Diamondbacks News

Cubs trade Heilman, add 2 years to Grabow's deal
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November 20
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"The Cubs took two key steps in shaping their 2010 bullpen Thursday, even as they continue to work and wait on their bigger offseason tasks of trading Milton Bradley and acquiring another outfielder. After agreeing to a two-year contract extension worth at least $7 million with free-agent lefty reliever John Grabow, the Cubs traded arbitration-eligible right-hander Aaron Heilman to the Arizona Diamondbacks for two prospects. Heilman, who made $1.62million in 2009, was one of 10 Cubs eligible for arbitration this winter and was considered expendable given the team's relative bullpen depth. ''We obviously for years liked Aaron, in his Mets days,'' said general manager Jim Hendry, who acquired ..."
Cubs trade Aaron Heilman for prospects
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November 20
Chicago Tribune
 
"The Cubs traded reliever Aaron Heilman to the Diamondbacks on Thursday for two minor league prospects while closing in on a two-year deal with John Grabow. Heilman, 31, was dealt for left-handed reliever Scott Maine, a sixth-round pick in 2007 out of the University of Miami, and first baseman Ryne White, a St. Rita High School and Purdue product. The Cubs were likely to non-tender Heilman next month, and the Diamondbacks were in need of right-handed relief pitching, making it a good swap for both teams. Maine, 24, was 4-5 with seven saves and a 2.90 earned-run average at Double-A and Triple-A last year, while White, 23, hit .266 with 52 RBIs at Class A Visalia. The Cubs and Grabow are ..."
D-backs acquire Heilman from Cubs
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November 20
MLB.com
 
"Cross one thing off the D-backs' offseason to-do list. Arizona bolstered its bullpen on Thursday, acquiring right-hander Aaron Heilman from the Cubs for a pair of Minor Leaguers. Heilman was 4-4 with a 4.11 ERA and one save in 70 games for the Cubs. The 31-year-old walked 34 and fanned 65 while holding opponents to a .257 average. "He's a pedigree guy," D-backs general manager Josh Byrnes said. "A former first-round pick with a lot of success in the Major Leagues. He's someone we feel will really strengthen our bullpen." With the D-backs, Heilman likely will pitch as a setup man for closer Chad Qualls. "He's pitched in pressurized situations before in terms of his role and the markets ..."
Cubs deal Heilman to Arizona for two prospects
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November 19
Chicago Tribune
 
"The Cubs sent reliever Aaron Heilman to Arizona on Thursday for a pair of minor-league prospects. Heilman didn't figure into the Cubs 2010 plans, and was likely to be non-tendered by the club next month. In return, the Cubs received left-handed reliever Scott Maine, who went 4-5 with seven saves and a 2.90 ERA at Double-A Mobile and Triple-A Reno, and first baseman Ryne White, who hit .266 with six homers and 52 RBI at Class-A Visalia."
Webb throws for first time since surgery
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November 12
MLB.com
 
"For the first time since undergoing right shoulder surgery in August, D-backs ace Brandon Webb threw a baseball on Wednesday. Webb played catch with a football to get loose for about 15 minutes and then spent another 15 minutes throwing a baseball from around 60 feet. "No problems and no pain," Webb told MLB.com. "I was very encouraged." Webb's throwing session came less than a week after the D-backs exercised his $8.5 million contract option for next season. The right-hander, who won the National League Cy Young Award in 2006 and finished second in the balloting in '07 and '08, made just one start last season before suffering from discomfort in his right shoulder. After trying to rehab ..."
New D-Backs ballpark designed with lots of shade
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November 12
Arizona Republic
 
"Fans at the new Diamondbacks spring-training ballpark at the Salt River Reservation will be sun-splashed rather than sun-baked when it opens in 2011. The Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies agreed that shading the grandstand was a key design element for the shared 11,000-seat stadium, Diamondbacks President Derrick Hall said. "Almost the entire ballpark is in shade" by early afternoon, Hall said, adding that 4,000 lawn seats will accommodate those who want more sun. Sunshine is an essential element of the 15-team Cactus League with fans escaping frigid weather in places like Colorado, Chicago and Cleveland for baseball under blue skies. But too much of a good thing often leads sunburned ..."
Free-agent arms a tricky proposition
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November 12
Arizona Republic
 
