Diamondbacks: Evaluating The Tony La Russa Era

Sep 26, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Miguel Montero (26) singles against the St. Louis Cardinals in the first inning at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports

C MIGUEL MONTERO TRADED TO CHICAGO CUBS FOR ZACH GODLEY & JEFFERSON MEJIA

This is the only trade where the Diamondbacks straight lost. Here’s the reasoning. 

Where has been the one weak spot in the Diamondbacks defense/offense? Obviously the answer lies at the catcher position. They were counting on former ASU standout (fork ’em Devils) Tuffy Gosewisch to fill the starting role and do it for cheap. Things were working out okay in that department. Tuffy was an immense upgrade defensively but was a fluke at the plate and seemed to only be able to hit singles and not very often at that. Then they lost Tuffy for the year after he tore his ACL…..and their plan backfired.

Miguel Montero has gone on to have a solid year for the Cubs.

.245 AVG, 10 HR, 28 RBI, .352 OBP, and .774 OPS

These aren’t blow-you-away numbers. But in comparison the Diamondbacks combination of Jordan Pacheco, Tuffy Gosewisch, Jerrad Saltalamachia, and Wellington Castillo at catcher have combined to hit .228 with 8 HR and 37 RBI. Tuffy’s injury also lost them the defensive upgrade they had gained over Montero.

Basically the team has resorted to Montero-like catchers in Salty and Castillo to fill the void Montero and Tuffy have left. Neither are talented defensively but both can mash and drive in runs.

Yes, Montero’s salary was due to bump up to $12 million but that is a sacrifice that the Diamondbacks should have been willing to make for a offensively minded catcher. Consistent catchers like Montero are hard to find and the team is finding that out right now. The Diamondbacks already have the second best offense in the National League. Think of how much more deadly that offense would be with Montero in that lineup.

There is one thing that could possibly change this deal, but we’ll get to that later.