The Arizona Diamondbacks needed to be active this offseason after an MLB-worst 64-98 record in 2014. There have been several additions to the pitching staff worth noting—Jeremy Hellickson, Rubby De La Rosa and Allen Webster, to name a few.
The top offensive acquisition was Cuban slugger Yasmany Tomas.
The D-Backs and general manager Dave Stewart's offseason moves will be judged on whether the young pitchers can stay healthy and if Tomas can live up to the hype.
Here are the predictions for how each offseason acquisition's career will play out in Arizona.
Allen Webster
Acquired from the Red Sox in exchange for Wade Miley, Webster provides the D-Backs with a hard-throwing right-hander with not too much mileage.
The 24-year-old spent two seasons in Boston, going 6-5 despite an awful 6.25 ERA in 18 starts. Even more concerning was his 46 walks in 89.1 innings pitched.
Still, GM Stewart has faith in this new acquisition. According to AZCentral.com, Stewart lists Webster as the fifth starter in his current rotation.
He cited the need for "power arms" like former Arizona greats Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling as the reason behind the Miley trade that brought Webster to the desert. Webster's fastball ranges from 92-96 mph.
Once ranked No. 46 on MLB.com's 2013 Top Prospects list, Webster may be just what the D-Backs need to bolster the starting rotation for the foreseeable future. Stewart's comments point toward Webster seeing action early, which should help him mature and fix the control problems that harmed him.
He is scheduled to be a free agent in 2020.
Career Prediction
Webster begins his D-Backs career as a starter, eventually moving to the bullpen once Patrick Corbin returns from injury. He figures out his control problems after a move to the bullpen and becomes a solid seventh-inning reliever with the potential for a spot start on occasion.
Rubby De La Rosa
The other piece to the Miley deal happens to be another young flamethrower. The 25-year-old from the Dominican Republic sports a fastball ranging from 95-100 mph.
In four seasons with the Dodgers and Red Sox, De La Rosa went 8-15 with a 4.34 ERA. His strikeout-to-walk ratio is better than Webster's at 2.11.
As another heralded MLB prospect, De La Rosa's ceiling is extremely high. He also has Stewart's confidence, listed as his No. 2 starter on the depth chart.
Because he has more starts under his belt than Webster, De La Rosa should be able to make an immediate impact in the rotation while Corbin and Daniel Hudson recover from elbow surgeries.
He is scheduled to become a free agent in 2018.
Career Prediction
De La Rosa begins 2015 as the No. 2 starter and has an up-and-down season. At times, he shows potential to dominate hitters, but he sometimes becomes wild and struggles to go deep into games.
Within a few seasons, De La Rosa will leave the rotation to become the D-Backs closer, where he can consistently unleash his 100 mph fastball.
Jeremy Hellickson
Acquired from the Rays for two prospects, Hellickson will be an unquestioned member of the D-Backs rotation beginning in 2015.
Hellickson went 40-36 with a 3.78 ERA in five seasons with the Rays.
He is not a power pitcher like Webster or De La Rosa. However, Hellickson has shown the ability to be a consistently solid starter in MLB. In his first three seasons in Tampa Bay, Hellickson won 27 games and held a respectable 3.06 ERA. He won the AL Rookie of the Year in 2011.
An elbow injury caused him to miss time and could have contributed to his struggles the past two seasons. Yet, he should be fully healthy entering his tenure with the D-Backs. A change of scenery may be all Hellickson needs to regain his 2011 form.
He officially signed a one-year deal on Friday to avoid arbitration.
Career Prediction
Hellickson shows why he was an offseason bargain and leads the team in wins in 2015. He stays in Arizona for several years to come and serves as the D-Backs' No. 3 starter behind Corbin and Josh Collmenter—making Rays fans regret trading him.
Yasmany Tomas
The signing of the Cuban outfielder was certainly the highlight of the Arizona offseason. But there is a lot of hype involved, especially with the six-year, $68.5 million deal Tomas signed.
Last season, Mark Trumbo was supposed to be a complement to Paul Goldschmidt—but that wasn't the case. Trumbo only played 88 games due to injury, hitting only 14 home runs in the hitter-friendly Chase Field.
Now Tomas will be the focus in the batting order. Anything less than 30 home runs will likely disappoint D-Backs fans.
Goldschmidt is set to return from a fractured hand, while Trumbo enters the season healthy. That leaves opposing pitchers to face Goldschmidt, Trumbo and Tomas consecutively (and not necessarily in that order).
Opposing pitchers will not be able to pitch around all three of these hitters. Even if Tomas follows Goldschmidt and Trumbo in the order, he should see plenty of RBI opportunities.
Expect Tomas to provide much-needed power to a D-Backs team that finished 25th in MLB in home runs last season.
Career Prediction
Tomas makes an early impact similar to what Jose Abreu did in Chicago last season. His power and presence in the lineup will also help Goldschmidt and Trumbo put up 30-plus home runs for several years.
Although he may never overtake Goldschmidt as the face of the franchise, Tomas will break Luis Gonzalez's record for all-time home runs (224) if Goldschmidt fails to do so.
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