"If you surveyed 10 baseball executives who were walking the halls of the Hilton O'Hare this week, you would have received 10 different viewpoints of how the market for free-agent starting pitchers will shake out this off-season. Some see a class so weak beyond right-hander John Lackey that they believe only two other pitchers, Randy Wolf and Joel Pineiro, will secure multiyear deals. Others envision a depressed market causing salaries to fall below expectations. Some say the opposite, believing starters will end up getting more than they should because of demand. The course the Diamondbacks chart in finding a dependable starting pitcher likely will be determined by which of those theories ..."
Webb throws for first time since surgery
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November 12
MLB.com
 
"For the first time since undergoing right shoulder surgery in August, D-backs ace Brandon Webb threw a baseball on Wednesday. Webb played catch with a football to get loose for about 15 minutes and then spent another 15 minutes throwing a baseball from around 60 feet. "No problems and no pain," Webb told MLB.com. "I was very encouraged." Webb's throwing session came less than a week after the D-backs exercised his $8.5 million contract option for next season. The right-hander, who won the National League Cy Young Award in 2006 and finished second in the balloting in '07 and '08, made just one start last season before suffering from discomfort in his right shoulder. After trying to rehab ..."
D-Backs GM: Snyder progressing
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November 10
Arizona Republic
 
"In the middle of the afternoon Monday, the Diamondbacks' front-office contingent arrived at the Hilton O'Hare, a decidedly less-posh destination for the general managers' meetings than for last year's proceedings in Dana Point, Calif. But instead of being able to announce a trade with Toronto, Diamondbacks General Manager Josh Byrnes was left discussing catcher Chris Snyder, whose health came into question when the Blue Jays called off a potential deal shortly after performing a physical exam Sunday. Byrnes ultimately echoed comments Snyder made to mlb.com earlier in the day. Snyder has progressed as expected after his Sept. 23 back surgery, Byrnes said, adding that there is nothing else ..."
Lyle Overbay could be headed for desert in swap for a catcher
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November 9
Toronto Star
 
"The Blue Jays may be working on a deal that would send first baseman Lyle Overbay to the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for catcher Chris Snyder. The Arizona Republic reported Saturday such a trade was being discussed. When contacted by the Star, Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos declined comment. Overbay has been the centre of trade speculation for some time and the Jays need a catcher to replace Rod Bajaras, who is a free agent. Among the candidates to take over at first for Toronto would be slugger Adam Lind. Possibly holding up any deal is the health of Snyder, who underwent back surgery in September. The Jays would want him to pass medical and fitness tests. Snyder, 28, lost his starting job ..."
No deal: Toronto calls off Snyder trade
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November 8
Arizona Republic
 
"Concerns about catcher Chris Snyder's surgically repaired back caused the Toronto Blue Jays to nix a trade that would have brought first baseman Lyle Overbay to the Diamondbacks. Not sure if Snyder "failed" the physical exam he was scheduled to undergo today or what the exact terminology is here, but we know that his condition was the reason Toronto called it off. Snyder underwent a microdiscectomy surgery, a procedure that is designed to relieve pressure off a nerve in his back. It's not considered a major surgery, but if you're Toronto GM Alex Anthopoulos you obviously want to be completely sure he's going to be fine, especially since he's owed $11.25 million over the next couple of ..."
Possible D-backs, Jays deal on hold
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November 8
MLB.com
 
"A potential deal between the D-backs and Blue Jays that would have sent Chris Snyder to Toronto and Lyle Overbay to Arizona has been put on hold, a Major League source said Sunday. The two sides had been making progress on the deal as of Saturday before hitting a snag. There has been plenty of speculation that Snyder would be dealt this offseason with the emergence of backup Miguel Montero last season. Snyder, who signed a three-year, $14.25 million extension last winter, was hampered for most of the 2009 season with back problems that eventually required surgery and limited him to just 61 games. He hit .200 with six homers and 22 RBIs. Overbay was initially drafted by the D-backs in the ..."
D-backs, Jays talking possible deal
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November 8
MLB.com
 
