter Meetings when Arizona landed Zack Greinke. Not only did the Greinke signing give a tremendous boost to Arizona’s starting rotation, but it also subtraced an ace from the Dodgers’ staff and kept the Giants, a division rival and the other finalist in the Greinke sweepstakes, from acquiring the superstar.
Of course, once the D-backs added Greinke it was a clear sign that the team was in “win now” mode, so Dave Stewart and Tony La Russa went out and made another bold move, trading for Shelby Miller.
The D-backs finished second in the National League in runs scored a season ago and added two quality arms to the rotation which is why the odds went all the way from 50/1 to 20/1.
Although the Giants missed on Greinke, the club added Jeff Samardzija and saw odds swing from 20/1 to 8/1.
While all those changes were significant and interesting, there is still plenty of offseason left, which means time for more deals (what happens if the Cubs get another pitcher?).
AFL Scottsdale at Salt River 10.26.15
Notable Performance:
— Clint Frazier had another good showing offensively. The Indians No. 2 prospect went 3-for-5 and continues to hit the ball hard as all three of his hits were line drives. However he also struck out in his last two at-bats.
Overall Frazier put together a real nice game as he scored three runs and stole a pair of bases. Read more about his afternoon on mlbpipeline.com.
Best Play(s):
— Boston’s middle infield prospects were impressive. Shortstop Tzu-Wei Lin showed some nice range and arm strength in the first as he fielded a ball deep in the hole and threw across the diamond for the out. Two batters later, second baseman Carlos Asuaje – the club’s No. 23 prospect, fielded a ball in the hole and made a quick throw to second for the force out, showing quick feet in the process. Asuaje isn’t projected to be an elite defender, but had a nice showing Monday.
Best At-Bat:
— Adam Brett Walker II hit a monster three-run homer in the top of the ninth. I’ve heard a lot about the Twins’ prospects power, but had yet to witness it in person. Although there are still questions and doubts about his skills defensively, his power is real.
Worth Mentioning:
— Red Sox No. 11 Sam Travis also had a three-hit day and looked good offensively.
— D-backs prospect Yoan Lopez struggled once again. The young right-hander showed good flashes in his first two starts, but didn’t look nearly as good Monday. Lopez tossed 3 2/3 innings, gave up seven hits, walked one and hit a pair of batters. He also surrendered five runs – four earned. Lopez has struggled with command often in his career and that was the case once again as he left several balls up in the zone.
— Giants prospect Adalberto Mejia had a good outing through four innings, but when he came out for the fifth everything changed. The left-hander may have run out of gas as he gave up a leadoff single and then walked a pair of batters before he was lifted. All in all Mejia threw four-plus innings, gave up four hits and a trio of runs.
AFL Salt River at Surprise 10.20.15
Notable Performances:
— Adrian Houser, the Brewers No. 27 prospect, put together a strong outing after a rough beginning. Houser didn’t look to have his best stuff and struggled with command in the first inning. However, after escaping that frame via Wisdom’s double play, Houser settled down and found his rhythm.
The right-hander allowed two hits over 3 1/3 shutout innings. He walked two and struckout one. In two AFL starts, Houser has totaled six innings and allowed no runs on three hits. Read more about Houser on MLBpipeline.com.
— Royals No. 5 prospect Bubba Starling notched a two-hit day his third multi-hit performance in five Arizona Fall League games.
Best Play:
Cardinals third baseman Patrick Wisdom, the club’s No. 12 prospect, showed off some defensive versatility right away as he turned a double play to end the top of the first. Wisdom caught a foul ball up against the stands down the left field line and promptly threw home to get the runner tagging from third. Scouts believe Wisdom has above-average arm strength and that play certainly supported that theory.
Worth Mentioning:
— D-backs No. 5 prospect Yoan Lopez followed up what was a relatively successful first AFL start with a disappointing one. The 22-year old allowed two earned runs across four innings in his first outing of the fall, but on Tuesday he lasted just 2 2/3 innings and gave up three runs on a walk and five hits.
Lopez looked good early, but lost command in the third as six of the first seven batters of the frame reached. Lack of command has plagued Lopez early in his career and it looks like that’s still the case. As for his stuff, Lopez’s fastball topped out at 96 MPH, his cutter sat at 88 MPH and his slider topped out at 85 MPH.
— Michael Reed, the Brewers No. 17 prospect – came through with an RBI single in the third, but finished just 1-for-4. Wisdom also had an RBI single and was 2-for-4 on the afternoon.
10 Things I’m Watching In 2015: Yasmany Tomas
As we count down to Spring Training, here’s the ninth installment of my ’10 Things I’m Watching In 2015′ series. Today’s topic: Yasmany Tomas.
After a dismal 2014 campaign, the Diamondbacks retooled both the front office and the roster in preparation for the 2015. Perhaps the biggest off season move the club made was the acquisition of Cuban free agent Yasmany Tomas.
The Diamondbacks inked Tomas, 24, to a six-year, $68.5 million deal. The deal, which has an opt out clause after four seasons, is the largest deal in team history – a sign of how much Arizona values Tomas.
Tomas is known for his bat and hit 30 home runs in 205 regular season games in Cuba, however he’s never played a full season in Cuba so the grind of a 162 Major League season may take its toll late in the year.
Cuba’s Serie Nacional’s season in 90 games and Tomas has never played more than 69.
Primarily an outfielder, Tomas has been working out at third base with the Diamondbacks and his ability to pick up the new position in Spring Training will be something to keep an eye on.
If Tomas struggles at third, he may start the season in the Minors, but it’s hard to envision a scenario where he doesn’t play in the majors at all this season.
Whether it’s Opening Day or somewhere down the line Tomas will don a big league uniform this season and all eyes in Arizona will be watching.
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