On Saturday, the Diamondbacks acquired shortstop Jean Segura and reliever Tyler Wagner from the Brewers in exchange for starting pitcher Chase Anderson, second baseman Aaron Hill, and prospect Isan Diaz. The deal brings a notable player to the Diamondbacks’ lineup while also creating something of a logjam at his position.
Here’s a look at what Arizona GM Dave Stewart has said about the deal and what could come next for the D’Backs:
- Diamondbacks GM Dave Stewart did not dispute the idea that the D’Backs could parlay their infield depth into a trade to bolster another area, as Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic writes. Stewart also indicated that another GM has already approached him about that idea. “It does give us flexibility and also the dollars saved give us some flexibility as well,” Stewart said. “You guys know we’ve been looking at middle relievers. We’ve been looking at closers. We’ve been looking in those areas to try to get better. If there is a deal out there to be made we have to look at it.”
- Stewart added that dealing Hill also saves the club some money if they want to take another look at the free agent market. Hill, the veteran of the trade, has declined steadily since a peak season in 2012. Injuries and playing time battles held him to 353 plate appearances last season and he hit just .230/.295/.345. Entering his age 34 season, he’s owed $12MM in the final year of his contract.
- Prospect Isan Diaz was “one of the first names” mentioned by the Brewers in trade talks, Stewart said (Twitter link via Jack Magruder of FOX Sports). Baseball America rated Diaz the ninth best prospect in the Arizona system. Diaz, 20 in May, is coming off a strong season in rookie ball in which he was dubbed the MVP of the Pioneer League.
- While giving proper respect to Nick Ahmed, Stewart told MLB Network Radio (on Twitter) that Segura is going to get most of his reps at shortstop rather than second base.
- Also in his chat with MLB Network Radio, Stewart confessed that the D’Backs took payroll into consideration by acquiring Segura instead of a free agent like Howie Kendrick. “We are not, right now, as financially solid as we’d like to be,” Stewart said (audio link). “But the addition of [Zack] Greinke took some dollars out of our pocket. We were considering our compensation pick and we also lost our first round pick and I think, as a group, we weren’t willing to give up the comp pick.”
Segura has 0.6 WAR over the last 2 seasons.
Ahmed put up 2.5 WAR last year.
but… they’re going to bench Ahmed for Segura. Sounds like Dave Stewart.
Even if Segura comes off the bench as a pinch runner, he’s an upgrade over Hill
This is incorrect, Segura’s posted a .289 and .281OBP the last two seasons while being slightly below average defensively and having no power.
Meanwhile Hill posted .287 and .295OBP the last two seasons while actually hitting a few dingers.
You’re losing Ahmed’s defensive prowess by basically replacing him at SS with a guy with a worse hitter than Hill and isn’t as good defensively. No defending this logic. If Segura was going to play 2B this might be acceptable but he isn’t,
Hill has been steadily declining every season. Using stats from “the last two years” is not a good way to predict how he will do this year.
I’d take Segura over Hill next season any day. He’s younger and has upside…. if anything he’ll bring some speed and depth to the infield.
Ahmed will likely get the lion-share of time at SS but Segura will likely spell him and get to split time with Owings at second (if they hang on to him)
The most important part of the deal however, is that they shed 6.5 million.
Still have Owings, Drury and Gosselin along with Ahmed and Segura… it’s a deep IF and I doubt they are done trading.
This deal is pretty much the Brewers saying we will pay you 6.5 million dollars for Diaz
Lol “using the last two years to predict the future” so I’ll use no data and go off personal biases? I should have stopped reading there.
In the article above it’s quoted “Stewart told MLB Network Radio (on Twitter) that Segura is going to get most of his reps at shortstop rather than second base.”
^This means that Segura will be the everyday shortstop and not what you wrote because I doubt you even read the article. Segura isn’t good, he’s not a major force at the plate and he’s actually making the team worse by playing SS over Ahmed who’s a defensive wizard.
Yeah but WAR is a very subjective statistic to rate a players value. You cant tell me Kiermaier was near a 7.5 WAR and jose Iglesias barely a 2 WAR with their combined stats. I just dont buy into the whole WAR thing.
You don’t watch them play everyday, therefor why are you giving your opinion on something which is clear that Kevin Kiermaier might be the greatest CF since Andruw Jones?
The WAR thing is accepted as a good indicator of talent and is better than using old methods of evaluating talent like batting average or fielding percentage.
ah the WAR stat lol
does that mean Ahmed is a better player, or that the Dbacks have less depth compared to the Brewers?
Id like to see Segura’s numbers having Owings be the ‘Replacement’ in WAR.
Well, clearly Anderson was not in AZ’s long term plans. He was just blocking prospects at this point. Is Wagner out of options?
Pirates could use a 2B. Perhaps something worked around Melancon
Why would Pittsburgh do that? Melancon is really good. Far more valuable than any 2B on the D-Backs.
I don’t see that happening. Who would DBacks trade for Melancon?
Chris Owings is a solid 2B/SS. Plays good defense, slumped offensively last year but he can steal bases and has potential to bring that average up. .260/5HR/50RBI/25-30SB type of production potential.
just like segura
Josh Harrison is going to be Pittsburgh’s second baseman.
That just opens up a hoke at 3rd then.
Jung Ho Kang is their third baseman. Word is if he’s not ready by opening day he’ll return at some point in April.
Your also gambling that Kang will play like he did last season.
I think the Pirates would happily gamble on that before they’d consider trading Melancon to the dbacks for one of their extra middle infielders.
Segura to Angels makes sense?
Segura to Angels to play second??
More proof that in today’s game, Ozzie Smith would not make a roster and I he did, he would only be coming off the bench.
I don’t know, today’s Ozzie Smith, Andrelton Simmons came back with a heavy haul in a trade and is still gonna have a great career. Same career average for hitting and most stats are comparable.
Seriously… Just have a little patience there is a master plan. Keep the faith, you watch this was just part of the puzzle to give them some wiggle room for a legit closer!
D Backs are back