"The D-backs and Blue Jays are "making progress" on a deal that would send catcher Chris Snyder to Toronto and first baseman Lyle Overbay to Arizona, according to a Major League source. Snyder, 28, was hampered for most of the 2009 season with back problems that eventually required surgery and limited him to just 61 games. He hit .200 with six homers and 22 RBIs. Overbay was initially drafted by the D-backs in the 18th round of the 1999 First-Year Player Draft and played for the D-backs from 2001-03 before being dealt to the Brewers prior to the '04 season as part of a trade that brought Richie Sexson to Arizona. Last season, the 32-year-old hit .265 with 16 homers and 64 RBIs in 132 games. ..."
D-Backs discussing Snyder-for-Overbay swap
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November 8
Arizona Republic
 
"Miguel Montero's breakout season has made Chris Snyder the Diamondbacks' catcher most likely to be traded this off-season, and Snyder's name popped up this weekend in a rumor that just might have legs. Baseball sources said the Diamondbacks are talking about a trade that would send Chris Snyder to the Toronto Blue Jays for first baseman Lyle Overbay. It is unclear how far the trade talks have progressed, but because Snyder had back surgery in September, the Blue Jays presumably would want him to undergo a thorough examination. Last off-season, it was Montero's name that surfaced in rumors. But when Snyder went down with back problems in midseason, Montero stepped in and never looked back, ..."
D-Backs pick up Webb's option
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November 6
Arizona Republic
 
"The Diamondbacks just sent out a release announcing they have exercised the 2010 option on pitcher Brandon Webb, a decision they had to make by Monday. "Since Brandon has recovered well from his surgery, we have decided to exercise his option," General Manager Josh Byrnes said in a statement. "His accomplishments for our organization have been significant. We look forward to him returning to the mound." Webb will make $8.5 million next season. Webb had shoulder surgery on Aug. 4, a "debridement" procedure that cleaned up his rotator cuff and labrum."
Diamondbacks let Tracy go
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November 5
East Valley Tribune
 
"The Arizona Diamondbacks have declined to exercise the 2010 club option on infielder Chad Tracy. Tracy, 29, hit .237 (61-for-257) with 15 doubles, eight home runs and 39 RBI in 98 games last season. In other moves, the club removed right-handed pitcher Daniel Cabrera, outfielder Trent Oeltjen and outfielder Alex Romero from the roster via outright to Triple-A Reno. Cabrera elected to become a free agent rather than accept the assignment while Romero holds the same rights. Right-handed pitcher Yusmeiro Petit was claimed off waivers by the Seattle Mariners, and left-handed pitcher Doug Slaten was claimed off waivers by the Washington Nationals."
D-Backs decline option on Tracy
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November 5
Arizona Republic
 
"The Diamondbacks announced Thursday that the club declined to exercise the 2010 option on infielder Chad Tracy. Tracy, 29, hit .237 with eight home runs and 39 RBIs in 98 games last season (61 starts). He was on the disabled list with a right oblique strain from May 30-June 30. In other moves, the Diamondbacks outrighted right-hander Daniel Cabrera, outfielder Trent Oeltjen and outfielder Alex Romero to Triple-A Reno. Cabrera elected to become a free agent rather than accepting the assignment while Romero holds the same rights."
Mariners claim pitcher Yusmeiro Petit from Arizona
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November 5
Seattle Times
 
"According to numerous outlets, right-handed pitcher Yusmeiro Petit has been claimed off waivers by the Mariners. Not an earth-shattering move, but just another piece of pitching inventory being stockpiled by Jack Zduriencik. As the Arizona Republic story points out, Petit has allowed 1.96 home runs per nine innings, tied for the worst rate in major league history. Maybe Safeco Field will help with his longball problem. Or not. Lookout Landing and USS Mariner both weighed in on Petit, concluding, essentially, that it was a gamble worth taking, but don't expect too much. Here are his stats, and here he is in action. Here's his yearbook photo. OK, it's not really his yearbook photo. Petit ..."
Chip Hale likely in as New York Mets third base coach after holding same title with Diamondbacks
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October 29
New York Daily News
 
