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Montero trade could be on deck for busy D-backs Club finalizes Tomas signing on Day 1 of Winter Meetings in San Diego By Steve Gilbert / MLB.com http://m.dbacks.mlb.com/news/article/103577034/diamondbacks-in-talks-with-cubs-about-miguel-montero-trade D-backs in talks with Cubs about Montero Arizona reportedly to receive pitching prospects By Steve Gilbert / MLB.com http://m.dbacks.mlb.com/news/article/103560696/d-backs-in-talks-with-cubs-about-miguel-montero Hale likes depth of outfield heading into first season New manager talks about roster at Winter Meetings By Steve Gilbert / MLB.com http://m.dbacks.mlb.com/news/article/103564132/hale-likes-d-backs-outfield-depth-heading-into-first-season La Russa headed back to Little League for auction D-backs participate in league-wide initiative for LUNGevity By Steve Gilbert / MLB.com http://m.dbacks.mlb.com/news/article/103562570/d-backs-tony-la-russa-headed-back-to-little-league-for-auction La Russa: Ownership did not stop Montero deal By Steve Gilbert / MLB.com http://m.dbacks.mlb.com/news/article/103544608/tony-la-russa-miguel-montero-deal-not-thwarted-by-d-backs-ownership La Russa: Kendrick did not block Montero trade to Dodgers By Nick Piecoro / The Arizona Republic http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/mlb/diamondbacks/2014/12/09/arizona-diamondbacks-ken-kendrick-did-not-block-miguel-montero-to-dodgers/20143595/ Sources: Diamondbacks close to Miguel Montero trade with Cubs By Nick Piecoro / The Arizona Republic http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/mlb/diamondbacks/2014/12/09/diamondbacks-miguel-montero-trade-chicago-cubs/20126313/ Miguel Montero, Mark Trumbo rumors swirl at winter meetings By Nick Piecoro / The Arizona Republic http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/mlb/diamondbacks/2014/12/08/miguel-montero-mark-trumbo-diamondbacks-winter-meetings/20125339/ Final 2 rotation spots up in air for Diamondbacks

By Zach Buchanan / The Arizona Republic http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/mlb/diamondbacks/2014/12/08/final-rotation-spots-arizona-diamondbacks/20122281/ Diamondbacks make Yasmany Tomas signing official By Zach Buchanan / The Arizona Republic http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/mlb/diamondbacks/2014/12/08/arizona-dimaondbacks-yasmany-tomas-signed-deal/20112575/ New Diamondbacks scouting director hopes to match Royals success By Nick Piecoro / The Arizona Republic http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/mlb/diamondbacks/2014/12/08/arizona-diamondbacks-scouting-director-deric-ladnier-match-royals-success/20106083/ D-backs finalize $68.5M deal with Tomas, eye other moves By Jack Magruder / FOX Sports Arizona http://www.foxsports.com/arizona/story/diamondbacks-finalize-68-5m-deal-with-tomas-120814 D-backs host 17th annual Winter Classic By FOX Sports Arizona http://www.foxsports.com/arizona/video/d-backs-host-17th-annual-winter-classic-120814 Report: Diamondbacks still in talks to move catcher Miguel Montero By ArizonaSports.com http://arizonasports.com/42/1789704/Report-Diamondbacks-still-in-talks-to-move-catcher-Miguel-Montero Arizona Diamondbacks officially sign Cuban star Yasmany Tomas By ArizonaSports.com http://arizonasports.com/42/1789652/Arizona-Diamondbacks-officially-sign-Cuban-star-Yasmany-Tomas Diamondbacks sign Tomas, projected as third baseman By Mark Brown / Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/article/diamondbacks-sign-tomas-projected-as-third-baseman From the Winter Meetings-Montero moving? By Brad Cesmat / Sports360AZ.com http://www.sports360az.com/2014/12/winter-meetings-montero-moving/ D-Backs Officially Ink Cuban Slugger By Jared Cohen / Sports360AZ.com http://www.sports360az.com/2014/12/d-backs-official-ink-cuban-slugger/

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Diamondbacks finalize $68.5M deal with Tomas By Mark McClune / KPHO - CBS 5 http://www.kpho.com/story/27580203/diamondbacks-finalize-685m-deal-with-tomas Arizona Diamondbacks finalize $68.5M deal with Yasmany Tomas By Associated Press http://www.abc15.com/sports/sports-blogs-local/arizona-diamondbacks-finalize-685m-deal-with-yasmany-tomas

Tomas, D-backs finalize 6-year contract Cuban outfielder can opt out of $68.5M deal after four years, will have chance to play third By Jesse Sanchez / MLB.com http://m.dbacks.mlb.com/news/article/102525700/cuban-yasmany-tomas-d-backs-finalize-6-year-contract Tomas' talent potential rings true for D-backs La Russa says Cuban slugger brings 'special thump' but could need time in Minors By Phil Rogers / MLB.com http://m.dbacks.mlb.com/news/article/103547180/phil-rogers-yasmany-tomas-talent-rings-true-for-diamondbacks Source: Cubs close to Montero trade By Jerry Crasnick / ESPN.com http://espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/story/_/id/12004747/chicago-cubs-close-deal-catcher-miguel-montero Cubs grab pitching, might add catching in form of D-backs' Montero By Jesse Rogers / ESPNChicago.com http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/28230/cubs-grab-pitching-might-add-catching-in-form-of-d-backs-montero?ex_cid=espnapi_public Andrew Friedman said he'd deal inside the NL West By Mark Saxon / ESPNLosAngeles.com http://espn.go.com/blog/los-angeles/dodger-report/post/_/id/12972/andrew-friedman-said-hed-deal-inside-the-nl-west?ex_cid=espnapi_public Chip Hale Looking Forward To Competing By ESPN.com http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=12001807&ex_cid=espnapi_public Diamondbacks Looking To Build Pitching By ESPN.com http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=12001767&ex_cid=espnapi_public Roundup: Kendrick Nixes Montero-Ethier Deal; Tomas to Try Third Base; Gregorius Trade Reaction By Ryan P. Morrison / ESPN.com - Inside the 'Zona http://insidethezona.com/2014/12/roundup-kendrick-nixes-miguel-montero-andre-ethier-deal/

Cubs “on the verge of acquiring” Diamondbacks catcher Miguel Montero By Aaron Gleeman / NBCSports.com http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/12/09/cubs-on-the-verge-of-acquiring-diamondbacks-catcher-miguel-montero/related/ Tony La Russa denies Diamondbacks ownership blocked Miguel Montero-for-Andre Ethier By Drew Silva / NBCSports.com http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/12/08/tony-la-russa-denies-diamondbacks-ownership-blocked-miguel-montero-for-andre-ethier/ Mark Trumbo “definitely in play” for a trade By Drew Silva / NBCSports.com http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/12/08/mark-trumbo-definitely-in-play-for-a-trade/ Report: Cubs on verge of acquiring Diamondbacks C Miguel Montero By SI.com http://www.si.com/mlb/2014/12/09/miguel-montero-trade-chicago-cubs-arizona-diamondbacks Cubs close to acquiring Miguel Montero from Diamondbacks By Jacob R. Misener / SI.com http://calltothepen.com/2014/12/08/cubs-close-acquiring-miguel-montero-diamondbacks/ MLB free agents 2015: D-backs get Yasmany Tomas deal done By Tom Gatto / Sporting News http://www.sportingnews.com/mlb/story/2014-12-08/mlb-free-agents-2015-winter-meetings-yasmany-tomas-diamondbacks-contract-cuban Cubs interested in Miguel Montero By Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/chi-cubs-pursuing-miguel-montero-20141208-story.html Cubs in talks to acquire Miguel Montero from Diamondbacks By Patrick Mooney / CSN Chicago http://www.csnchicago.com/cubs/cubs-talks-acquire-miguel-montero-diamondbacks

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MLB NEWS December 9, 2014 • MLB.com http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/news/mlb_news_index.jsp ASSOCIATED PRESS December 9, 2014 • Sports.yahoo.com http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/morenews MLB TRANSACTIONS December 9, 2014 • MLB.com http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/transactions

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Montero trade could be on deck for busy D-backs Club finalizes Tomas signing on Day 1 of Winter Meetings in San Diego By Steve Gilbert / MLB.com http://m.dbacks.mlb.com/news/article/103577034/diamondbacks-in-talks-with-cubs-about-miguel-montero-trade SAN DIEGO -- The D-backs officially announced the signing of free agent Yasmany Tomas on Monday, but there may be more moves in store as the Winter Meetings continue this week. A baseball source confirmed that the D-backs and Cubs were discussing a trade that would send catcher Miguel Montero to Chicago in exchange for what the source said was a pair of Minor League pitchers. USA Today reported that a deal is expected to be completed today. Earlier on Monday, D-backs chief baseball officer Tony La Russa denied that the team had agreed to a deal with the Dodgers involving Montero only to have it rejected by Arizona ownership. Montero batted .243 in 136 games last season, hitting 13 home runs and driving in 72 runs. The 31-year-old is owed $40 million over the next three years, and by moving him, the D-backs could provide the team with flexibility to add either another starting pitcher or another bat for the lineup. Moving Montero would leave the D-backs with backup Tuffy Gosewisch, an excellent defender who hit .225 last year. The team's payroll now figures to be around $100 million, and team president/CEO Derrick Hall said he would be more comfortable with it in the $90-95 million range. Montero is the longest tenured D-backs player, having signed out of Venezuela in 2001, and he has been active in the community and popular in the clubhouse. "We definitely have an appreciation for what he's done for the organization and his impact in the clubhouse," general manager Dave Stewart said when asked about the possibility of dealing Montero before news of the talks with the Cubs leaked. "But this is the game of baseball, and so we're going to look at all options when it comes to our team and do things that we feel are going to be in the best interests of the Diamondbacks." In other news, a YahooSports.com report said the D-backs had discussed a three-way deal that involved Mark Trumbo but that it had fallen through. "I can tell you without a doubt on a stack of Bibles that is not true," said Stewart, who has said publicly that he does not want to deal Trumbo. Another D-backs player -- left-hander Wade Miley -- was the subject of some discussion in the lobby, with the Marlins said to be interested in the 28-year-old.

Miley would likely bring a nice return, but he's also a young, controllable starting pitcher, something the D-backs would like to add rather than subtract from their team. "He's an appealing lefty," Stewart said. "Teams have talked to us about him. Like with all of our guys, we've listened, but he's a guy that's similar to a guy that we're looking for." While the Montero trade would add to the D-backs' Minor League pitching depth, it would not address their desire to strengthen their big league rotation. That and the addition of a left-handed bat might not be something they are able to get done. "What we've been trying to do is we've been trying to add to our pitching, and everybody is trying to do that," Stewart said. "So I don't know how likely it is that we will be able to accomplish that. We've tried to add some middle of the order left-handed hitting, and I'm pretty sure everyone else is trying to do that too, so I'm not sure we'll be able to accomplish that." Third baseman Chase Headley has been much sought after in the free-agent market, but the D-backs are not one of the teams in the mix for him. "He's not a name that we've talked about," Stewart said. Free-agent right-hander James Shields is a pitcher the D-backs have interest in, but it appears that some the bigger name free-agent pitchers, like Jon Lester, will have to sign before the market for Shields becomes clear. "We've always had an interest in James," Stewart said. "Before the end of the year we looked at the guys that we thought we would have a real opportunity to go after and he was a guy. So we've always have interest in him. We still have not officially made any communication with his agent."

