Diamondbacks: Evaluating The Tony La Russa Era

Jul 21, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks shortstop Didi Gregorius against the Detroit Tigers at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

SS DIDI GREGORIOUS SHPED TO NYY FOR LHP ROBBIE RAY AND DOMINGO LEYBA

Didi came to the desert in the three-team deal and he left in a three-team deal. Shortly after the first deal, Kevin Towers said that he thought Didi reminded him of a young Derek Jeter. Well, in the second deal the New York Yankees must have thought the same thing because he was their choice to replace the retired Derek Jeter. 

This deal has led to all sorts of good things for the Diamondbacks. Didi has had a mediocre year:

.240 AVG, 4 HR, 17 RBI, 3 SB, .290 OBP

Here’s the kicker. The Diamondback’s Nick Ahmed (part of the Justin Upton deal) won the starting shortstop job out of spring training and has gone on to have a strikingly similar year.

.237 AVG, 6 HR, 20 RBI, 4 SB, .304 OBP

Except since a cruddy first month where he hit .140 he’s been on fire and raise that batting average nearly a whole 100 points. Recently he’s also been showing signs of rare power and of course been giving them a gold glove decent at shortstop.

But what makes this trade a win for the Diamondbacks is Robbie Ray. They were able to land a flame-thrower lefty that they had been lacking. Ray started the year with Triple-A Reno, but due to injury to Archie Bradley has been inserted into the starting rotation. He hopped in running, starting 7 games with a 2.54 ERA, 34 K’s, and a killer 1.09 WHIP. Ray has given them 4 (nearly 5) quality starts and strangely enough helped lead this struggling rotation as they have somewhat stabilized after a rough beginning to the season.

Trade number two is looking like a win for the Diamondbacks. What’s next?