"Chip Hale is expected to be named the Mets' new third base coach after the World Series. Hale, 44, spent the past three seasons in that role with the Diamondbacks after six years in that organization as a minor-league manager. The other finalist had been former Phillies third base coach Steve Smith. While the indications have been that the hiring of a third base coach would round out Jerry Manuel's 2010 staff - with Razor Shines moving from third base to bench coach and Sandy Alomar Jr. going from catching instructor to first base - that may not necessarily be the case."
Webb to stay in desert for 2010
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October 28
SI.com
 (scroll down)
"The Diamondbacks are planning to pick up Brandon Webb's $8.5 million option now that he's turned down their other compromise offers. Arizona was hoping Webb would be willing to share the "risk'' -- to accept a slightly lower guarantee with incentives that could push him past $10 million. But Webb said no to that. The D-Backs also offered to add an option for 2010, but he turned that down, too. So he'll be a D-Back in 2010 but become a free agent after the '10 season."
Byrnes, D-Backs may be close to split
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October 28
Arizona Republic
 
"The "Eric Byrnes Show" already is over, and it seems as though his Diamondbacks run might be done, too. It's amazing how quickly the perception of Eric Byrnes has changed. Not long ago, he was one of the Valley's more-popular sports figures. Now, he's just a whipping boy. What once was appreciation for his hair-on-fire style has become derision for his so-called "false hustle." You wouldn't have known anything had changed Friday night at Scottsdale Stadium. Byrnes stood on the field and delivered a typically impassioned speech on his fallen friend, Pat Tillman, at an Arizona Fall League fundraiser. Later, he signed autographs and posed for pictures in the concourse until every youngster ..."
Parker to have Tommy John surgery
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October 23
Arizona Republic
 
"Just when you thought the Diamondbacks couldn't suffer any more tough losses this year, word came Thursday that top pitching prospect Jarrod Parker will undergo Tommy John surgery on his right elbow next week, likely costing him all of next season. Parker, an undersize right-hander with four above-average pitches, including a fastball that routinely sits in the 95-mph range, had been on the rest-and-rehab trail since feeling tightness in the elbow during a July 30 start for Double-A Mobile. He reported soreness in his elbow about a week ago, after he had begun throwing from about 120 feet, Diamondbacks General Manager Josh Byrnes said. Byrnes said that after conversations with Parker; his ..."
D-Backs core change 'pretty unlikely'
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October 14
Arizona Republic
 
"On the list of things the Diamondbacks believe they were missing this past season - timely hitting and dependable relief pitching being near the top - is something not defined by production or statistics, something buried in the realm of the unquantifiable. Perhaps it shows itself in a clubhouse's mood or a dugout's demeanor. Maybe it's in a pregame work ethic or a club's quiet confidence. Whatever it is, whatever you want to call it - leadership, swagger, the right mix of players - the organization seems in search of it as it looks to improve this off-season. "I think we need a hard-ass veteran in the clubhouse," one Diamondbacks player said. "We didn't have a guy that would sit there and ..."
Melvin joins list of managerial candidates
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October 12
MLB.com
 
"Bob Melvin, the 2007 National League Manager of the Year with the Arizona Diamondbacks, confirmed on Monday he will interview with the Astros this week for their vacant managerial position. Melvin is the latest in growing list of candidates who will be given interviews, including Boston Red Sox first-base coach Tim Bogar, bench coach Brad Mills, former Washington Nationals manager Manny Acta and Astros interim manager Dave Clark. Astros general manager Ed Wade on Monday confirmed Bogar, Mills and Acta would interview later this week, along with Astros Minor League field coordinator Al Pedrique. Clark will be among one of two candidates to interview on Wednesday. "It's obviously a great ..."
Jackson 'pretty much 100 percent'
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October 11
Arizona Republic
 