D-backs in talks with Cubs about Montero Arizona reportedly to receive pitching prospects By Steve Gilbert / MLB.com http://m.dbacks.mlb.com/news/article/103560696/d-backs-in-talks-with-cubs-about-miguel-montero SAN DIEGO -- It appears that Miguel Montero could be on the move. A baseball source confirmed that the D-backs and Cubs were discussing a deal involving Montero and FoxSports.com reported that the two sides were getting closer and that the D-backs would receive pitching prospects in the deal. USA Today reported that a deal is expected to be completed today. Earlier in the day, D-backs chief baseball officer Tony La Russa denied that the team had agreed to a deal with the Dodgers involving Montero only to have it rejected by Arizona ownership. Montero batted .243 in 136 games last season, hitting 13 home runs and driving in 72 runs. The 31-year-old is owed $40 million over the next three years and by moving him, the D-backs could provide the team with

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flexibility to add either another starting pitcher or another bat for the lineup. Moving Montero would leave the D-backs with backup Tuffy Gosewisch, an excellent defender who hit .225 last year.

Hale likes depth of outfield heading into first season New manager talks about roster at Winter Meetings By Steve Gilbert / MLB.com http://m.dbacks.mlb.com/news/article/103564132/hale-likes-d-backs-outfield-depth-heading-into-first-season SAN DIEGO -- D-backs manager Chip Hale met with the media Monday at Major League Baseball's annual Winter Meetings. Here's a look at what the rookie skipper had to say on a variety of subjects: On how he plans to use outfielders Mark Trumbo, A.J. Pollock, Ender Inciarte, Cody Ross and David Peralta if Yasmany Tomas is able to play third base: Hale: With the people we have, we have Trumbo in right, we'll move him over to right where he's more comfortable. That's where he played with Anaheim. He feels a lot better over there. Pollock in center, and then a combination of Inciarte and Peralta in left field with Cody Ross kind of backing up over there, sort of a platoon thing. So for me, we're really deep in the outfield. On whether situational hitting will be a point of emphasis during Spring Training: Hale: Yeah, situational hitting, situational defense. Just from the seventh inning on, there are so many games you can win by just being able to make the plays defensively or getting the guy over, getting him in from third base. The league average is really low. I mean, that one year St. Louis was really good, like 75 percent. We'd like to get to that point. It's not easy. We know that. We're all ex-players and we know how hard it is when a guy gets to third. We know how hard the pitcher works to not let that guy get in. So we really work hard on that stuff, and try to teach a certain way to do it. On when left-hander Patrick Corbin and right-hander David Hernandez would be able to return from Tommy John surgery: Hale: Corbin's June. Probably Hernandez a little sooner from what the trainers have told me. We have to be really careful. It used to be a 12-month surgery when guys would come back and we've just let them go. We've figured out it's more of 15 months now. In that first year they pitch, we really have to slow play them. We can all say, 'Hey, he's going to come back and be our No. 1,' or, 'Hernandez is going to come back and be our eighth-inning guy. It's just tough. It's tough on them. They have to feel comfortable letting that ball go. It's really 2016 when those guys will be full-go. On whether Aaron Hill will have a chance to win back his starting job at second after a down year in 2014: Hale: Yeah, I'm excited for Aaron. We're going to sit down and talk. And to be quite honest, I think that Hill is going to get

another shot to get over there at second. We're going to give him a shot at third. We're going to put him everywhere and get as many at-bats for him. If he's the best guy at one position, then he'll be our guy. He's a veteran with a lot of good track record of hitting. Had a tough year last year. But he's excited and motivated to have a good year. On whether he's got Josh Collmenter penciled into the rotation along with Wade Miley and Jeremy Hellickson: Hale: Yes, he's earned that right. Like I said, that could change if we get some more starters or maybe make some moves. But that guy has been told he's a long guy, fifth starter at best. All he does is go out there and give his team a chance to win. He's a tough guy. I'm excited about him. On whether Daniel Hudson would be used as a starter or reliever in 2015: Hale: For me, his value is really, really high as a starter. But maybe it's one of those things you start out one way and end up the other just for innings purposes. But it's his career, and he's not a kid anymore. So we'll sit with him and the trainers and figure out the best way to get the most out of him. On whether shortstop Chris Owings will be cleared for full activity when Spring Training starts following offseason surgery on his left shoulder: Hale: No. We expect him to be in there doing all drills and working. But like some of the other stuff, we're going to slow play that. That's an injury that you've got to be careful with the left shoulder as a hitter. We expect him to be ready and a hundred percent for Opening Day. He's going to be very confident in how he's swinging the bat before he's put into a game.

La Russa headed back to Little League for auction D-backs participate in league-wide initiative for LUNGevity By Steve Gilbert / MLB.com http://m.dbacks.mlb.com/news/article/103562570/d-backs-tony-la-russa-headed-back-to-little-league-for-auction SAN DIEGO -- Tony La Russa won 2,728 games during his Hall of Fame managing career, third-most of all time. How would he do at the helm of your child's Little League team? Well, now you can find out. Having La Russa manage your child's Little League team is one of the three unique experiences the D-backs are auctioning off to benefit LUNGevity, the largest national lung cancer-focused nonprofit organization. La Russa will manage one game of the winning bidder's Little League team as long as it is located in the greater Phoenix area. For the third consecutive year, Major League Baseball, MLB Advanced Media, MLB Network and the 30 clubs have organized the auction that includes unprecedented baseball experiences and rare items to raise awareness and funds for cancer research.

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The announcement of the charity auction was made Monday at the Winter Meetings. The auction will be featured on MLB.com until Thursday at 9 p.m. MT. Another experience up for auction is a private pitching lesson with D-backs special assistant, Dave Duncan, widely regarded as one of the best pitching coaches the game has seen. Fans can also bid on a lunch with All-Star first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, Luis Gonzalez and J.J. Putz. Following lunch, the winning bidder and three guests will be treated to a private tour of Chase Field and the opportunity to watch batting practice on the field, meet a D-backs player or coach and have your picture taken in the dugout. Also included are Infield Box seats for that night's game. Funds raised from this year's auction will be donated to LUNGevity in memory of the late Baltimore Orioles public relations director Monica Barlow, who battled lung cancer until her passing in February. "Major League Baseball is honored to conduct fundraising efforts for LUNGevity in memory of Monica Barlow," Major League Baseball Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig said in a statement. "As a social institution with important social responsibilities, our game's most valuable opportunities are those that make an impact on the lives of others. It is our privilege to contribute to an extraordinary cause."

La Russa: Ownership did not stop Montero deal By Steve Gilbert / MLB.com http://m.dbacks.mlb.com/news/article/103544608/tony-la-russa-miguel-montero-deal-not-thwarted-by-d-backs-ownership SAN DIEGO -- D-backs chief baseball officer Tony La Russa said that Arizona ownership never stepped in to stop a deal that would have sent catcher Miguel Montero to the Dodgers in exchange for Andre Ethier. FOXSports.com reported over the weekend that the proposed deal "collapsed when the D-Backs' ownership declined to give final approval." Not so, La Russa said. "What happened with the Dodgers, we had conversations with them, but at no time was there a deal done that ownership called in and said, "No, stop, this isn't going to happen,'" La Russa said. La Russa acknowledged that the team has fielded offers for Montero, but said that after losing 98 games in 2014, the organization is willing to listen to an offer on any of its players with the exception of first baseman Paul Goldschmidt. "In some cases, if you're talking about Miggy, I can tell you about other guys that haven't been as public," La Russa said. "But in Miggy's case, it came down to maybe, I think from six it went to four teams that were aggressively pursuing him. We talked, what's the match, why? Not that you want to trade him, but you've got to listen because we need some help."

La Russa then jokingly made his point about Goldschmidt being untouchable when he mentioned that first-year general manager Dave Stewart was free to try to trade him, "But I don't think Stew wants to have the shortest regime in history."

La Russa: Kendrick did not block Montero trade to Dodgers By Nick Piecoro / The Arizona Republic http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/mlb/diamondbacks/2014/12/09/arizona-diamondbacks-ken-kendrick-did-not-block-miguel-montero-to-dodgers/20143595/ SAN DIEGO – With the Diamondbacks seemingly getting closer to a deal that would send Miguel Montero to the Chicago Cubs, it would mark the second time in recent days the club is known to have had serious dialogue about dealing their veteran catcher. The first instance involved the Los Angeles Dodgers, but those talks didn't break down in the fashion that was reported, according to Diamondbacks Chief Baseball Officer Tony La Russa. This week, La Russa disputed a Fox Sports report that said a potential trade with the Dodgers broke down because it was blocked by Diamondbacks Managing General Partner Ken Kendrick. "We had conversations with them," La Russa said. "But at no time was there a deal done that ownership called in and said, 'No, stop, this isn't going to happen.'" La Russa said that at no point has Kendrick or the rest of the team's ownership group told the team's baseball operations department that Montero is an untouchable player. He said Montero could still be traded, although likely not to the Dodgers. La Russa was asked: If not a done deal, were there trade talks that Kendrick did not like? "Well, I think he's real typical of involved owners, which I've had for 30 years," La Russa said. "They don't want to be surprised by anything. But he's made it clear, so did Derrick (Hall) and I've met more with Mr. (Jeff) Royer than the other gentlemen (owners), they hire people to do the job and they want to give you the opportunity to do your job. But they want to be informed. I don't know how many times I've got to tell you that Ken didn't block the deal." The Fox Sports report said the Diamondbacks were discussing a deal that would have sent Montero to the Dodgers in exchange for outfielder Andre Ethier, catcher Tim Federowicz and cash.

Sources: Diamondbacks close to Miguel Montero trade with Cubs By Nick Piecoro / The Arizona Republic http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/mlb/diamondbacks/2014/12/09/diamondbacks-miguel-montero-trade-chicago-cubs/20126313/ (Video embedded on webpage)

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SAN DIEGO – The Diamondbacks continued to make headway Monday night toward a deal that would send veteran catcher Miguel Montero to the Chicago Cubs, sources said. In exchange, the Diamondbacks are "likely" to receive a pair of low-level pitching prospects, with the Cubs picking up the bulk, if not all, of the remaining three years and $40 million left on Montero's contract. Last week, Diamondbacks CEO Derrick Hall said the club's 2015 payroll was sitting in the range of $100 million, "which is higher than we intend to be." Montero is owed $12 million next season. It's unclear what the Diamondbacks will do at catcher if Montero is dealt. Most in the industry do not consider backup Tuffy Gosewisch an everyday player. Montero, 31, is coming off his second consecutive down year offensively. After hitting just .230 with 11 homers in 2013, he posted a .243/.329/.370 slash line in 2014. He is considered a solid defender and grades out well in advanced metrics that rate his pitch-framing ability.

