– Last Updated on November 21, 2022 4:47 pm
Diamondbacks 2017 Season Preview
Ready to check out our 2017 Arizona Diamondbacks predictions? The Diamondbacks were a nice sleeper pick to make the playoffs in 2016 signing Zack Greinke and trading for Shelby Miller. However the team dealt with major injuries and poor play from its key contributors, and that resulted in a 69-93 season.
MLB Diamondbacks Predictions & Handicapping Insight
The poor year resulted in the GM and Manager both getting the ax, and Tony La Russa losing most of his say in baseball moves as a front office executive.
Bringing in Mike Hazen as GM (formerly of the Boston Red Sox), brings a more analytical approach to the team, so moves will be made with more data applied before pulling the trigger.
2017 MLB Team Previews – Arizona Diamondbacks
- National League West -Off
- National League +Off
- World Series +Off
Key Additions:
- Jeff Mathis
- Fernando Rooney
- Taijuan Walker
Arizona didn’t make many moves in the free agent market, simply signing veterans to be stop gaps until prospects are ready at their respective positions.
Jeff Mathis is a veteran catcher who can fill in when giving your starting catcher rest for a few games, but don’t expect him to be a game changer for the franchise.
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His .236 average in 41 games last year with the Marlins wasn’t good, but in a pinch he can be counted on to make a veteran play.
Signing 40 year old Fernando Rooney was a little shocking to me, but he did pick up 25 saves last year. A nice addition to the bullpen, look for Rooney to to be a major contributor to the ballclub.
Key Losses:
- C Wellington Castillo
Losing Castillo hurts since he was one of the Diamondbacks key RBI producers, but the team will be happy to save the $13 million he got from the Cardinals.
Diamondbacks Predictions: Projected Lineup:
- SS Ketel Marte
- CF A.J. Pollack
- 1B Paul Goldschmidt
- RF David Peralta
- 3B Jake Lamb
- LF Brandon Drury
- C Chris Iannetta
- 2B Chris Owings
Ketel Marte and A.J. Pollack provide a good 1-2 punch at the top of the order. The timetable for Pollack’s return is still up in the air, but when healthy he is one of the better centerfielders in the National League.
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Paul Goldschmidt continues to be one of the more underrated players in the major league, and he should continue his strong play in 2017.
Last year he hit .297 with 24 home runs and nearly 100 RBI’s. A 30 homerun season shouldn’t be out of the question for Goldschmidt.
Jake Lamb was major power hitter for Arizona in 2016, whopping 29 homeruns and 91 RBI’s. Lamb should improve on those numbers in 2017, as he is just entering his prime and should get to the 35 homerun mark this year.
Chris Owings is a talented young second basemen, and he hit .277 last season.
A .290 average could be in store for him this year at the bottom of the lineup, and that will certainly help the top of the order.
Diamondbacks Predictions: Projected Rotation:
- RH Zack Greinke
- RH Taijuan Walker
- LH Robbie Ray
- RH Shelby Miller
- LH Patrick Corbin
Even though he had a rough first season in Arizona, Zack Greinke is still the ace of this rotation. With the improvements in the lineup and A.J. Pollack returning, he should be able to get to 17 or 18 wins this year.
Taijuan Walker has pitched just .500 ball the last two seasons (19-19), with an ERA over 4 for the Mariners. Inconsistency has plagued him in his career, and he shouldn’t be looked on to get 15-16 wins as the #2 starter.
Shelby Miller was acquired in a trade last season and basically stunk up the joint in an Arizona uniform.
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He went 3-12 and had an ERA of 6.15. Putting him at the end of the rotation could mean good things for Arizona, who will be hoping for a much improved Miller in 2017.
Diamondbacks Predictions: Projected Closer:
- RH Fernando Rooney
Rooney is 40 years old, but it shows the talent he has left in the tank that he is the main guy looked at to close out games.
2017 Arizona Diamondbacks Prediction:
I see the Diamondbacks improving this year, and should hover around .500 for most of the season. Pollack will bring back a potent bat to a lineup 5th in the National League in runs scored in 2016, and the pitching staff should play better as well.
What do you think of our 2017 Arizona Diamondbacks predictions? Comments are welcome below.
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