"Driving back to the Valley this week, Diamondbacks outfielder Conor Jackson summed up what mattered most from his time in instructional league in Tucson. "Dude, I feel great," he said. "Health-wise, I feel great. I felt pretty much 100 percent." It has been awhile since he's been able to say that. Jackson missed all but the first month of the season after contracting valley fever. He tried to make a late-season return to the majors but a rehab assignment stalled in the minor leagues because, he said, he had trouble maintaining his energy level throughout the day. "I could go for 45 minutes to an hour, lifting and hitting, but if I stopped, starting again would be difficult," he said. But ..."
Developer picked to build D-Backs facility
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October 7
East Valley Tribune
 
"The Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community has selected a general contractor to develop and build a multi-purpose spring training facility that will house both the Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies in spring 2011. The community chose Mortenson Construction for the spring training complex, which will be built near Loop 101 and Indian Bend Road. Mortenson Construction also built Glendale's Camelback Ranch facility for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago White Sox."
D-backs dismiss Hale and Bundy
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October 6
MLB.com
 
"The D-backs shook up their coaching staff Monday, dismissing third-base coach Chip Hale and first-base coach Lorenzo Bundy. The team announced that bench coach Kirk Gibson has agreed to a two-year extension and bullpen coach Glenn Sherlock had also been offered an extension. Pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre Jr. and hitting coach Jack Howell, who were under contract, will also return. That some changes were made was expected given that Arizona manager A.J. Hinch had inherited the current staff except for Stottlemyre and Howell, who were both promoted from within the organization when Hinch was hired to take over for Bob Melvin on May 8. "They are changes that I felt and we felt as an ..."
D-Backs to make plenty of changes
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October 6
Arizona Republic
 
"The excuses are built-in for the last-place Diamondbacks, a team that had to endure the majority of this disastrous season without its best pitcher and best hitter from the previous year. But they don't explain everything, such as: The defensive meltdowns that seemed to plague them throughout the season. The sinkhole of production the club received from center field and first base. The team's seemingly innate ability to both score fewer runs and allow more than it should. A day after one of the more-disappointing seasons in franchise history went in the books, General Manager Josh Byrnes and manager A.J. Hinch faced reporters on Monday at Chase Field, saying a return to contention as soon ..."
Cubs lose season finale 5-2 to Arizona Diamondbacks
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October 5
Chicago Tribune
 
"The Tribune Co. era ended as it began Sunday -- with the Cubs falling well short of their goal of ending their title drought. After 28 seasons, five division titles, six postseason appearances and no World Series, the keys will be handed to the Ricketts family in hopes that fresh blood can re-energize a staid franchise. Before the Cubs lost 5-2 to the Diamondbacks on Sunday to finish 7 1/2 games behind the Cardinals in the NL Central with an 83-78 record, general manager Jim Hendry called the season "disappointing, but not disastrous." That's debatable. From Opening Day to Carlos Zambrano's antics to Milton Bradley's suspension to the firing of hitting coach Von Joshua after Sunday's game, ..."
Chicago Cubs beat Arizona Diamondbacks 5-0
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October 4
Chicago Tribune
 
"Randy Wells didn't finish with numbers that will earn him Rookie of the Year honors, but he made enough of an impression with management that he's already penciled in for next year's starting rotation. Wells threw seven shutout innings in Saturday's 5-0 win over Arizona, finishing 12-10 with a 3.05 earned-run average. "For me, I've seen him progress every single outing," catcher Geovany Soto said. "He gets it." Wells finished with the most wins of any Cubs rookie since Kerry Wood had 13 in 1998, while Wells' 104 strikeouts were the most by a Cubs rookie since Mark Prior had 147 in 2002. "I remember the first game he pitched in Milwaukee," manager Lou Piniella said. "We found ourselves a ..."
D-Backs pound Cubs in Chicago
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October 3
Arizona Republic
 
