The re-signing of first baseman/pinch hitter/clubhouse glue Tony Clark leaves the Diamondbacks with one more order of business in the month before pitchers and catchers report to spring training: fleshing out the pitching staff.
The D-backs are looking for a starter to replace Randy Johnson, who signed with San Francisco the day after Christmas, and may be in the market for another bullpen arm following the departure of free agents Brandon Lyon and Juan Cruz. However, neither of the relievers has signed yet, and Lyon has said he would welcome a return to the D-Backs, even as a setup man. Veteran free agent starters Carl Pavano (Cleveland) and John Smoltz (Boston) are off the market, although each likely was out of the Arizona's price range to begin with, in part because of the D-backs' policy not to include incentive clauses in new contracts, something that an injured pitcher almost certainly would seek.
"We are still pursuing a variety of options in the marketplace," general manager Josh Byrnes said in an online chat on the team's Web site. "Hopefully, there will be good values either in trade or free agency. We have considered a few starting pitchers, but we will not necessarily acquire one."
Yusmeiro Petit is tentatively listed as the fifth starter, and he had some success as a spot starter in 2008, but the D-backs also are keeping the eye on the free agent market to add to a rotation that is fronted by Brandon Webb and Dan Haren and also includes Doug Davis and Max Scherzer.
