Editorials

NL West Round-Up: Padres Trade An Infielder, DBacks Need Pitching

Logan Forsythe The 2014 season is rapidly approaching as players prepare for Spring Training in February. Teams in the National League West have had a full off-season and are ready to return for a chance at a division title.

Let’s take a look at the moves and rumors around the league this week:

Arizona Diamondbacks

This past week for the Diamondbacks was more about what they didn’t get, rather than what they did get. The team lost out on two potential starting pitchers in Mashahiro Tanaka and Matt Garza. Tanaka signed with the New York Yankees and Garza went to the Milwaukee Brewers. With some needed help in their rotation, the free agent pool is dwindling and the Diamondbacks will have to make a move quickly before it completely goes away.

On the minor league side of things, the team agreed to a deal with first baseman/outfielder Shelley Duncan. The 34-year-old is an Arizona native and is the son of Dave Duncan, the team’s new special assistant to the general manager. Duncan played 20 games for the Tampa Bay Rays last season and hit .182 with a couple of home runs. He’ll be a longshot to make the major league team.

Colorado Rockies

Things were very quiet in Colorado, as the team didn’t make any significant moves this week. The Rockies are heading into 2014 looking to reach the postseason for the first time since 2009. They’ve added a few key pieces this winter that could help them challenge the Los Angeles Dodgers at the top of the division.

San Diego Padres

A Padres infielder was traded this week but it wasn’t the one that everyone was expecting before the off-season began. Chase Headley will remain with the team, but a deal was made that sent infielder Logan Forsythe, pitcher Brad Boxberger and three minor leaguers to the Rays in exchange for pitchers Alex Torres and Jesse Hahn. Forsythe is a versatile infielder that can play four positions and is exactly what the Rays value as a team.

Besides the trade, the Padres stood pat this week and will likely be heading into the spring with the players they currently have.

San Francisco Giants

The Giants and infielder Joaquin Arias agreed to a two-year deal worth $2.6 million to avoid arbitration. Arias can play multiple positions in the infield and gives manager Bruce Bochy utility player off the bench. He hit .271 last season for the Giants.

No other moves were made by the Giants and they haven’t been rumored to be making any more moves the rest of the off-season.

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Vincent Samperio

Vince is currently the Associate Editor and Social Media Manager for Dodgers Nation. Hailing from San Pedro, CA and a student at Cal State Long Beach, Vince has previously written for the Daily 49er and LASF Magazine.

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