13 Diamondbacks

TANKERS

SCOUT'S TAKE

KEY QUESTION

The first year of the post--Paul Goldschmidt era begins, and how bad will things get? This team has gone from a juggernaut offense to a very light one in a hurry. With Goldschmidt and A.J. Pollock gone, the middle is one of the weakest out there. The rotation is solid, but it's going to have to carry them.

UNDERRATED

David Peralta is a grinder, just intense. He came up as a pitcher, was released, went to indy ball and became a position player. He built his body up, and now he's a Silver Slugger. With Goldschmidt gone, he's going to have to be their new leader.

ON THE CUSP

Everywhere Christian Walker has been, he's been blocked by a star: Joey Votto in Cincinnati, Goldy in Arizona. He's had a great spring. He's got 70 raw power [on an 80 scale]; with 400 at bats, 25 homers isn't a stretch.

LAST LICKS

They need to accelerate their rebuild, and Jake Lamb should be the next guy to go. He struggles against lefties, but he can give a contender some pop.... The veterans in the rotation could keep them respectable, but that bullpen is going to blow a lot of leads.

THE PAYOFF PITCH

THE DIAMONDBACKS moved into a rebuild by trading Paul Goldschmidt and allowing Patrick Corbin and A.J. Pollock to leave in free agency. Remaining, however, is their $35 million man, Zack Greinke. The 35-year-old still has three years and $105 million left on the free-agent deal he signed before the 2016 season. He's been worth the money so far; he has a 3.53 ERA in 91 starts for the Diamondbacks, and by WAR he's been the eighth-best starter in baseball since signing. Greinke's career to date (2,663 IP, 187 wins, 3.39 ERA, 61.5 WAR) closely resembles that of another cerebral righthander of recent vintage, Mike Mussina (2,669 IP, 199 wins, 3.53 ERA, 66 WAR through age 35), right down to their both being generally underappreciated. Mussina went on to produce five more years as an above-average starter (4.14 ERA, 17 WAR) and eventually gained election to the Hall of Fame.

OVER UNDER

73.5

The Diamondbacks won 82 games a year ago, but it's reasonable to expect at least a 10-win slide after their winter sell-off.

LINEUP

CF Ketel Marte

.260/14 HR/.437 SLG

3B Eduardo Escobar

.272/23 HR/84 RBI

LF David Peralta

.293/30 HR/87 RBI

RF Steven Souza Jr.

.220/.309 OBP/.369 SLG

1B Jake Lamb

.222/.307 OBP/.348 SLG

2B Wilmer Flores

.267/11 HR/51 RBI

SS Nick Ahmed

.234/16 HR/.411 SLG

C Carson Kelly

.114/.205 OBP/.114 SLG

BENCH

C Alex Avila

.165/.299 OBP/.304 SLG

1B/OF Christian Walker

.163/.226 OBP/.388 SLG

FANTASY BREAKOUT

The power he flashed in the minors began to translate last year for KETEL MARTE, who also has 30-SB potential.

ROTATION

RH Zack Greinke

15 W/3.21 ERA/1.08 WHP

LH Robbie Ray

6 W/3.93 ERA/12.0 K9

RH Zack Godley

15 W/4.74 ERA/1.45 WHP

RH Luke Weaver

7 W/4.95 ERA/1.50 WHP

BULLPEN

CL Archie Bradley

3 SV/3.64 ERA/9.4 K9

RH Yoshihisa Hirano

2.44 ERA/1.09 WHP/ 8.0 K9

LH Andrew Chafin

3.10 ERA/1.34 WHP/ 9.7 K9

MANAGER

Torey Lovullo