Miguel Montero, Mark Trumbo rumors swirl at winter meetings By Nick Piecoro / The Arizona Republic http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/mlb/diamondbacks/2014/12/08/miguel-montero-mark-trumbo-diamondbacks-winter-meetings/20125339/ SAN DIEGO – On the day the Diamondbacks officially signed Cuban slugger Yasmany Tomas, rumors swirled through the Manchester Grand Hyatt about the potential trade availability of veterans Miguel Montero and Mark Trumbo. Those rumors, however, were subject to debate and fraught with confusion. Were the Diamondbacks actually willing to trade Trumbo, the slugging outfielder who logically seems expendable due to Tomas' presence? Executives with other teams — including one club that was certain to be interested in him — said they've received mixed signals from the Diamondbacks, who continue to tell reporters they're not interested in dealing him. Were the Diamondbacks truly getting closer to dealing Montero to the Chicago Cubs for pitching prospects, as reported by Fox Sports? Diamondbacks General Manager Dave Stewart intimated nothing was even remotely afoot when meeting with reporters early Monday evening. Perhaps these incongruities will be sorted out by Thursday morning, when baseball's annual winter meetings come to an end. For now, though, the only surefire development for the Diamondbacks was the finalization of Tomas' contract, a deal worth $68.5 million over six years with a player opt-out clause after the fourth year. With Tomas' market seemingly slow to develop last month, Stewart said the Diamondbacks decided to strike quickly with

their offer. The Diamondbacks presented him with an offer and gave him 48 hours to accept. "We didn't want to give them an opportunity to do any shopping," Stewart said. "The strategy that we took worked." Stewart said negotiations with Tomas always included the opt-out and the Diamondbacks were not "afraid as an organization" to give Tomas that option. "If he plays well, my guess would be that ownership would want to extend his contract before his opt comes," Stewart said. "So we don't have any fear at this moment that we'll be able to negotiate something with more length if he plays well." If Tomas opts out, the Diamondbacks would be able to extend him a qualifying offer, according to a source, thus ensuring they would receive a draft pick if he were to sign elsewhere. De Jon Watson, the Diamondbacks' senior vice president of baseball operations, said Tomas has his passport in order and is working to acquire his visa, "so it shouldn't be too much longer before he's here stateside." Watson is hopeful Tomas will be in Arizona by January, at which time the club will begin working with him at third base, a position they plan to give him a chance to play in spring training. "Obviously he's been playing more outfield than third (in Cuba)," Watson said. "But having watched him take ground balls there, his hands work, his feet work. I think he has a chance to get it. "I was with the Florida Marlins when Bobby Bonilla played third base for us and we won a World Series with him at third. I'm not comparing the players' athleticism, but I think this kid is a really good athlete and is going to surprise people when he gets here. I don't think it's going to be a huge stretch that he has a chance to break with the club at third base." Montero, the club's longest-tenured player, has reportedly been available in trade since early in the off-season, the Diamondbacks ostensibly looking to dump the three years and $40 million remaining on his contract on the heels of him turning in back-to-back down years. According to a report from CSN Chicago, the Diamondbacks would receive low-level pitching prospects in a trade with the Cubs, who would assume all of the money owed. When asked about a reported three-team deal that included Trumbo, Stewart said, "I can tell you without a doubt on a stack of bibles that is not true." That report, via Yahoo Sports, said Trumbo was "definitely in play." Last week, Stewart said he was telling teams Trumbo was not available.

Final 2 rotation spots up in air for Diamondbacks By Zach Buchanan / The Arizona Republic http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/mlb/diamondbacks/2014/12/08/final-rotation-spots-arizona-diamondbacks/20122281/

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SAN DIEGO – Although the Diamondbacks have said they are still in the market for another starting pitcher, should the team enter spring training as currently composed, the final two spots in the rotation would be up for grabs. Manager Chip Hale said Monday at baseball's winter meetings that his top three are, in some order, Wade Miley, Josh Collmenter and the newly acquired Jeremy Hellickson. The final two spots figure to come down to Chase Anderson, Vidal Nuño and the recently acquired Robbie Ray. The organization's trio of Double-A arms — Archie Bradley, Braden Shipley and Aaron Blair — could also get a look, although Hale intimated that it would be better for those three to get more seasoning in the minors. "In a perfect world, I'd like to see all those guys get a chance to pitch more," Hale said. "But, hey, if they're the best guys going out, and the front office feels comfortable, then you do what you've got to do." Miley and Hellickson would seem shoo-ins as starters, but Hale also feels strongly that Collmenter belongs in the rotation. The 28-year-old came up as a starter and posted a 3.38 ERA over 154 1/3 innings in 2011, but served more as a long reliever the next two seasons. With Arizona off to a horrid April in 2014, Collmenter was re-inserted into the rotation and had a 3.46 ERA in a career-high 179 1/3 innings. His stuff isn't overpowering — he throws a fastball in the high 80's, a changeup and a curve he developed last season — but it works enough for Hale to be comfortable with Collmenter starting. "That guy has been told he's a long guy, fifth starter at best," Hale said. "All he does is go out there and give his team a chance to win. He's a tough guy. I'm excited about him. He's one of those guys, as a manager, that you can always count on." Health updates The Diamondbacks, injured for so much of 2014, should receive regular boosts from players returning from injury this upcoming season. For one, presumed starting shortstop Chris Owings should be fully recovered from offseason shoulder surgery by Opening Day, although he could have a late start to spring training. Then there's the cascade of pitchers returning from Tommy John. Reliever David Hernandez should be the first back, perhaps in May. Starter Patrick Corbin could be ready by June, and Hale feels confident that Bronson Arroyo could pitch in 2015 as well. He did caution not to expect too much from them, though. "In that first year they pitch, we really have to slow play them," he said. "We can all say, hey, he's going to come back and be our number one or Hernandez is going to come back and be our 8th inning guy. It's just tough. It's tough on them. They have to feel comfortable letting that ball go. It's really '16 when those guys will be full go."

Hill at 2B? Diamondbacks infielder Aaron Hill spent some time at third at the end of last season and could see time there again in 2015. But, it sounds like with the addition of Yasmany Tomas and trade of Didi Gregorius could mean Hill is the team's starting second baseman again. "To be quite honest, I think that Hill is going to get another shot to get over there at second," Hale said. "We're going to give him a shot at third. We're going to put him everywhere and get as

many at‑bats for him. If he's the best guy at one position, then he'll be our guy." Hill posted a .654 OPS last season after recording an .860 mark the previous two seasons. He's owed $24 million over the next two years, so the Diamondbacks are likely left to hope he bounces back rather than trade him. Hale plans to talk in depth with the 32-year-old about moving past 2014. "It was a tough year for him," Hale said. "That's why I've been brought in and we're going to get better and he's going to be part of it."

Diamondbacks make Yasmany Tomas signing official By Zach Buchanan / The Arizona Republic http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/mlb/diamondbacks/2014/12/08/arizona-dimaondbacks-yasmany-tomas-signed-deal/20112575/ SAN DIEGO – On Monday, the first day of the 2014 Baseball Winter Meetings at the Grand Hyatt here, the Diamondbacks officially announced the signing of Cuban slugger Yasmany Tomas to a six-year deal. The team had reportedly agreed to a deal with Tomas almost two weeks ago, one that is worth $68.5 million over six years, including an opt-out clause after the fourth year. Tomas, 24, is expected to get a look at third base for the Diamondbacks but could be better suited for a corner outfield spot. His main asset is his raw power, which some scouts rate as a 70 on the 20-to-80 scale. Tomas signed his deal Sunday in the Dominican Republic, where he has trained since defecting from Cuba. "My dream has always been to play with the best players in the world and that's in Major League Baseball," Tomas said in a statement released by the team. "I have a lot of respect for the Diamondbacks and enjoyed meeting (General Manager) Stewart and (Senior Vice President of Baseball Operations) De Jon Watson during my recent workouts. I have great expectations for my career and cannot wait to join the team and start my big league career."

New Diamondbacks scouting director hopes to match Royals success By Nick Piecoro / The Arizona Republic

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http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/mlb/diamondbacks/2014/12/08/arizona-diamondbacks-scouting-director-deric-ladnier-match-royals-success/20106083/ SAN DIEGO – Deric Ladnier might have been long removed from his days as the scouting director for the Kansas City Royals, but that didn't make it any less meaningful to watch his old club play in October. "More than one time you sit there and you get the goose bumps on your arm," Ladnier said. Ladnier, who last week was named the Diamondbacks' scouting director, ran the draft for eight years with the Royals, during which time they selected a bevy of well-regarded major leaguers including Zack Greinke, Alex Gordon, Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakas and Greg Holland, among others. Ladnier set the bar high, but he'll look to make a similar impact on his new club. Taking over for Ray Montgomery, who after four years with the Diamondbacks left for a high-ranking job with the Milwaukee Brewers, Ladnier couldn't ask for a better place to pick. The Diamondbacks, after a 98-loss 2014 season, own the first overall next June. Ladnier, 50, has spent more than 20 years working in baseball. After his playing career ended, he worked for the Atlanta Braves as an area scout and later a crosschecker, moved on to Kansas City and most recently worked as a special assistant to Washington Nationals GM Mike Rizzo, a role in which he had an array of duties including scouting professional and amateur players. "When you look at the players (he drafted), he's always been driven by high-end athletes with tremendous upside but yet they have baseball feel," said Diamondbacks executive De Jon Watson, who has known Ladnier since they were minor league teammates in the Royals organization. "It's not just hoping and dreaming and wishing. There's some now talent to the guys he selected." Asked about this, Ladnier cited Billy Butler, Moustakas and Hosmer as examples. "They were all obviously upside guys, high school players," he said. "But they all came from really good programs and all had advanced bats. Every one of them had an advanced bat. It wasn't like you were looking and saying, 'This guy can play shortstop. This guy can run. This guy can throw. This guy can field. Wow, he's got raw power. But, god, I hope he hits.' If you have to start saying 'I hope he hits' high in the draft, you probably need to start looking at another player." Sometimes, he said, the players teams dream on do work out, but he's experienced the sting of having to watch them fail. He said he learned a lot from his first pick as a scouting director, when the Royals took high school right-hander Colt Griffin with the ninth overall pick in 2001. That selection taught him the importance of a player's history. "I took a guy throwing 100 mph, a high-upside guy," he said. "We wanted high-upside guys. For whatever reason, he got hurt and never really became the guy we thought he could become.

