The Major League Baseball offseason is starting to heat up and the Arizona Diamondbacks appear to be a team that is ready to make moves, as they pulled off a three team deal this week and heading into the winter meetings they could be targeting a number of players, including names like Homer Bailey, David Price, Jeff Samardzija and Mark Trumbo.
The Diamondbacks have been linked to Samardzija all offseason and the Chicago Cubs are looking at whether to trade him or sign him long term, as he is coming off a season where he threw for a career high amount of innings. Samardzija is a good young pitcher, but if he is not part of the future for the Cubs, he likely will be dealt. Trumbo is interesting because the D-backs could use a player like him, but the Angels have said they aren't looking to deal him despite his name coming up in numerous reports and the same goes for the Reds and Homer Bailey.
David Price is the biggest trade name on the market and he will remain there until the Rays decide to move him. Price was one of the best pitchers down the stretch last season for Tampa Bay and he is a former Cy Young winner and that means the Rays will be looking for a nice package for him and since he is better than James Shields, the team likely will be asking for more than just Wil Myers, which was a big snag from the Royals. Price is under team control for two more years before free agency and he will be getting a bump in salary and Price now looks like a major target for the Diamondbacks and other teams, as Yahoo Sports is reporting that the winters meetings could see the Seattle Mariners, Texas Rangers, Angels, Pirates and Blue Jays all make moves for Price.
According to ESPN.com, the Diamondbacks are positioning themselves as big players this offseason, as the team feels that it is on the cusp of doing something special and with a player like Paul Goldschmidt to build around, they could put together a nice core. The team has pieces to move and they can afford to give up some young talent for someone like Price or Samardzija and with a rotation that already includes Patrick Corbin, Wade Miley, Brandon McCarthy and Trevor Cahill, they could be set for next season.
Those two stars and Bailey would be solid additions for the rotation and Trumbo could be a nice player to pencil into the lineup as well. The team finished at .500 last season after getting close to the playoff race and in 2014 they could be major players if they pull off a deal.