MLB Power Rankings: Diamondbacks Project Very Well For Future With Young Talent, Strong Management

Despite Lots Of young Pitching Talent, Arizona Diamondbacks Taking Right Approach With Rotation

ESPN's Keith Law's Top 20 Impact Prospects: Trevor Bauer, RHP Arizona Diamondbacks

ESPN's Keith Law is busy checking out all the hottest prospects before Spring Training gets into full swing, and created his top 20 impact prospects list, which just so happened to contain the Arizona Diamondbacks' ace-in-waiting Trevor Bauer.

Here is LAw's take on Bauer's progress and current status with the club:

11. Trevor Bauer, RHP | Top 100 rank -- 21: Bauer could be in the top few spots on this list if he had a spot in Arizona's rotation, but he'll start the season in the minors barring an injury. That said, Joe Saunders isn't as good as Bauer, andJosh Collmenter is a novelty act whose deception won't cover his lack of stuff for much longer, and I think Bauer's ability to miss bats with multiple pitches will get him to the majors sooner rather than later. Teammate Tyler Skaggs also could be in line for a call-up, as the D-backs will be better off with Bauer and Skaggs in the No. 4-5 spots for the second half of the season than they would be with Collmenter and Saunders.

Like Madison Bumgarner up in San Francisco, Bauer isn't long for minor league work, owning the tools, mentality, and durability to join the club much sooner than later. Make sure to watch his progress down on the farm, he may be shooting up to the Show if he performs well the first part of the season.

For more on the Diamondbacks, head on over to AZ Snake Pit.

Craig Breslow, Diamondbacks Agree On One-Year Contract, Avoid Arbitration

The Arizona Diamondbacks announced on Thursday the signing of left-handed pitcher Craig Breslow to a one-year contract, effectively avoiding arbitration according to D-backs’ Executive Vice President and General Manager Kevin Towers.Per team policy, terms of the agreement were not released.

Breslow, 31, led all relief pitchers in the big leagues with a career-high five pickoffs in 2011, while ranking 11th in the American League by allowing just 21.1 percent (8-of-38) of inherited runners to score. Breslow had a 0-2 mark with a 3.79 ERA (25 ER in 59.1 IP) in 67 appearances with the A’s last season.

Now entering his seventh season, Breslow has spent time with the Padres (2005), Red Sox (2006), Indians (2008), Twins (2008-09) and A’s (2009-11),

Breslow was acquired from the Oakland Athletics along with right-handed pitcher Trevor Cahill with cash considerations on December 9, 2011 in exchange for right-handed pitchers Jarrod Parker and Ryan Cook and outfielder Collin Cowgill.

The D-backs are not effectively done with their arbitration this year.

For more on the D-backs, head over to AZ Snake Pit.

2012 Diamondbacks Offseason: Miguel Montero, Ryan Roberts Agree To Terms On One-Year Deals

The Arizona Diamondbacks have agreed to terms on one-year deals with All-Star catcher Miguel Montero and infielder Ryan Roberts, according to D-backs' Executive Vice President and General Manager Kevin Towers. With both deals, the team and the players avoid arbitration.

According to MLBlogs.com, Montero's deal is for $5.9 million and Robert is for $2.012 million.

"It feels so nice," Montero said of having the issue settled. "I feel relieved and happy to get it done, man. I can't wait to get to Spring Training and start playing. That's the fun part. That's what it's all about. We're going to have a good team again this year."

Signing Montero was a must for the D-backs. The 28-year-old made his first All-Star team this past season and led all NL catchers with a .471 slugging percentage, 36 doubles, 55 extra-base hits and 86 RBI, while hitting .282 with a career-high 18 home runs. In six seasons with the D-backs, Montero has hit .271 with 58 home runs and 246 RBI in 513 games.

Roberts is coming off a career year on offense after hitting .249 with 25 doubles, 19 home runs, 65 RBI, 18 stolen bases and 86 runs scored.

