This is part of a 30-article series looking at each team’s depth chart headed into spring training.

Rotation
1. Joe Saunders
2. Ian Kennedy
3. Daniel Hudson
4. Zach Duke
5. Armando Galarraga
6. Barry Enright
7. Aaron Heilman
8. Kevin Mulvey
9. Jarrod Parker
10. Wade Miley
11. Micah Owings
12. Josh Collmenter
13. Matt Torra
14. Pat Corbin

It appeared that the Diamondbacks set their rotation when they acquired Duke from the Pirates, but they’ve since brought back Heilman as a possible starter and traded for Galarraga. That means Enright, who got off to such a nice start as a rookie before losing each of his final five starts, might be returned to Triple-A for a bit. I’m pretty skeptical about Enright anyway, and Galarraga should prove to be an upgrade in the fifth spot.

Bullpen
1. J.J. Putz
2. Juan Gutierrez
3. David Hernandez
4. Aaron Heilman
5. Sam Demel
6. Kam Mickolio
7. Esmerling Vasquez
8. Mike Hampton
9. Carlos Rosa
10. Micah Owings
11. Armando Galarraga
12. Clay Zavada
13. Kyler Newby
14. Jordan Noberto
15. Zach Kroenke
16. Brian Sweeney
17. Rafael Rodriguez
18. Daniel Stange
19. Joe Paterson
20. Yonata Ortega

Baseball’s worst pen from 2010 got a makeover with the Putz signing and the Mark Reynolds trade. There will be plenty of competition for the final full spots, as holdovers Vasquez and Rosa try to fight off some newcomers. I think Hernandez will prove to be the team’s second-best reliever.

Catcher
1. Miguel Montero
2. Henry Blanco
3. John Hester
4. Konrad Schmidt

First base
1. Juan Miranda
2. Xavier Nady
3. Brandon Allen
4. Micah Owings
5. Andy Tracy

Second base
1. Kelly Johnson
2. Geoff Blum
3. Willie Bloomquist
4. Tony Abreu
5. Ryan Roberts
6. Cody Ransom

Third base
1. Melvin Mora
2. Geoff Blum
3. Ryan Roberts
4. Tony Abreu
5. Willie Bloomquist
6. Cody Ransom

Shortstop
1. Stephen Drew
2. Geoff Blum
3. Willie Bloomquist
4. Tony Abreu
5. Cody Ransom

Yeah, the budget was quite limited, but the Diamondbacks should have done better than Mora, Nady, Miranda, Blum and Bloomquist as their offensive pickups. My current guess is that Miranda starts at first against right-handers, with Nady shifting back and forth as the first baseman against lefties and the left fielder against most righties. Allen, who has the most offensive potential of the team’s first base-left field candidates, will probably go back to the minors to work on his defense.

Left field
1. Xavier Nady
2. Brandon Allen
3. Gerardo Parra
4. Cole Gillespie
5. Wily Mo Pena
6. Willie Bloomquist
7. Collin Cowgill

Center field
1. Chris Young
2. Gerardo Parra
3. Willie Bloomquist
4. Cole Gillespie

Right field
1. Justin Upton
2. Gerardo Parra
3. Cole Gillespie
4. Wily Mo Pena
5. Willie Bloomquist
6. Collin Cowgill
7. David Winfree

Just 23, Parra is awfully young to be at a career crossroads. However, he might not have the bat to help the Diamondbacks as a corner outfielder. Gillespie is the better bet offensively, and he could get a chance to overtake Parra as the team’s fourth outfielder. As a right-handed hitter, he’d make more sense for the club if the plan is for Nady to cover first against lefties.

Finding water during Arizona’s hellish summer months has always been a difficult task, but the opposite is true when scouring the scorched landscape for fantasy gems. For followers of imaginary baseball, the desert has been an oasis of statistical riches. From Jay Bell to Junior Spivey to Mark Reynolds(notes) to Kelly Johnson(notes), surprise sources of production have always sprouted in the desert. This year’s D’Backs, an interesting concoction of young rising stars (Chris Young, Justin Upton(notes), Daniel Hudson(notes)) and nomadic veterans (Xavier Nady(notes), Melvin Mora(notes), J.J. Putz(notes)), won’t be any different.

“Change” has been the central theme in Phoenix this offseason. After totaling an NL West-worst 97 losses a season ago, the D’Backs boast a new GM, spring training facility and several fresh faces. Offensively, the Snakes should pack a venomous bite, but without a true frontline starter, pitching will likely again hamper Kirk Gibson’s club. Despite Arizona’s bleak outlook, many players, including the likes of Upton, Young and Putz, will be lineup staples in virtual leagues. Other less notable names could also step to the forefront over the course of the season.