That is a guy who was a first baseman who popped up, throwing 100 mph, had a really good slider, a feel for a change-up. Aggressive. Texas. You're going, 'Oh, my god. We found Nolan Ryan.' Nothing against him, but it didn't work out. You learn from your mistakes. That was a high pick that was extremely risky." Ladnier said club executives haven't had any discussions about what they plan to do with the top pick in the draft – like, for example, if they play to spread their bonus money across multiple picks the way other clubs have in recent years. "First off, you look at the player," he said. "Do you do it with the type of player you're going to get? Do you sacrifice the player to be able to do that? The draft will dictate how you want to spend your allocated funds. It's too early to say, 'This is our plan, this is what we're going to do.' We really can't do that." He said he's already reached out to several of the club's top amateur scouts and hopes to get to know everyone on the staff better over the next several weeks. "Just need to spend time and get to know them," he said. "I probably need to let them get to know me more than I need to get to know them. There's a comfort level. I believe in communication. I believe in getting in the car with them, riding around the country. I think that's extremely important. Relationships to me are the most important thing you can have in this game. Once you build that trust and you have this sense of family and team, then things are really good." At some point, he hopes to see Diamondbacks picks doing the same things the Royals players were doing in the World Series. "You watch Mike Moustakas dive over the railing and make a big play," he said. "And in your mind when you saw him play, all those things that you have envisioned when you selected that player – or Eric Hosmer hitting an opposite field home run or making a Gold Glove play, Gordon's double – all those things that when you're selecting those players, you're saying, 'This guy is going to be a championship type player.' Not only is he going to be a big leaguer, but a championship player. There's a difference."

D-backs finalize $68.5M deal with Tomas, eye other moves By Jack Magruder / FOX Sports Arizona http://www.foxsports.com/arizona/story/diamondbacks-finalize-68-5m-deal-with-tomas-120814 PHOENIX -- The Diamondbacks are not unfamiliar with impact Cuban players can have, and it goes deeper than the recent run highlighted by Alexei Ramirez, Yoenis Cespedes, Yasiel Puig and Jose Abreu. At Monday's press conference to officially announce the signing of outfielder/third baseman Yasmany Tomas, D-backs chief baseball officer Tony La Russa referenced his playing days. When La Russa played 44 games at second base for Oakland in 1970, his double play partner was shortstop Dagoberto Campaneris, who brought 313 doubles and 649 stolen bases with him to the major leagues when he left Cuba in the early '60s.

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"You go to the old days ... you know they are playing quality baseball down there," La Russa said at the winter meetings in San Diego. "When you make an acquisition, some of the first clubs that did it had success, and we all paid attention. I think it is fair to say that Cuba will now be viewed as Mexico, Puerto Rico, the Dominican, Latin American and Venezuela as a source of potential major league stars." The D-backs signed the slugging Tomas to a six-year, $68.5 million contract with the full expectation of the same. Cespedes averaged 23 homers and 84 RBI in his first three major league seasons and Abreu was the AL Rookie of the Year with 36 homers and 107 RBI this past season. Tomas' contract includes an opt-out provision after four years, similar to the one Abreu received from the Chicago White Sox, and general manager Dave Stewart such a clause was never an issue. "My thought is, we get the first four years with him. ... If he plays well, my guess would be that ownership would want to extend his contract before his opt-out comes," Stewart said. "So we don't have any fear at this moment that we'll be able to negotiate something with more length if he plays well." Meanwhile, the D-backs appear active on other fronts. FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi reported Arizona has been engaged in trade talks with the Chicago Cubs involving Miguel Montero for several weeks and may be closing in on a deal that would return young, controllable pitching. The Cubs were in the hunt for free agent catcher Russell Martin before he signed a five-year, $82 million deal with Toronto last month. To those with big pockets, Montero's $40 million over the next three years could look like a bargain for a player who has averaged 14 homers and 72 RBI the last four years. Trading Montero would be the simplest way for the D-backs to get the 2015 payroll into the $90 million-$95 million range for which team president/CEO Derrick Hall is shooting. Including projections for the six arbitration eligible players, the D-backs are committed to a little over $100 million at this point. Montero is to make $12 million in 2015 and $14 million each in 2016 and 2017. Yahoo! Sports reported outfielder Mark Trumbo is in play despite the fact Stewart on Friday said he has no interest in moving Trumbo. Rosenthal reported the D-backs would have to be "overwhelmed" to trade Trumbo, who is penciled in as their starter in right field. Stewart and manager Chip Hale on Monday reiterated Tomas, 6-foot-1 and 252 pounds, will start spring training at third base to test the fit. Tomas has played third base, both corner outfield positions and was used as a DH in his five years in Cuba. He will play the entire 2015 season as a 24-year-old. Cespedes played his first season with the A's at 26. Abreu was 27 last year. Puig signed at 21 and made his major league debut in 2013 at 22. Hale understands attention must be paid to Tomas' assimilation process, something Hale saw first-hand with Cespedes in Oakland, where Hale was the bench coach for Cespedes' 2-1/2 seasons there.

"It's a new country. It's a lot different for them," Hale said. "There are people that you bring into their life to help them. It's important. We're going to try to get somebody for him just like we had in Oakland that was basically with him, not 24 hours, but was making sure that the decisions he was having to make and the people who were trying to get him to do certain things were the right ones." The game itself should translate well, he said. "All the Cuban players that I've been around, they love the limelight," Hale said. "They love the big games. Yoenis was so good against the big teams in the playoffs, and that's what I expect for Tomas. He's learned to play on the big stage, and that's just going to make everybody else be better on this club." Hale, who played second and third base in his major league career, and D-backs third base coach/infield coordinator Andy Green will spent a lot of time with Tomas at spring training. Tomas is expected to continue working out in the Dominican Republic before spring training begins. "As soon as he gets here, we'll have somebody every day," Hale said. "As everybody knows, you can look good in ground balls and 'BP' ... but the game speeds up. We'll see how he does then. We'll have a good idea by the time the season opens where he'll be. Like I said, he could be third baseman, he could be in the outfield. He may have to start for a short time in the minor leagues. Who knows? We're not a hundred percent on that. "Like I said, I had Cespedes in Oakland and I saw the difference he made and how ready he was. So I'm hoping it's the same kind of situation."

D-backs host 17th annual Winter Classic By FOX Sports Arizona http://www.foxsports.com/arizona/video/d-backs-host-17th-annual-winter-classic-120814 Players, coaches, D-backs staff and reptiles all came out to make sure local children had a great Holiday experience. (Video embedded on webpage)

Report: Diamondbacks still in talks to move catcher Miguel Montero By ArizonaSports.com http://arizonasports.com/42/1789704/Report-Diamondbacks-still-in-talks-to-move-catcher-Miguel-Montero Although a deal fell through with the Los Angeles Dodgers last week, the Arizona Diamondbacks reportedly aren't done looking for a new home for catcher Miguel Montero. Fox Sports' Jon Morosi and Ken Rosenthal report Arizona is in discussions with the Chicago Cubs to move the long-time Diamondbacks catcher. ----

Jon Morosi -- ✔ @jonmorosi

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#Cubs, #DBacks discussing trade that would send Miguel Montero to Chicago, sources tell @Ken_Rosenthal and me. @FOXSports ---- ----

Ken Rosenthal -- ✔ @Ken_Rosenthal Sources: #DBacks would receive pitching prospects from #Cubs for Montero. ---- Rosenthal earlier noted that the two teams have been engaged in discussions "for weeks." Patrick Mooney of CSNChicago.com believe the Cubs would pick up all of Montero's contract while not giving the Diamondbacks any big league-ready talent. ---- Patrick Mooney -- @CSNMooney #Cubs would be taking on the three years and $40 million left on Miguel Montero's contract in potential deal with #Diamondbacks. ---- ---- Patrick Mooney -- @CSNMooney In a Miguel Montero deal, source says #Cubs wouldn't be moving pieces from 40-man roster or trading talent that's close to big-league ready. ---- These reports come after a deal for Dodgers outfielder Andre Ethier fell apart last weekend. One report said Diamondbacks upper management nixed the deal because of being uncomfortable with dealing to a division rival. Chief baseball officer Tony La Russa said that was not the case Monday. Montero was a late addition to the 2014 MLB All-Star Game, but he faded down the stretch last season. He finished the year with a .243 average, 13 home runs and 72 RBI in 136 games. He has spent his entire Major League career in Arizona after being signed as an undrafted free agent in 2001. The 31-year-old Venezuelan is a career .264 hitter and a two-time All-Star. He is just three home runs shy of 100 for his career. The veteran has three years left on his contract, and is owed $40 million over that span.

Arizona Diamondbacks officially sign Cuban star Yasmany Tomas By ArizonaSports.com http://arizonasports.com/42/1789652/Arizona-Diamondbacks-officially-sign-Cuban-star-Yasmany-Tomas After a week of speculation, the Arizona Diamondbacks made it official Monday, inking Cuban infielder/outfielder Yasmany Tomas to a six-year contract. The deal was previously reported to be worth $68.5 million.

"The opportunity to find a power bat like Tomas does not come along very often and we are extremely excited for him to join the D-backs," D-backs general manager Dave Stewart said in a statement. "Having had the opportunity to see him play, both in the World Baseball Classic and during recent workouts in the Dominican Republic, we believe that he can have a real impact on our lineup in the years to come." The 24-year-old played in six games in the 2013 World Baseball Classic for Cuba, batting .375 with two home runs and 5 RBI. He was named as the sixth-best non-MLB player in the tournament by Baseball America. "My dream has always been to play with the best players in the world and that's in Major League Baseball," said Tomas. "I have a lot of respect for the Diamondbacks and enjoyed meeting Dave Stewart and De Jon Watson during my recent workouts. I have great expectations for my career and cannot wait to join the team and start my big league career." D-backs' brass has said Tomas will get an opportunity to play third base in 2014, although most of his Cuban experience has come in the outfield.