Miguel Montero Arbitration: Hearing Set For Tuesday According To Report

According to Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal amongst a litany of other sources have said that Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Miguel Montero will be the first player this season to head to arbitration to hammer out his contract from the upcoming season.

Montero, 28, asked for $6.8 million, more than twice as much as his 2011 salary of $3.2 million, while the D0backs made a counter offer of $5.4 million. Their hearing is scheduled for Tuesday morning, with a possible settlement beforehand or long-term contract arising is likely off the table according to sources near the situation.

According to Rosenthal, Arizona views current Texas Rangers catcher Mike Napoli as the most comparable player to the situation of Montero. Montero’s people on the other hand are trying to paint Montero in the light of a Yadier Molina instead of Napoli, one of the top in not the top catcher in baseball. Napoli was only a part-time backstop last year while Montero was there all season.

Montero will be free-agency eligible after the end of next season.

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Diamondbacks Make It Official, Ziegler Signed To One-Year Deal

The Arizona Diamondbacks officially announced signing RHP Brad Ziegler to a one-year deal. Ziegler was acquired from the Oakland Athletics in a trade last summer at the deadline and pitched in 66 games in 2011 and recorded a 2.16 ERA.

Ziegler will join an improved D-backs bullpen that includes J.J. Putz and David Hernandez at the back and middle relievers Takashi Saito and Bryan Shaw with lefty specialist Joe Paterson. The group looks pretty solid although they probably could use another lefty and a long-reliever to replace the loss of Micah Owings.

Brad Ziegler, Arizona Diamondbacks Reportedly Agree To One Year Deal

The Arizona Diamondbacks have been looking to avoid arbitration with their best relief pitcher Brad Ziegler. Ziegler posted a 2.16 ERA last season between the Oakland Athletics and his trade to the Diamondbacks, and was one of the most effective bullpen pitchers the D-Backs had to use. Ziegler had filed for a big deal as he was up for arbitration, but came to terms with Arizona for a deal that mutually satisfied both parties.

MLB Trade Rumors has the story about Ziegler's deal.

The Diamondbacks have agreed to a one-year deal with Brad Ziegler, avoiding arbitration, MLBTR has learned. The right-handed reliever will earn $1.795MM in 2012.

...

As MLBTR's Arbitration Tracker shows, the Riverfront Sports client filed for $1.945MM while the Diamondbacks countered with a $1.46MM offer.

The Diamondbacks now have an excellent arm out of the pen that can help charge their lineup. He should be a useful complement to an underrated starting rotation that should help win a lot of games next season in the NL West, a division not really well-known for its offensive firepower. As a right-handed specialist, Ziegler will have his hands full trying to hold down some of the best hitters in the West.

To talk about Ziegler and the Diamondbacks, head to AZ Snake Pit.

Arizona Diamondbacks Claim Craig Tatum From Houston Astros Off Waivers

Craig Tatum is headed to the Arizona Diamondbacks, and it looks like their roster moves might be nearing an end. Danny Knobler of CBS Sports has more.

Diamondbacks claim Craig Tatum on waivers from Astros, team announces

— DKnobler (@DKnobler) January 23, 2012

For those who don't know much about Tatum, let's find out about more about him. Tatum had a decent time last season moving around the league, hit .245 (17-for-87) with 3 doubles and 7 RBI in 31 games with the Orioles in 2011. Then he also appeared in 21 games with Triple-A Norfolk; Tatum was claimed by the Astros on October 28, 2011 but didn't do much with Houston before being signed with the D-Backs. His performance is definitely an uptick from his career .223 hitting.

The Diamondbacks now have filled up their 40-man roster. Will there be any other moves?

To discuss Tatum to the Diamondbacks, head to AZ Snake Pit. To talk about Tatum and the Astros, go to The Crawfish Boxes.

ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball Schedule Seems To Have Forgotten The Diamondbacks

Diamondbacks Committed To Winning, Are You?

Joe Saunders To Stay With Arizona Diamondbacks, Re-signs One-Year Deal

The Arizona Diamondbacks re-signed Joe Saunders to a one-year deal to fill out their rotation with a veteran lefty.