"When Diamondbacks outfielders Eric Byrnes and Chris Young were together in Triple-A Reno earlier this year, both in the midst of forgettable seasons, the topic of their glory days came up more than once. It wasn't so long ago that they were successful major leaguers, playing every day, winning games, having fun. Together in the minors, they reminded each other those days could be possible again. They both played relatively well during their minor league stints, and on Friday afternoon at Wrigley Field, their performances in a 12-3 rout of the Chicago Cubs brought back memories - not just of the playoff series sweep they completed in this ballpark but of their days out of baseball's ..."
One to remember
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October 3
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"The last hours of the 2009 season really are about next season, but the Cubs are having trouble forging the groundwork for optimism. Since officially being eliminated from the playoffs Tuesday, the Cubs have been outscored 24-5 in three official games, not counting their 4-0 deficit to the Pittsburgh Pirates that was erased by rain after four innings Thursday. The 12-3 thumping Friday by the Arizona Diamondbacks was left-hander Tom Gorzelanny's albatross, a sloppy affair not because of intermittent rain but because of the seven runs (six earned) he surrendered in three innings. Gorzelanny remains in consideration for next season's starting rotation, manager Lou Piniella said -- but that ..."
Arizona Diamondbacks blow out Chicago Cubs 12-3
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October 3
Chicago Tribune
 
"At this time just two years ago, the dynasty-looking Cubs were playing the team-of-the-future Diamondbacks in the first round of the National League Division Series. This October finds the also-ran Cubs playing the last-place Diamondbacks in a meaningless series, the future for both very cloudy. Of course, this is not how the Cubs envisioned ending their season, losing four of five games to last-place teams. And it's not exactly how they wanted the battle for fifth starter to go either. On Thursday, Jeff Samardzija allowed three first-inning runs to the Pirates during a rainout. On Friday, Tom Gorzelanny (7-3) allowed three first-inning runs and seven runs in three innings to the ..."
D-Backs just 4 steps away from contention
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October 2
East Valley Tribune
 columnsit Scott Bordow
"Two words to sum up the Diamondbacks' season - and no, it's not "organizational advocacy": Good riddance. This has been a season to forget. Bob Melvin was fired, A.J. Hinch was hired and the Diamondbacks played lousy baseball for both managers. They couldn't hit with runners on base, they couldn't play defense and by September they were irrelevant. If not for Mark Reynolds, Justin Upton and Dan Haren, the Diamondbacks would have been the worst of both worlds: Bad and boring. "Losing sucks," Hinch said. Eloquent? Maybe not. But as eulogies go, it's perfect. Thankfully, the season has nearly ended and Arizona can look forward to 2010. I know what you're thinking: What is there to look ..."
Gesture by Gibson a good sign
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October 2
Arizona Republic
 columnist Dan Bickley
"It has been a long season of baseball. The Diamondbacks have taken the fun out of fundamentals, turning Chase Field into an empty, green cauldron. It finally boiled over Sept. 11. It was the game when one fan lost his marbles, picked a verbal fight with one of the grittier athletes in history and went home with Kirk Gibson's autograph. "He's going to be one heck of a manager," said Diamondbacks fan Larry Goldstein, 46. The unlikely confrontation occurred in the seventh inning, with the Diamondbacks trailing 6-3. Justin Upton reached on an infield single and tried to take second base when the throw got away from the first baseman. Upton was thrown out by the catcher, who was backing up on ..."
GIANTS 4, D'BACKS 1
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October 1
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"To the surprise of many, the 2009 Giants stayed in contention for 158 games, or more accurately 1572/3. They were not eliminated by losing. They defeated Arizona 4-1 Wednesday night as Brad Penny ended a six-start audition with his first complete game since 2005. The wild-card math caught up to the Giants with a Colorado victory that ended during the seventh inning of the game at China Basin. "When we were in spring training, we felt like we were a team that could contend with this pitching staff and the lineup we were throwing out there," manager Bruce Bochy said. "We took it deep into the season. For that, we feel pretty good. It's a little disappointing we didn't take it farther." So ..."
D-Backs lose another one to lefty
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September 30
Arizona Republic
 