Here are questions about Arizona (Inquiries over who will QB the Cardinals in ’11 not included) that need immediate answers:

Are owners still overpaying for Justin Upton?

Owners have sacrificed limbs/organs/briefcases of cash to acquire Upton in early drafts. Though discounted compared to this time last year, the ultra-hyped outfielder is still highly regarded going around pick No. 33 overall in standard snake drafts and between $25-$30 in auctions. That’s rather expensive considering he was the fourth-best fantasy producer on his team and the 120th-best player overall a season ago.

Upside is often very seductive. Upton, a former No. 1 pick, has always had the physical tools to be a Hall of Fame caliber performer. When he entered pro-ball many scouts compared to him to Ken Griffey Jr.(notes) After exploding in 2009, many expected the next step to be momentous and career-defining. However, the explosive season most prognosticators forecasted never manifested. Shoulder problems plagued him in September, but, for the most part, injuries played a minor part in his sharp regression. His mental approach, however, was a different story. Overanxious at the dish, he struck out a whopping 30.7 percent of the time, sinking his contact rate below 75-percent. Off-speed pitches, which he had success against previously, baffled him. By year’s end, the learning curve appeared steep. Newly appointed GM Kevin Towers even dangled him to prospective buyers during the winter meetings in December.

Now entering his third full season, many expect the 23-year-old to have a dramatic turnaround. As a result, his price-tag has remained exorbitant. Though a rebound back to ’09 isn’t out of the question, the fantasy community should temper expectations. There are players of similar capabilities that can be drafted much later. Check out the player comparison, using projections from Bill James, below:

Player X: 611-.285-26-90-87-16
Player Y: 534-.288-23-82-86-18

Player X is Hunter Pence(notes). Player Y is, surprise, Upton. According to Mock Draft Central, the average drafter could acquire the former some 40 picks later. It’s clear potential is pricey.

Upton is without question a star-in-the-making, but it’s important to keep his youthful age in mind. He’s still 2-3 years away from achieving greatness. Don’t overpay.

Why are prospective investors turning a blind eye to Ian Kennedy(notes) and Daniel Hudson?

It’s hard to imagine two pitchers who performed so well late last year garnering less attention than Hudson and Kennedy. The former was absolutely radiant over the final two months, notching a minuscule 1.76 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and 8.34 K/9 over 71.2 innings. Only rotation anchors Felix Hernandez(notes) and Roy Oswalt(notes) were more valuable to fantasy owners after August 1.


The latter also sparkled after the break. Over his last 82.2 innings, he tallied a 3.38 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 7.45 K/9, good for a borderline SP3/4 ranking among starters in 12-team mixers. Despite their glowing finishes, both, perplexingly, are going well into the double-digit rounds in standard drafts (Hudson: 182.3, Kennedy: 272.9).

The reason why owners are bypassing the tandem: BABIP.

Undoubtedly, luck played a factor in the pair’s success in last year. Hudson sported a .245 BABIP, Kennedy .256. FIP data suggests both should have finished with higher ERAs, especially given their GB/FB shortcomings. Though the law of averages will likely catch up to them, owners shouldn’t overrate the stat’s damning impact. Each showed terrific command down the stretch, indicative in their laudable BB/K splits. With an above average offense behind them, Arizona’s top two starters are very capable of finishing with strong SP2/3 numbers in mixers. Steal them.

Who the hell is Juan Miranda(notes)? What’s that? He’s the Jose Bautista(notes) of 2010?! Brad, remove your lips from the hookah.

If you’re looking for a late-round difference-maker who could emulate Bautista’s rise from obscurity, Miranda is your guy. Trapped behind Mark Teixeira(notes) in New York, the Cuban import had little to no hope of breaking in with the Yanks. Towers, who worked alongside Brian Cashman last year, saw potential in the first baseman, acquiring him for pitcher Scott Allen in November.

Scouts have raved about the aging prospect’s raw power. Though he’s barely flexed his muscle at the big league level, Miranda launched 15 bombs in just 295 at-bats at Triple-A Scranton in 2010. He also tallied an impressive .371 OBP.

The late twenty-something (Reports dispute his age) is the frontrunner for everyday at-bats at first base. If the lefty can fend off Brandon Allen(notes) this spring, he could replicate what Adam LaRoche(notes) accomplished in the desert last year (.261-25-100-75). Go the extra buck, deep leaguers.

