Diamondbacks: Evaluating The Tony La Russa Era

Jun 15, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Bronson Arroyo throws to first base against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the fifth inning during the game at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

Bronson Arroyo & Touki Toussaint Traded to Atlanta Braves for Phillip Gosselin

Bronson Arroyo will be the first to tell you that he’s disappointed in himself that he wasn’t able to give the Diamondbacks more than he did. Before coming to the desert, Arroyo had never had a DL stint. But after 14 starts in 2014, he experienced the nightmare of every single MLB pitcher: Tommy John Surgery. Can’t blame the guy, that’s just simple bad luck.

Still the Diamondbacks were paying him millions of dollars while he recovered. Even though he was slated to join the snaked before the end of the season, the front office has been in a ‘lets free up all the salary space we can’ mood so they decided to ship him off to Atlanta.

Sadly, that meant packaging one of your youngest and brightest pitching prospects: Toukie Toussaint. Just last year, he was a first-round draft pick and was lighting it up in Single-A with a 3.69 ERA in seven starts. This trade is hard to stomach. Freaking salary-dump deals will get you every time.

Gosselin is currently on the DL to a fractured left thumb and could possibly rejoin the Diamondbacks after the All-Star break. With the infield already solidified, Gosselin will come in off the bench and serve a utility role.