"As the Diamondbacks were planning their off-season a year ago this time, they focused on acquiring a left-handed bat to play second base. The thinking was that their lineup would be able to handle left-handed pitching; it was right-handers who concerned them. But for various reasons, the opposite has been true. Their 8-4 loss on Tuesday night to San Francisco's Jonathan Sanchez was their 30th of the season against a left-handed starter, most in the National League. Thankfully for the Diamondbacks, it should be their last; with five games left in the season, they are scheduled to face five right-handers. Sanchez worked 5 2/3 innings, solving the Diamondbacks lineup outside of Miguel ..."
D-Backs prospect slowly recovering
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September 29
Arizona Republic
 
"When Jarrod Parker picked up a baseball to play catch three weeks ago, he was nervous, unsure what to expect. But as he moves further along in his recovery from a mid-summer elbow injury, optimism is easier to come by for the Diamondbacks' top prospect. "I'm pretty happy with where I'm at," Parker said Monday morning, the day's throwing session already behind him. "It makes the stuff go a lot easier when you're a little more positive and taking forward steps." Knocking on the door of the majors with a strong campaign in Double-A Mobile, the 2007 first-round pick felt tightness in his elbow during a start on July 30. It was the strangest thing, he said. Parker, an undersized right-hander ..."
Reliever's 'cookie' gobbled up by Tracy
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September 28
San Diego Union-Tribune
 
"The sample was small, but Arizona manager A.J. Hinch knew he wanted to get another look at the left-handed hitting Chad Tracy matched against Padres right-handed reliever Luke Gregerson. On July 6 at Chase Field, Tracy hit a game-tying, pinch-hit homer off Gregerson. "It was a good matchup that we had kind of circled on the book as something that we wanted," Hinch said of the Gregerson-Tracy pairing."
Tracy comes through for D-Backs
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September 27
Arizona Republic
 
"If that was to be Chad Tracy's last at-bat in a Diamondbacks uniform at Chase Field, the redheaded forgotten one made it one to remember. But it won't be his last at-bat here it turns out. After belting a two-out, pinch-hit grand slam in the seventh inning Saturday night to help beat the San Diego Padres 8-5, Tracy will make a rare start at first base in today's final home game of the year, according to his manager. It's a way for A.J. Hinch to reward Tracy, an impending free agent who isn't likely to have his team option picked up by the Diamondbacks. "I guess it is kind of a surprise, I didn't know that," Tracy said. "I was kind of hoping my last home game here I'd be able to get a ..."
Correia 'brilliant' in first shutout
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September 26
San Diego Union-Tribune
 
"Bud Black didn't hesitate in finding one word to describe Kevin Correia's performance last night. "Brilliant," said the Padres manager. "In this day in age, that's a rare performance." Correia continued his sterling September stretch run with the first complete-game shutout of his career, holding Arizona to six hits and one walk while striking out seven in the Padres' 4-0 victory over the Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Only two Diamondbacks reached second and none advanced farther and Correia never worked with more than one runner on as he assured himself of a winning record for the 2010 season."
D-Backs shut out by Correia, Padres
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September 26
Arizona Republic
 
"Diamondbacks right-hander Max Scherzer always has had a grasp on the big picture. When the team told him two years ago he needed to hone his secondary pitches in the minors in order to succeed in the majors, Scherzer made it a focus, showed improvement. And though he might not like the over-4.00 ERA he will leave behind from his first full major-league season - which, for him, came to an end with a 4-0 loss to Kevin Correia and the San Diego Padres on Friday night - he believes the progress he made in 2009 to be a springboard to the rest of his career. "This whole year, being in the big leagues and facing this league multiple times and having to be able to make adjustments was the biggest ..."
Snyder undergoes back surgery
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September 24
MLB.com
 
