Diamondbacks: Evaluating The Tony La Russa Era

Jul 22, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Martin Prado against the Detroit Tigers at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

3B MARTIN PRADO SENT TO NEW YORK YANKEES FOR PETER O’BRIEN AND PTBN LATER

Right now, this is looking like one of the Diamondbacks best moves. Martin Prado was the key piece in the Justin Upton deal a couple years back. His job was to simply come in and do no more than play third base just like he had with the Atlanta Braves. Prado came in a brought leadership and an intense work ethic to the team, but that was about it. Through his tenure with the Diamondbacks he underimpressed hitting .279 with 19 HR and 124 RBI.

In return catching prospect Peter O’Brien came to the Diamondbacks farm system and raked. Through 74 games, he’s hit .281 with 15 HR and 60 RBI. The only snag in the system….he doesn’t want to catch anymore. The hope was for O’Brien to replace the departed Miguel Montero (we’ll get to that deal later) but one day, O’Brien walked into his coaches office and made it clear he wants to focus on hitting.

O’Brien is looking like a major piece of the Diamondbacks future and we could definitely see him in September. To be fair though he has significantly struggled as of late and hies power and batting average have dropped significantly(from .341 to .283). Now with Prado, Parra and McCarthy gone, La Russa, Hall and Kendrick would rest and do some more evaluating which ultimately led to….