Diamondbacks sign Tomas, projected as third baseman By Mark Brown / Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/article/diamondbacks-sign-tomas-projected-as-third-baseman SAN DIEGO – If the Diamondbacks made some news just before commencement of the Winter Meetings here, they finalized a major deal Monday afternoon. Last week, the team announced it came to agreement on Cuban native Yasmany Tomas, a sought-after power hitter but with challenging, raw defensive skills. Still, president Derrick Hall and Ken Kendrick, the team’s managing general partner, shelled out $68.5 million for Tomas, the largest contract in club history. The six-year deal, and Tomas has an out-option after four years, was not completed until Monday and that was because of legal paperwork and immigration details. Here at the Winter Meetings where the singing was announced, manager Chip Hale said that Tomas will be given every opportunity to play third base. “(Tomas) told us we wants to play third and we’ll see how things work out,” Hale said. “He’ll also shag flies in the outfield and see where he stands. He could open the season at third, in the outfield or even in the minor leagues. He wants an opportunity and we’ll give him every opportunity.” Heralded for his sheer clout in hitting a baseball, Tomas’ power bat will be welcomed to a team which hit 118 home runs last season, third lowest among National League clubs. Only the Padres (109 home runs) and Cardinals (105) hit fewer round-trippers. While the $68 million-plus contract is the largest ever negotiated by the Diamondbacks, and before Tomas’ autograph was written

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, general manager Dave Stewart and Chief Baseball Officer Tony La Russa had to have the blessing from above. “Once we had the approval from ownership, we knew we landed a special player,” Stewart said. “(Tomas) will be an impact player and we especially like the interaction he had with his teammates and with us. When we went to sign him, Tomas greeted me like a long-lost friend and some hugs.” Despite media interest in Tomas, Stewart reported there were not many teams who expressed a genuine appeal. Indicating Tomas was on the market for about a six week period with little activity, the Diamondbacks surveyed the level of interest and decided to strike. ’(Tomas) was out there for a while and I think there was not as much interest as he thought,” Stewart said . “So, we decided to make an offer and gave him a deadline.” Because of his desire to play in the majors and follow in the foot-steps of his fellow countrymen like Yoenis Cespedes, Jose Abreu and Yasiel Puig, Tomas proceeded to sign on the dotted line. Going forward, the plan is two–fold. First, there is the issue of physically bringing Tomas to Phoenix and then, a period of adjustment to life in the United States. In anticipation, the Diamondbacks have lined up different levels of assistance to help make life in America easier and the transition smooth. If all works according to plan, Tomas is expected to begin working out at Salt River sometime in January. Then, there’s the personality of a Cuban player. “They love the limelight and love stepping into critical situations,” said Hale. “With Cepedes, I saw his immediate impact. Generally, the Cubans are dynamic players and I clearly saw that in Cepedes. The reference here belongs to outfielder Cespedes, whom Hale coached in Oakland while Hale was the bench coach to Bob Melvin. “What we liked immediately was how good a team player and teammate (Tomas) was to his team,” said De Jon Watson, the Diamondbacks director of baseball operations. “His goal is the play in the big leagues, period. Sure, he told us he wants to play third but really, he just wants to play in the major leagues. We like the chemistry he brings to the clubhouse.” Should Tomas work his way into the opening day starting line-up and beyond that April 6th Chase Field date with the San Francisco Giants, his presence will likely have a rippling effect. There’s no question his bat would be ideal for table-sitters like Endar Inciarte, A. J. Pollack and Chris Owings. Plus, Paul Goldschmdit’s ability to run the bases could be overlooked by opposing pitches. Despite missing the final two months of the season with a broken right hand, Goldschmidt managed to steal nine bases, third best on the team. Only Incirate (19) and Pollock (14) had more thefts.

Still, there is a particular buzz around the Diamondbacks’ organization, these days, and the Tomas adventure remains at the core. After all, La Russa pointed out, “success starts with talent and (Tomas) has talent.”

From the Winter Meetings-Montero moving? By Brad Cesmat / Sports360AZ.com http://www.sports360az.com/2014/12/winter-meetings-montero-moving/ SAN DIEGO-Dave Stewart sat on a barstool in a suite here at the Grand Hyatt in San Diego and answered question after question about potentially moving several parts off this current roster. The first year GM of the Diamondbacks has a BIG job in front of him, so there shouldn’t be much on the roster that is off limits. Late Monday night it appeared that Miguel Monteros run in Arizona was coming to an end. The Chicago Cubs were putting together a package of pitching prospects to land Miggy. Earlier Monday I asked Stewart about the catching situation moving forward, “Not much at the moment, on the Montero market”. The key phrase “at the moment”. The Diamondbacks are on the hook for $12 million dollars to Montero next season. In all, Montero is due $40 million over the last three years of his contract. Other quick Diamondback hits from Stewart at the Winter Meetings. -He admitted that teams have called him about starting pitcher Wade Miley. -“we’ve always had interest in James Shields”. -“I swear on a stack of bibles that we haven’t discussed trading Trumbo”. The beauty of the Winter Meetings, Everything above could be old news within a minute after I post it. Change is inevitable.

D-Backs Officially Ink Cuban Slugger By Jared Cohen / Sports360AZ.com http://www.sports360az.com/2014/12/d-backs-official-ink-cuban-slugger/ The first major move of the new Arizona Diamondbacks front office became official on Monday as they announced the signing of Cuban slugger Yasmany Tomas to a six year deal worth a reported $68.5 million. ----

Arizona Diamondbacks -- ✔ @Dbacks OFFICIAL: The #Dbacks have agreed to terms on a 6-year contract with Cuban outfielder/third baseman Yasmany Tomas. ---- “My dream has always been to play with the best players in the world and that’s in Major League Baseball,” said Tomas. “I have a lot of respect for the Diamondbacks and enjoyed meeting Dave Stewart and De Jon Watson during my recent workouts. I

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have great expectations for my career and cannot wait to join the team and start my big league career.” “The opportunity to find a power bat like Tomas does not come along very often and we are extremely excited for him to join the D-backs,” said Diamondbacks General Manager Dave Stewart. “Having had the opportunity to see him play, both in the World Baseball Classic and during recent workouts in the Dominican Republic, we believe that he can have a real impact on our lineup in the years to come.” Tomas is a native of Havana, Cuba becomes the 10th player from Cuba to play for the D-Backs since 2011. Last year, he played six games during the 2013 World Baseball Classic, batting .375 with two homers, five RBI and a 1.224 OPS. Baseball America called him the sixth-best non-MLB player in the tournament. ----

Arizona Diamondbacks -- ✔ @Dbacks Done deal. ---- Tomas will spend most of his time playing in the corner outfield joining an already stacked position which includes Ender Inciarte, David Peralta and Mark Trumbo. He also played third base as well as first base as a professional in Cuba. Third base could be a spot he could compete for as well against top-five prospect Jake Lamb who broke into the majors last season. He turned pro in his native country at the age of 18 where he hit 30 home runs, 104 RBI along with 15 stolen bases in 205 regular season games dating back to 2008. As the Baseball Winter Meetings are just underway in San Diego, many believe more moves are on the horizon with the depth the Diamondbacks currently have in the corner outfield spots. But one thing is for sure, the potential of Tomas along with Paul Goldschmidt in the middle of the batting order is one that the Diamondbacks hope will be as dangerous as there is for years to come.

Diamondbacks finalize $68.5M deal with Tomas By Mark McClune / KPHO - CBS 5 http://www.kpho.com/story/27580203/diamondbacks-finalize-685m-deal-with-tomas SAN DIEGO (AP) - Cuban outfielder Yasmany Tomas and the Arizona Diamondbacks have finalized a $68.5 million, six-year contract. Arizona said Monday the deal was signed a day earlier in the Dominican Republic. Diamondbacks general manager Dave Stewart says "the opportunity to find a power bat like Tomas does not come along very often and we are extremely excited for him to join the D-backs." Tomas, 24, hit .375 (6 for 16) for Cuba with two homers and five RBIs in last year's World Baseball Classic. The Diamondbacks may shift him to third base.

Stewart says "we believe that he can have a real impact on our lineup in the years to come"

Arizona Diamondbacks finalize $68.5M deal with Yasmany Tomas By Associated Press http://www.abc15.com/sports/sports-blogs-local/arizona-diamondbacks-finalize-685m-deal-with-yasmany-tomas SAN DIEGO - Chip Hale thought back to the spark Yoenis Cespedes gave the Oakland Athletics. Now Arizona's new manager is hoping Yasmany Tomas can have the same effect on the Diamondbacks. At the first news conference of the winter meetings to discuss a player, Arizona announced Monday that it had finalized a six-year contract with the 24-year-old Cuban defector, a deal worth $68.5 million. "This search for talent goes on for 100 years, and it was kind of limited. And now it's expanded to Latin America. Now it goes to the Pacific Rim," said Hall of Famer Tony La Russa, hired in May as Arizona's chief baseball officer. "Recently Cuban players are re-emerging. You go to the old days with (Tony) Oliva and (Jose) Cardenal and (Bert) Campaneris, so you know they're playing quality baseball down there." Arizona said the deal was signed a day earlier in the Dominican Republic. Tomas can opt out after the 2018 season and become a free agent again. "If he plays well, my guess would be that ownership would want to extend his contract before his opt comes," new Diamondbacks general manager Dave Stewart said. Hale, who worked with Cespedes as Oakland's bench coach, looked forward to having Tomas hit alongside Paul Goldschmidt and Mark Trumbo in his batting order as Arizona tries to rebound from a major league-worst 64-98 record. "Pitchers are going to fear that lineup," he predicted. Tomas hit .375 (6 for 16) for Cuba with two homers and five RBIs in last year's World Baseball Classic. The Diamondbacks said he hit 30 homers with 104 RBIs in 205 regular-season games for Industriales in the Cuban Serie Nacional. He may be shifted from the outfield to the infield. "We have to see him, put our eyes on him, both at third base and with a bat and see how he does at spring training," Hale said. "We're hoping that he can break with the team." Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Tomas, D-backs finalize 6-year contract Cuban outfielder can opt out of $68.5M deal after four years, will have chance to play third By Jesse Sanchez / MLB.com

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http://m.dbacks.mlb.com/news/article/102525700/cuban-yasmany-tomas-d-backs-finalize-6-year-contract SAN DIEGO -- Yasmany Tomas is officially a member of the D-backs. The 24-year-old slugger, who signed his six-year, $68.5 million deal with Arizona on Sunday, celebrated the monumental day like most young men his age: He fired up his X-Box video gaming system and played FIFA 15 for a few hours. Tomas then put down the controller and resumed his training in the Dominican Republic. "My dream has always been to play with the best players in the world and that's in Major League Baseball," Tomas said in a press release announcing the deal Monday. "I have a lot of respect for the Diamondbacks and enjoyed meeting Dave Stewart and De Jon Watson during my recent workouts. I have great expectations for my career and cannot wait to join the team and start my big league career." Where Tomas will play on Opening Day is to be determined. This much is certain: He will be given the opportunity to win the job at third base. He could play in the outfield or he could start the season in the Minor Leagues. ----

Arizona Diamondbacks -- ✔ @Dbacks Done deal. ---- "Obviously, I was with Yoenis Cespedes when he came to Oakland. He stepped right in and was really a big help to us over in Oakland," D-backs manager Chip Hale said. "Now, we're hoping Tomas can do the same thing for us. And I think coming in to play third base is a bonus for us. So we have to see him, put our eyes on him, both at third base and with a bat and see how he does at Spring Training. We're hoping that he can break with the team. If not, needs some more seasoning and that happens, too." Like Cespedes in Oakland, the D-backs plan on using personnel to assist Tomas with his adjustment to life on and off the field in the United States. "The game starts with talent and this young man has very special talent," said Tony La Russa, the club's president of baseball operations. "There was a lot of competition for him and we are really thankful that our ownership stepped up. Early on in the process, we were not sure if we could be a factor, but they said, 'Go for it.'" Tomas' contract is the biggest deal in club history. The contract also includes an opt-out clause after four years. "My thought is we get the first four years with him and if he plays well, we are not afraid as an organization," Dave Stewart, D-backs general manager, said. "We made a big step in bringing him here in this moment at this time. If he plays well, my guess is ownership would want to extend his contract before his opt-out comes. We don't have any fear at this moment that will be able to negotiate something with more length if he plays well."