"D-backs catcher Chris Snyder underwent successful microdiskectomy surgery on his back Wednesday and is expected to be ready at the start of Spring Training.The surgery, which was performed by Chris Yeung, was done to relieve pressure on the nerve in Snyder's lower back, which has caused him problems for much of the season."Dr. Yeung said that it was the best outcome that we could have possibly hoped for," D-backs manager A.J. Hinch said. "He'll start his rehabilitation soon; he'll do some strengthening exercises."Snyder signed a three-year, $14.25 million contract extension that included a club option for 2012 in December and was expected to be part of the D-backs' future behind the plate."
Sanchez, Uribe lift Giants
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September 24
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"The Giants announced that before Saturday's game against the Cubs they will unveil a plaque on their Walk of Fame to commemorate Jonathan Sanchez's July 10 no-hitter. They should create another plaque to honor him for finishing five innings Wednesday night. Nobody in the usually stout rotation, including Sanchez, could do that in the first five games of a trip that ended with some true 2009 Giants baseball - good pitching and just enough offense to win. In beating the Diamondbacks 5-2, the Giants won the series, clinched a winning season and gained a game in the wild-card race. They and the Braves trail the Rockies by four games with 10 to play. A long shot? Absolutely, but it has been ..."
Qualls ahead of recovery schedule
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September 24
Arizona Republic
 
"When Chad Qualls was told that assistant trainer Dave Edwards was going to pop his dislocated kneecap back into place - right there on the mound - the Diamondbacks closer didn't know what to expect. "I thought he had to do some Mr. Miyagi stuff," Qualls said on Wednesday, recalling the Aug. 30 injury that ended his season. "But he just told me to relax and lay back down and basically all he did was manipulate it a little bit and it slides back into place." Unfortunately for Qualls, the damage already had been done. In trying to avoid a line drive off the bat of Houston's Jason Michaels, Qualls bent the knee awkwardly, causing a slew of damage. Along with the dislocated kneecap, Qualls ..."
Webb eyes free agency if option declined
Comment
September 23
MLB.com
 
"If the D-backs do not intend to pick up his option for next season, right-hander Brandon Webb said he will test the free-agent market.The D-backs hold an $8.5 million option on Webb for next year and will owe him $2 million should they choose not to exercise the option."I have not heard it from the horse's mouth, but there's been a lot of speculation about them coming to me and trying to work out a deal with an option and incentives and stuff like that," Webb said. "And everybody keeps asking me if I'd be interested if they did that, and basically no, I'm not interested in doing that."While saying that his first choice is to remain in Arizona, Webb thinks it would be in his best interests ..."
Cain gets waxed, S.F. takes a tumble
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September 23
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"The mathematics for the Giants are starting to get ugly, just like Matt Cain's numbers in a 10-8 loss to Arizona on Tuesday night that stung as much as the near certainty now that their season will end after Game 162. The Rockies own a five-game lead over San Francisco and Atlanta for the wild card with 11 to play, the Giants' longshot bid being undermined by some horrendous pitching that continued at Chase Field. Cain advanced a sorry trend of Giants starters getting blitzed on this trip when the Diamondbacks knocked him out in the third inning for the shortest start of his career, except for the July 11 game against San Diego in which he was forced out by a line drive to his arm. Eugenio ..."
Webb not interested in incentive-laden deal
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September 23
East Valley Tribune
 
"Brandon Webb has a message for the Arizona Diamondbacks: Either they pick up his $8.5 million option for next season or he'll become a free agent. Webb, who had arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder in August, said Tuesday that he has no interest in signing an incentive-laden deal that would be based on innings, starts or days on the active roster. "I've got to go out and see what's best for me," said Webb, who started on opening day, then was sidelined for the season. "I think I can get (the $8.5 million) anywhere I want." Webb's preference is to remain with the Diamondbacks. But he believes the club should show some faith in him after what he's done for the organization: 56 wins the ..."
Reynolds sets strikeout record in win
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September 23
Arizona Republic
 
"Mark Reynolds surpassed his major-league strikeout record Tuesday night, but at least his date with infamy came in a 10-8 Diamondbacks victory over the San Francisco Giants. Arizona used a six-run third inning to help snap a three-game skid in front of 25,591 at Chase Field, then held on as the Giants rallied for three runs in the ninth but fell short. The Diamondbacks have won just five of their past 18 games and are 25 1/2 games out of first place in the National League West - their largest deficit since the 111-loss season of 2004. As for Reynolds, he eclipsed the strikeout record he established last year by fanning in the fourth inning against reliever Madison Bumgarner. Reynolds ..."