The Diamondbacks will continue building around their top starting pitching and a young nucleus of position players. Most of their key players are either under contract or under control, so there has not been much major offseason movement.
ARRIVALS: C James Skelton (Rule 5 selection from Tigers), 2B Felipe Lopez (free agent from Cardinals), LHP Scott Schoeneweis (trade with Mets), RHP Jon Garland (free agent from Angels). DEPARTURES: LHP Randy Johnson (free agent, signed with Giants), 2B/SS David Eckstein (free agent, signed with Padres), RHP Brandon Lyon (free agent, signed with Tigers).
FREE AGENTS: 1B/OF Adam Dunn, RHP Juan Cruz, 2B Orlando Hudson.
The D-backs did not offer arbitration to Dunn or LHP Randy Johnson, both Type A free agents, fearing if either or accepted it would blow their 2009 budget, which stands at about $70-72 million. Johnson then signed with San Francisco. They offered arbitration to Hudson (Type A) and Cruz (Type A).
ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE: OF/1B Conor Jackson.
If the D-backs follow their usual path, they will stop short of an arbitration hearing.
MEDICAL WATCH:
OF Eric Byrnes (torn right hamstring) was working out at Chase Field in December after being cleared to run. He opted against surgery to repair a small tear and expects to be full strength by spring training.
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