The details of Tomas' escape from Cuba remain mysterious, but here's what we know: Tomas left the island in June and landed in Haiti, where he later established residency. He was unblocked by the U.S. Department of Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) in September and was declared a free agent by Major League Baseball a few weeks later. The son of a fuel-truck driver, Tomas is from the La Cuevita San Miguel del Padron section of Havana. He began playing baseball at age 6 with the other neighborhood children in the street, and he often tagged along with his grandfather to watch the hometown Havana Industriales play. "I'm excited about who he is as a man," said De Jon Watson, D-backs senior vice president, baseball operations. "The first time I met him in the Dominican, our conversation was solid and we talked about some of the players I had with the Dodgers in my past. We had good conversations and good dialogue. He told me different stories about those players and opened himself to me to see who he was as a player." On the field, Tomas played five seasons for the Havana Industriales in the Serie Nacional in Cuba. Overall, he hit 30 home runs with 104 RBIs in 205 regular-season games for the Industriales, starting in 2008. However, he never played more than 69 games during the Serie Nacional's 90-game regular season and did not play during the 2010-11 season. "We are absolutely ecstatic about having him in our organization," Stewart said. "There were a lot of organizations that were seeking to have this young man play for them. Our ownership gave us the backing to go out and make that signing. He's going to be an impact in our lineup, for our community and for our team. We are expected big things from him."

Tomas' talent potential rings true for D-backs La Russa says Cuban slugger brings 'special thump' but could need time in Minors By Phil Rogers / MLB.com http://m.dbacks.mlb.com/news/article/103547180/phil-rogers-yasmany-tomas-talent-rings-true-for-diamondbacks SAN DIEGO -- There's something about the way the ball jumps off the bats of the best hitters. Always has been, always will be. They swing easy and the ball screams toward the outfield. Whether it was Julio Franco or Magglio Ordonez, Roberto Alomar or a young Ken Griffey Jr., you could close your eyes and know they were the best hitters on the field. You could hear their talent in batting practice, when pitch after pitch jumped off the bat barrel. Tony La Russa believes Yasmany Tomas is that kind of a hitter, which is why the Arizona Diamondbacks waded into the bidding for him and walked away with their prize, $68.5 million later. "He has a special thump," La Russa said on Monday, when the D-backs announced a deal they had agreed to Nov. 26. "The ball comes off his bat more special than a power hitter, an average power hitter. That's a good place to start. The character, the [other] things we've studied, the athleticism, it all adds up."

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Few had seen Arizona coming on the 24-year-old Tomas, who first caught the eye of many North American scouts with the light-tower power he showed taking batting practice at the 2013 World Baseball Classic. The Giants, Braves, Padres and Phillies were the teams said to have the most interest in him, but the more research that La Russa and his staff -- headed by GM Dave Stewart and senior VP of baseball operations De Jon Watson -- did on Tomas, the more convinced they were that he could be a shortcut back to contention in the National League West. Their faith in Tomas was returned to them when Ken Kendrick's ownership group signed off on the biggest contract in franchise history. "When his name was being bandied about, we had De Jon down there [in the Dominican Republic] with all the scouts," said La Russa, the D-backs' chief baseball officer. "The number started getting up to 60, 70 [million dollars]. De Jon and the scouts like him. 'Stew' went down there and saw him. Our ownership said, 'We can make this happen.' There was no one talking about the Diamondbacks, were they?" Stewart admitted that he had some serious trepidation entering the process. But his scouts sold him on Tomas having the same competitive fire and skilled hitting approach that sold Major League clubs on fellow Cuban sluggers Yoenis Cespedes, Yasiel Puig and Jose Abreu. "Once you do your research, you talk to guys who have seen him play, seen him interact, seen him perform, it became a little easier as time passed to make it happen," Stewart said. "But initially, you've got to believe that's a lot of money to be passing out on any player. At this day and time, when a player hasn't played here, hasn't been proven here, it makes it even a little more uncomfortable." When the return is as high as it could be with Tomas, an aggressive team will always take a risk. There's a lot still to be learned about Tomas, of course. The D-backs aren't sure if he will break camp with the Major League team in April, which is why they insist that they aren't going to trade Mark Trumbo, the outfielder who joins Paul Goldschmidt and Tomas to give new manager Chip Hale a trio of right-handed power hitters. "We're starting to build the kind of depth that a team needs," La Russa said. "We like Trumbo a lot. The way we envision our club is with Trumbo and the other guys we put in there. What we want to do is be fair to Tomas. We want to look at him. We know he's a special talent. Puig went to the Minor Leagues to start. We want to be fair to him. There's enough room on our roster for guys like Trumbo, [A.J.] Pollock and Tomas." ----

Arizona Diamondbacks -- ✔ @Dbacks "The game starts with talent. This young man's got very special talent." -Tony La Russa, on Yasmany Tomas ----

Tomas played some third base in Cuba and will get a look there for the D-backs. Scouts with other teams scoff at the idea of him being agile enough to play there, but there were also a lot of guys who didn't think Abreu could handle Major League pitching. History says you better be careful betting against Cuban players. "He'll be really excited to play at the Major League level," Watson said. "When you watch these kids play in the WBC, against the best players, their focus is a little more detailed, really the execution of the game [is better]. I think when we see him compete against some of the best players in the game, I do see him turning his game up a little bit." La Russa and Stewart know there's a lot more work to do before anyone is talking about the D-backs in the same breath as the Giants and Dodgers. But they're gambling that they just added a game-changer, and for their regime, it's only the start.

Source: Cubs close to Montero trade By Jerry Crasnick / ESPN.com http://espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/story/_/id/12004747/chicago-cubs-close-deal-catcher-miguel-montero SAN DIEGO -- The Chicago Cubs are closing in on a deal to acquire catcher Miguel Montero from the Arizona Diamondbacks, a baseball source confirmed to ESPN.com Tuesday. Montero, 31, is a .264 career hitter with a .763 OPS over parts of nine seasons in Arizona. He made the National League All-Star team in 2011 and 2014. He's in the middle of a five-year, $60 million contract and has $40 million owed him over the next three seasons. The Montero trade is the latest move in a busy offseason for the Diamondbacks, who have already acquired pitcher Jeremy Hellickson from Tampa Bay in a trade, sent shortstop Didi Gregorius to the New York Yankees in another deal, and signed Cuban outfielder Yasmany Tomas to a six-year, $68.5 million contract as a free agent. Trade talks between the teams appeared to hit a lull late Monday night, according to a person familiar with the discussions, but the Cubs ratcheted up their offer to bring the deal close to fruition. Arizona will receive a package of "young prospects'' in the trade, the source said. The Cubs recently hired former Arizona coach Henry Blanco, and he is expected to continue to mentor Montero on the defensive side during the catcher's transition to Chicago. Montero improved his pitch-framing last season and threw out almost 30 percent of runners attempting to steal. Montero, a left-handed hitter, brings an offensive upgrade to a Chicago catching contingent that ranked 21st in the majors with a .684 OPS last season. Montero could be part of a platoon in Chicago with Welington Castillo, a righty bat who hit .301 with a .505 OPS against lefties in 2014.

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Cubs grab pitching, might add catching in form of D-backs' Montero By Jesse Rogers / ESPNChicago.com http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/28230/cubs-grab-pitching-might-add-catching-in-form-of-d-backs-montero?ex_cid=espnapi_public SAN DIEGO – The Chicago Cubs began Monday at the winter meetings agreeing to terms with a pitcher and ended it by being on the verge of trading for a catcher, according to various media reports. These are not your rebuilding Cubs anymore. They’re busier than ever. No, they didn’t catch themselves the big fish in Jon Lester -- not yet, at least -- but they always said they were after more than just one arm, and Jason Hammel's two-year deal for “only” $20 million is a perfect fit for a second-tier guy. Hammel returns to the place where he began last season, as his first half in Chicago was worthy of another go-around. The right-hander was fantastic before being traded July 5 to the Oakland Athletics along with Jeff Samardzija for shortstop Addison Russell and outfielder Billy McKinney. Hammel, 32, could be throwing to catcher Miguel Montero, whom the Cubs are rumored to be in the hunt to acquire from the Arizona Diamondbacks. Late Monday, Montero tweeted his curiosity about which team he might be playing for. ----

miguel montero -- ✔ @miggymont26 Any of you know where do I'm going to ? ---- The lefty-hitting Montero has the glove to go along with a pretty consistent bat to give the Cubs a good righty/lefty catching combination -- at least for now. What the addition of Montero would mean for incumbent Welington Castillo is unclear, but the bridge to 2014 first-round pick Kyle Schwarber would be set. Montero, 31, hit 13 home runs and drove in 72 last season while hitting .243. He also ranked at the top of the league in pitch-framing, a Castillo weakness. He might not have the cachet that Russell Martin might have brought, but Montero isn’t a bad second option -- and he would come at about half the price of Martin, given that he’s owed $40 million over the next three years. “We’ve had a lot of conversations,” Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer said earlier Monday. “Day 1 is to make a lot of phone calls and have as many conversations as you can.” It looks as if a couple of those calls are leading to deals in advance of what should be decision day for Lester. If there is one thing the Cubs lack -- at least compared to the teams they look to be competing against for Lester -- it is a winning roster. The additions of Hammel and Montero would make the Cubs better Tuesday than they were Monday. The moves can only help in the pursuit of Lester, who would now know he’ll throw to one of the better receivers in the game.

The Cubs have yet to make the signing of Hammel or the trade for Montero official.

Andrew Friedman said he'd deal inside the NL West By Mark Saxon / ESPNLosAngeles.com http://espn.go.com/blog/los-angeles/dodger-report/post/_/id/12972/andrew-friedman-said-hed-deal-inside-the-nl-west?ex_cid=espnapi_public SAN DIEGO -- The Los Angeles Dodgers wouldn't hesitate to make a deal with a team inside their division, according to president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman. That sentiment adds credence to recent rumors involving the San Diego Padres and Arizona Diamondbacks trying to acquire the Dodgers' outfielders. "For me, there are 29 other trade outlets, and to cut off four of them makes our job even more difficult," Friedman said. "It just makes it even more difficult to line up and do deals that make sense." Friedman, in fact, said he wouldn't necessarily require division rivals to pay a higher premium for Dodgers players than he would teams from other divisions or in the American League. Diamondbacks chief baseball officer Tony La Russa said at the winter meetings Monday that his team discussed a deal that would have brought Andre Ethier to Arizona (his home state) and netted the Dodgers catcher Miguel Montero. Friedman wouldn't confirm those talks, but he said he understands Ethier's desire to play every day. "I'd feel the same way if I were him," Friedman said. La Russa said it's "less likely" such a deal gets done now, but he didn't rule it out. Meanwhile, the Padres continue to be linked in rumors involving Matt Kemp. A report in USA Today indicated the teams have discussed a deal involving Kemp and catcher Yasmani Grandal -- a switch-hitter who hit 15 home runs last season. Dealing Kemp, in conjunction with having lost Hanley Ramirez to the Boston Red Sox, could create a massive hole in the middle of the Dodgers' lineup. Kemp led the Dodgers in slugging, and Ramirez was fourth in that category. One major league scout wondered, "Who would protect Adrian [Gonzalez]?" To give up Kemp, the Dodgers would likely need to receive premium major league talent in return, but Friedman said it wouldn't necessarily require a middle-of-the-order bat to give one up. The Dodgers could simply go all-in on their pitching. "Generally speaking, our ability to score runs is so intertwined with our ability to prevent them, there's a connection there," Friedman said. "I'd be OK if we gave up 100 runs if we scored 200, to go to the extreme example."

