With MLB Opening Day only 30 days away and spring training games starting up, baseball season is right around the corner. Over the next month, we will preview all 30 MLB teams for the 2020 season leading up to Opening Day on March 26th. First up, the Arizona Diamondbacks 2020 preview.
The Arizona Diamondbacks are looking to return to the playoffs in 2020 for the first time since 2017. The Diamondbacks finished last season with an 85-77 record, four games out of a playoff spot. After losing Patrick Corbin in free agency and trading perennial All-Star Paul Goldschmidt last offseason, the Diamondbacks appeared to be entering a retooling phase.
The Diamondbacks instead rode a career year from Ketel Marte in which he set new career highs in doubles, home runs, and OPS en route to finishing fourth in NL MVP voting. 35 home runs from Eduardo Escobar and a quality first full season from Christian Walker helped the Diamondbacks finish in the top half of the league in runs and OPS in 2019. A midseason trade of Zack Greinke netted the Diamondbacks three top 10 prospects that should find a place on the 2020 roster in 1B Seth Beer, and RHPs JB Bukauskas and Corbin Martin.
Jon Duplantier is a name to watch in spring training. The 6’4″ pitcher made his MLB debut last season and had mixed results as a starter and a reliever. Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo took part of the blame for Duplantier’s struggles earlier this spring. Lovullo said that the shuffling of Duplantier back a forth between the bullpen and rotation “hurt his development.” With four average to above-average pitches, Duplantier could become a solid piece in the middle of the Diamondbacks rotation.
This offseason, the Diamondbacks added Madison Bumgarner and Kole Calhoun on multi-year deals. Their biggest addition, however, was acquiring Starling Marte from the Pittsburgh Pirates. The trade for Marte only cost the Diamondbacks international signing money and two low-level prospects. Multiple lower-level free agent signings round out Arizona’s offseason as they look to build on their better than expected 2019.
For the Diamondbacks to challenge for an NL Wild Card spot, they will have to rely on their newcomers. While Ketel Marte broke out last season, regression is most likely coming. This makes Starling Marte, no relation, very important to the Arizona offense. Marte, Starling for those keeping track, had one of the best seasons of his career in 2019. His 23 home runs and .845 OPS were both career highs, and his .295 batting average was his highest since 2016. Starling Marte also allows Ketel Marte to move back to his more natural defensive position in the infield. Madison Bumgarner will be asked to spearhead a rotation that lacked a true ace after the trade of Zack Greinke.
Bumgarner will also be asked about Mason Saunders, his alias that he uses to enter rodeo competitions. In 2017, Bumgarner missed time after a dirt bike accident led to a shoulder injury. With Diamondbacks GM Mike Hazen telling reporters that the team was unaware of Bumgarner’s hobby, fans and front office staff alike may get antsy about Bumgarner participating in more dangerous activities. Bumgarner, 30, has pitched over 200 innings in seven of the last nine seasons, but only once in the last three seasons. This has led some to believe that the once invincible Mad Bum may be slowing down. The Diamondbacks need Bumgarner to stay healthy for them to compete for a playoff spot in a crowded National League.
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