The acquisition of J.J. Putz added much needed stability to a bullpen that ranked near the bottom in MLB last year. Can the journeyman regain his Mariners form?

Those who suffered through Juan Gutierrez(notes), Aaron Heilman(notes) and Chad Qualls(notes) a season ago likely experienced permanent brain damage. The cerebral stain left by the trio’s numerous late-inning implosions may never be wiped clean.

Enter Putz.

Working almost exclusively as a setup man over the past two seasons with the Mets and White Sox, the former 40-save closer in Seattle will again be called upon to shut the door. Based on his strong underlying ’10 profile (10.83 K/9, 1.25 GB/FB), he should regain his dominant form. Drafted on average around pick No. 146, he’s a prime example of why you never should slap the wallet for saves. Expect him to finish as a top-10 RP this year.

PQ pick ‘em – Which infielder is more undervalued: Kelly Johnson or Stephen Drew(notes)?

Separated by roughly 15 picks in early drafts, it’s conceivable a Snake-sympathetic owner could confidently draft an all-Arizona middle infield. It wouldn’t be an unwise move. Johnson and Drew finished fourth and sixth at their respective position’s in 2010.

Though shortstop is a tougher-to-field slot, Johnson is the more undervalued D’Back. Position scarcity is often overvalued in virtual baseball. Total numbers, not depth, deserves to rule the day. In terms of overall worth, Johnson bested his teammate by 80 spots according to Baseball Monster. A slight downswing is possible, but in his power prime at 29, it’s highly unlikely the second baseman will undergo a substantial decline.

As the tenth 2B off-the-board in average drafts, one spot behind heaping pile of Mariner Moose manure Chone Figgins(notes), Johnson is a superb bargain (ADP: 112.9). In stat speak, he’s essentially a generic version of Rickie Weeks(notes).

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Image courtesy of Getty 

Related: Fantasy Baseball, Pressing Questions

PHOENIX (AP)—Starting catcher Miguel Montero(notes) has agreed to a one-year, $3.2 million contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks, avoiding arbitration.

The 27-year-old Montero hit .266 with nine homers and 43 RBIs in 85 games. He missed 57 games after having surgery to repair torn cartilage in his right knee.

Montero tied for the Major League lead with a .996 fielding percentage and committed a career-low two errors. He’s hit .267 with 40 homers and 160 RBIs in five seasons with the Diamondbacks.

Arizona signed Henry Blanco(notes) to serve as Montero’s backup during the offseason.

The Arizona Diamondbacks announced they have avoided arbitration and agreed to terms with catcher Miguel Montero on a one-year contract. Terms were not disclosed.

Profile: Miguel Montero

Montero, 27, hit .266 (79-for-297) with 20 doubles, 2 triples, 9 home runs and 43 RBI in 85 games last season while missing a total of 57 games after undergoing surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee. Montero committed a career-low 2 errors in 522 total chances in 79 games behind the plate to post a .996 fielding percentage, which tied for tops in the Majors among catchers with a minimum of 75 games played.

Over parts of 5 seasons with the D-Backs, Montero has batted .267 (303-for-1136) with 151 runs scored, 74 doubles, 3 triples, 40 home runs and 160 RBI in 373 career games, including 321 games (282 starts) at catcher. Among National League catchers since 2007 with a minimum of 1,100 plate appearances, he ranks fourth with a .443 slugging percentage; seventh with a .267 batting average; eighth with 36 home runs; and 10th with a .329 on-base percentage.

PHOENIX — Starting catcher Miguel Montero has agreed to a one-year, $3.2 million contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks, avoiding arbitration.

Montero, 27, hit .266 with nine homers and 43 RBI in 85 games. He missed 57 games after having surgery to repair torn cartilage in his right knee.

Montero tied for the Major League lead with a .996 fielding percentage and committed a career-low two errors. He’s hit .267 with 40 homers and 160 RBI in five seasons with the Diamondbacks.

Arizona signed Henry Blanco to serve as Montero’s backup during the offseason.

The Arizona Diamondbacks have agreed to terms on a one-year contract with Miguel Montero, avoiding arbitration with the 27- year-old catcher.

Phoenix, AZ (Sports Network) – The Arizona Diamondbacks have agreed to terms on a one-year contract with Miguel Montero, avoiding arbitration with the 27- year-old catcher.

Per team policy, terms of the deal were not released.

Despite missing 57 games due to surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee, Montero hit .266 with 43 runs batted and tallied 20 doubles for Arizona in 2010.

Over parts of five seasons, all with the Diamondbacks, Montero has a career batting average of .267 with 151 runs scored and 160 RBI in 373 games.

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