Chip Hale Looking Forward To Competing By ESPN.com http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=12001807&ex_cid=espnapi_public

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Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale comments on what he's looking forward to the most in his first season on the job and Yasmany Tomas' role with the team. (Video embedded on webpage)

Diamondbacks Looking To Build Pitching By ESPN.com http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=12001767&ex_cid=espnapi_public Diamondbacks general manager Dave Stewart comments on the team's philosophy of building its pitching, where recently acquired Yasmany Tomas could play and how the team's lineup could shake out. (Video embedded on webpage)

Roundup: Kendrick Nixes Montero-Ethier Deal; Tomas to Try Third Base; Gregorius Trade Reaction By Ryan P. Morrison / ESPN.com - Inside the 'Zona http://insidethezona.com/2014/12/roundup-kendrick-nixes-miguel-montero-andre-ethier-deal/ Toward the end of Episode 8 of The Pool Shot, Jeff and I talked through some sixteen left-handed “middle of the order” bats, guys who had hit a decent number of home runs against right-handed pitchers in 2014 and who could conceivably (in my mind) be available. We left out a few first basemen who couldn’t play elsewhere, but otherwise didn’t pay attention to position played — since the D-backs are still stocked everywhere on the field, even after trading Didi Gregorius. We found a few that might be fits (Josh Reddick, Juan Francisco, Carlos Gonzalez), but overall, the review led us to believe that adding a left-handed bat would be very difficult. That exercise was prompted by this tweet from Fox Sports’s Jack Magruder: ---- Jack Magruder -- @JackMagruder #Dbacks will not move Trumbo, Stewart said. Still in market for left-handed power bat to hit in@middle of order, Stew added ---- The hardest part is finding a position to upgrade; the D-backs have an overflowing outfield crew that includes two lefties with potential (David Peralta, Ender Inciarte), although just one, Peralta, is likely to be viewed as a “middle of the order” bat. That’s part of why we talked about Juan Francisco despite my love affair with Jake Lamb; if Lamb starts the season in the minors but Yasmany Tomas is also being tried out in the minors at third base, there could potentially be some room there. And if Tomas doesn’t look like a long-term third baseman, Francisco could stay in the mix and be a helpful pinch hitter off the bench, a lot like Eric Chavez was when he did so well in 2013 and 2014. But here’s the thing: the D-backs already have one of the most outstanding, arguably middle-of-the-order left-handed bats in the game at one position: catcher. Yes, maybe one regrets a bit that most of the team’s top hitters bat right-handed. But if you’ve got Miguel Montero in the mix, with help from David Peralta and possibly Jake Lamb, performance against right-handed pitching isn’t likely to be a weak spot.

Unless, of course, Montero is traded. Ken Rosenthal wrote Saturday night that the Dodgers and D-backs had agreed to a trade that would have sent Montero and “lower-level prospects” to Los Angeles for Andre Ethier, Tim Federowicz, and some cash to help defray the difference between Ethier’s salary and Montero’s. Rosenthal also reported that it was D-backs ownership that stopped the trade in its tracks, and it’s been rumored that Kendrick did so because he likes Montero. Who knows how close this was to happening, and if it was really Kendrick who nixed the deal. That’s one way to kill a deal when you have second thoughts, without losing face with the people you negotiated with. Just ask Theo Epstein, who had Larry Lucchino fall on the sword to prevent a Kelly Shoppach to Colorado deal because Epstein had agreed in principle but then found a better swap. But if Kendrick really did step in of his own accord, that really flies in the face of what we thought they were building with Tony La Russa at the helm as Chief Baseball Officer. The idea, I believe, was to give CEO Derrick Hall and Kendrick an interpreter of sorts; I would have thought that by handing over the keys to La Russa, they were entrusting him with final say over baseball moves. Two years from now, this non-move could be cited as the first incident in a series that led to an ugly divorce. Or it could be that Kendrick just has a favorite player, a lot like Orioles owner Peter Angelos did with Nick Markakis. In terms of the baseball decision to not make this trade, though, I think Kendrick got this one right. I’m not Montero’s biggest supporter, although he has been fantastic in the pitch framing department. Considering we’ve seen the pitching staff underperform so consistently, though, any change might be a good idea. I don’t yet have the data to suggest that it was rigid pitching plans that has caused pitchers’ downfall, but something is going on. To the extent there’s a chance that pitch calling is to blame, trading Montero is a good idea. It’s the return that is curious. If the D-backs are determined to add a left-handed bat, Ethier is not the worst idea. But that doesn’t make it a good idea. When I was scanning for players for that exercise on The Pool Shot, I stopped at Chris Coghlan, who had a lowly total of 9 home runs last season. That’s why I didn’t even detect Ethier, who hit all of four home runs in 2014. It was just 380 plate appearances, but still — prorate that, and you get six bomb. In 2013, Ethier played more and hit 12 home runs. There is every reason to think that Ethier will be an above-average hitter next year (Steamer projects a 111 wRC+), especially since 2014 was Ethier’s first season below a 120 wRC+ mark since 2007. But what would the D-backs have done? Played Ethier every day? If so, they would have dealt with his weakness against left-handed pitching: career 75 wRC+. The only reason to acquire a left-handed bat for the outfield is to think doing so would make for an upgrade over David Peralta. That was the yardstick that Jeff and I agreed to use on The Pool Shot, and I can’t think of a reason to abandon it. Peralta has played so little in the majors (or, indeed, in organized baseball) that projections are going to regress to the mean for him more than for the average player.

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But he’s still projected to be an above-average hitter next year, if barely (Steamer: 102 wRC+). Another way to look at this: Ethier’s projection is a 111 wRC+. In 2014, Peralta produced runs to the tune of a 110 wRC+. One point of wRC+ is a rounding error, not a reason to ditch Miguel Montero. We may have dodged a bullet here. Although it would have been fun to have Tim Federowicz (I am very impressed with the D-backs’ effort to acquire him), especially after that game last season in which he was called for catcher interference twice with Paul Goldschmidt at the plate (in the same game!). One of the results was… not so good. Note how Goldy’s bat shoves Federowicz’s glove out of the way: On to the links: •We also discussed this on Episode 8 of The Pool Shot (partly, answering a Twitter question from Dustin Dietz): the D-backs will reportedly try Yasmany Tomas at third base, as Nick Piecoro writes. We do think it’ll increase the odds of Tomas starting in the minors, although a bit of time there can’t hurt anyway, especially if that gives Jake Lamb more of a chance to show who he is. There’s no data to say he can’t play third, and hopefully if he can’t, he won’t (although the team seems intent on filling up the outfield enough to make that very difficult). I’m skeptical, but if he can play even fringe-average defense, third base is probably a wise idea — especially if that means more playing time for Ender Inciarte in the outfield. The quote from an “executive with an AL team” is perfect. •If you want another reminder of how spoiled we are to have Nick Piecoro covering the D-backs, I encourage you to give all of his offseason overview piece from Saturday a thorough read. Hall’s payroll comments seem unrealistic, but not alarming. The only thing that worries me is Stewart’s comments about how adding to the outfield without subtracting is possible because Peralta and Inciarte can be optioned. What exactly was 2014, if not some good evidence that both guys could be worthy of starting roles? My ideal outfield would have Inciarte playing almost every day, and Peralta platooning against RHP. And as noted above: any lefty addition to the outfield had better be a significant step up from Peralta, who is not an All-Star, but who can still be an above-average hitter, especially if Cody Ross sticks around. •Bob McManaman thinks Didi Gregorius will fail with New York. That may be true, but that doesn’t mean McManaman has the faintest idea what he’s talking about. Some (including Steve Berthiaume, apparently) regularly accuse sabermetricians of cherry-picking numbers to suit an argument. That’s ugly and despicable, and I think wrong. Sure, you might get a research idea in a vacuum, and there is a selection bias for writers because if the research shows that something just isn’t a big deal, you might not write it (although you might). But that’s not intellectual dishonesty, that’s intellectual honesty. You let the numbers tell you what the conclusion is. Here, McManaman commits the sin of cherry-picking, citing not just Gregorius’s batting average, which is only slightly below league average (which he doesn’t know), but his atrocious average against lefties. Bob, that means he’s got a good batting average against righties. Which kind of undermines your conclusion, especially

with your assumption that the Yankees will use him as an everyday player. •Jeff Sullivan analyzed the three-team deal that sent Gregorius to New York, with a number of interesting D-backs notes. Like I did, Sullivan focuses a bit on Robbie Ray‘s drops in strikeout rate as he climbed the minor league ladder, although he brings up a Buster Olney tweet that I had missed, reminding us that the D-backs recently added Mike Russell from the Tigers, who probably knows a thing or three about both Ray and Domingo Leyba. That’s a good sign. Not as good: Sullivan thinks the D-backs didn’t get ripped off, but that they got the “worst exchange” of the three teams. Sullivan makes a lot of great points, but the main thing I’d add is the position of the D-backs. Sullivan may prefer Shane Greene to the Ray/Leyba package, but does he prefer Greene to Jeremy Hellickson? The D-backs have a number of Shane Greenes, even if Greene ends up being better (a good chance of that, considering Greene is the one that won’t be pitching in Arizona). Lottery tickets like Ray are worth more to the D-backs than to t he average team, maybe. •According to Adam Rubin and GM Sandy Alderson, the D-backs didn’t have extensive conversations with the Mets about Gregorius, but the did reach out about a swap for Noah Syndergaard. Sure, that would have been great, but I would have been shocked if the Mets had gone for that. Maybe it was a starting point, with the D-backs prepared to kick something else in. I’m sure there are dozens of other offers that don’t get reported, but the Mets folks were probably sniffing around with that team an obvious fit. •Blake Beavan‘s star has fallen quite a bit, but he is one of a handful of minor league signings “with major league potential” identified by Baseball America’s Matt Eddy ($). Also signed: catcher Blake Lalli, who was the club’s fourth-string catcher last year, after Montero, Tuffy Gosewisch, and Bobby Wilson. Apparently right-hander J.C. Ramirez has intriguing stuff. Also signed were third baseman Jamie Romak, journeyman shortstop Ronald Ramirez, and outfielder Carlo Testa, who signed out of independent ball.

Cubs “on the verge of acquiring” Diamondbacks catcher Miguel Montero By Aaron Gleeman / NBCSports.com http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/12/09/cubs-on-the-verge-of-acquiring-diamondbacks-catcher-miguel-montero/related/ Monday’s rumored trade is apparently close to a done deal, as Bob Nightingale of USA Today reports that the Cubs “are on the verge of acquiring” Diamondbacks catcher Miguel Montero. Montero was an All-Star in 2011 and signed a five-year, $60 million contract extension in May of 2012, but he’s failed to crack a .700 OPS in each of the past two seasons and is now 31 years old. He’s owed $12 million in 2015, $14 million in 2016, and $14 million in 2017. Chicago was looking to upgrade at catcher following a poor year from Welington Castillo. Arizona is expected to receive a pair of minor leaguers and it’s unclear if any money will be changing hands to cover Montero’s salaries.

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Tony La Russa denies Diamondbacks ownership blocked Miguel Montero-for-Andre Ethier By Drew Silva / NBCSports.com http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/12/08/tony-la-russa-denies-diamondbacks-ownership-blocked-miguel-montero-for-andre-ethier/ FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal reported over the weekend that Diamondbacks majority owner Ken Kendrick vetoed a trade that would have sent Dodgers outfielder Andre Ethier, catcher Tim Federowicz, and cash to Arizona for catcher Miguel Montero and multiple lower-level prospects. It was a concerning story — meddlesome ownership rejecting the ideas of a brand new management team? — but now comes a firm denial from Diamondbacks chief baseball officer Tony La Russa … ---- Nick Piecoro @nickpiecoro Tony La Russa said ownership did not block a Montero/Ethier deal with the Dodgers from happening, contrary to a published report. ---- La Russa added that ownership has not deemed Montero untouchable and that a trade with the Dodgers could still happen, though he said “the conversations are not what they were before” and “it’s less likely.”

Mark Trumbo “definitely in play” for a trade By Drew Silva / NBCSports.com http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/12/08/mark-trumbo-definitely-in-play-for-a-trade/ Diamondbacks general manager Dave Stewart denied last week that he was looking to trade Mark Trumbo, but that doesn’t appear to be the case. Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports says Trumbo is “definitely in play” at this week’s Winter Meetings and that the slugger was recently floated as part of a three-way trade that ultimately fell through. Trumbo appeared in only 88 games this past season for Arizona because of a stress fracture in his left foot and wound up batting .235/.293/.415 with 14 home runs and 61 RBI. He’s owed a raise this winter in his second year of arbitration eligibility and the Diamondbacks will have a corner outfield logjam if Yasmany Tomas can’t pick up third base. Trumbo made $4.8 million in 2014, his first year of arbitration.

Report: Cubs on verge of acquiring Diamondbacks C Miguel Montero By SI.com http://www.si.com/mlb/2014/12/09/miguel-montero-trade-chicago-cubs-arizona-diamondbacks The Chicago Cubs are on the verge of acquiring Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Miguel Montero, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today. Montero, 31, made his second All-Star appearance last season as an injury replacement for St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina. Montero hit .243 with 13 home runs and 72 RBIs in 136

games for the D-backs, and is also known as a strong defensive catcher. For his career, Montero is a .264 hitter with 97 home runs and 448 RBIs over nine seasons with Arizona. Montero is due $12 million in 2015 and $14 million in both 2016 and 2017. According to Nightengale's report, the deal would be for prospects and is expected to be official by the end of Tuesday.

Cubs close to acquiring Miguel Montero from Diamondbacks By Jacob R. Misener / SI.com http://calltothepen.com/2014/12/08/cubs-close-acquiring-miguel-montero-diamondbacks/ After missing out in their attempt to land free agent catcher Russell Martin earlier in the offseason, the Chicago Cubs are reportedly nearing a deal to address their lack of depth behind the dish by acquiring Miguel Montero from the Arizona Diamondbacks. The deal has not yet been confirmed, but with the rumors swirling for weeks, it appears as if the talks are nearing a head. ---- z ---- The return for new Arizona general manager Dave Stewart remains unclear, although it has been reported that pitching prospects are believed to be sought by the Diamondbacks. However, with multiple reports indicating the club is looking for Chicago to assume most – if not all – of Montero’s $40 million salary over the next three years, the quality of such prospects likely would not catch the eye of Cubs fans. According to Rosenthal, the two teams will continue to talk Monday night – even while Chicago awaits the long-anticipated decision of free agent left-hander Jon Lester, who is reportedly close to deciding where he will sign, with the Cubs mentioned as one of the finalists. Montero, 31, is coming off the second All-Star selection in his big league career, and would likely form a tandem with current Cubs backstop Welington Castillo should the trade be completed. Last season, Montero batted .243/.329/.370 in 136 games with the Diamondbacks, adding 13 home runs and 72 RBIs. During his big league career, the former amateur free agent averaged 17 long-balls and 80 runs batted in per 162-game season, while also emerging as one of the top premier game-callers behind the plate. StatCorner points out that, defensively, Montero led the league in terms of value with pitch framing, while Castillo found himself on the opposite side of the spectrum. The Cubs’ backstop’s defensive woes, namely with pitch framing, are long-documented, and his regression offensively in 2014 has led many to speculate what his future with the organization may be.

MLB free agents 2015: D-backs get Yasmany Tomas deal done By Tom Gatto / Sporting News

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http://www.sportingnews.com/mlb/story/2014-12-08/mlb-free-agents-2015-winter-meetings-yasmany-tomas-diamondbacks-contract-cuban The Diamondbacks on Monday finalized a six-year contract with Cuban slugger Yasmany Tomas. Financial terms were not disclosed, but earlier reports said Tomas will make about $68 million. ----

Steve Berthiaume -- ✔ @BertDbacks #Dbacks make Yasmany Tomas signing official. RT/ Done deal. ---- “My dream has always been to play with the best players in the world and that’s in Major League Baseball,” Tomas said in a statement. “I have a lot of respect for the Diamondbacks and enjoyed meeting Dave Stewart and De Jon Watson during my recent workouts. I have great expectations for my career and cannot wait to join the team and start my big league career.” Arizona announced the signing at the winter meetings in San Diego. ---- Nick Piecoro -- @nickpiecoro Dbacks officially announce the Yasmany Tomas contract. ---- Tomas, 24, figures to play a corner spot for Arizona, either third base, left field or right field. The D-backs, though, have a glut of corner outfielders in Mark Trumbo, Cody Ross, David Peralta and Ender Inciarte, and two other third base candidates in Aaron Hill and Jake Lamb. Diamondbacks general manager Dave Stewart told reporters recently that Tomas also could begin the season in the minor leagues to get acclimated to the North American game. "We're going to let spring training judge that, see what he does in the spring," Stewart told the Republic's Nick Piecoro and other reporters. "We're not opposed to sending him back, basically, really just to get acclimated to playing here and in our system. We're not opposed to him being in the minor leagues, but we're going to let his spring training talk for him."

Cubs interested in Miguel Montero By Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/chi-cubs-pursuing-miguel-montero-20141208-story.html SAN DIEGO -- The excitement over acquiring infielder Tommy La Stella last month would pale in comparison for the Chicago Cubs should they land two-time All-Star catcher Miguel Montero from the Arizona Diamondbacks. A source confirmed the Cubs' interest in Montero, 31, who will earn $40 million over the final three years of his contract.

The Cubs have been very transparent in their search for a catching upgrade, having lost out on free agent Russell Martin to the Toronto Blue Jays last month. But acquiring Montero would help the Cubs in three important areas: Defense: Montero is considered a strong receiver and one of the best catchers at framing pitches. Offense: Montero is a left-handed hitter, and the Cubs have been trying to balance their predominantly right-handed hitting lineup. Montero is a lifetime .264 hitter, although he has batted only .237 over the past two seasons. Leadership: Montero was considered a good influence on the younger players with the Diamondbacks, and he could help the maturation process of the prized prospects arriving on the major league level. If the Cubs complete a deal, Montero would take over the large majority of the catching duties from Welington Castillo, who is arbitration eligible. Two reports stated the Cubs likely would move two Class-A pitchers to acquire Montero. Montero has caught 131 games or more in three of the past four seasons. His talents and contract status would allow the Cubs to not feel the urge to rush 2014 first round pick Kyle Schwarber, who will catch on a full-time basis in 2015 - most likely at Double-A Tennessee - after splitting his time between the outfield, catcher and designated hitter. Adding Montero undoubtedly would give the Cubs their most significant left-handed hitter since the middle of last season, when they acquired outfielder Bill McKinney and catcher-infielder Victor Caratini (a switch-hitter) in trades from the Oakland Athletics and Atlanta Braves and added La Stella (who hits for a high average while not striking out much and possessing a high on-base percentage) from the Braves. Adding marquee left-hander Jon Lester and Montero could push the Cubs' efforts toward contending in 2015 more realistic. But the San Francisco Giants' interest in Lester remains strong. An agent who had a 4 p.m. meeting scheduled with Giants officials was still waiting three hours later, apparently because the Giants were in discussions regarding Lester. "If we weren't a viable candidate, we would have been told," Giants general manager Brian Sabean told the San Francisco Chronicle.

Cubs in talks to acquire Miguel Montero from Diamondbacks By Patrick Mooney / CSN Chicago http://www.csnchicago.com/cubs/cubs-talks-acquire-miguel-montero-diamondbacks SAN DIEGO – The Cubs are discussing a deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks that would bring All-Star catcher Miguel Montero to Wrigley Field. The Cubs wouldn’t be trading off their 40-man roster or giving up talent that’s close to big-league ready, a source said Monday night, confirming talks first reported by Fox Sports.

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In this scenario, the Cubs would take on the three years and $40 million left on Montero’s contract, giving up two pitchers from the lower levels of their farm system. The Cubs could close the deal this week in San Diego during the winter meetings at the Manchester Grand Hyatt. It’s been a long time coming for president of baseball operations Theo Epstein, who tried to acquire Montero for the Boston Red Sox. At the age of 31, Montero isn’t quite the same player anymore. His .OPS has gone from .829 to .662 to .699 across the last three years. But he would bring a veteran presence to the clubhouse, a left-handed bat for the lineup and pitch-framing skills behind the plate. Montero hit .243 with 13 homers and 72 RBI last season and could form a good combination with Welington Castillo. Catching remains one of the organization’s biggest needs and the Cubs had to do something after missing out on Russell Martin, who grabbed a five-year, $82 million deal from the Toronto Blue Jays last month.

December 9, 2014 • sports.yahoo.com/mlb/morenews http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/morenews December 9, 2014

Chicago, for now, is the center of the baseball universe 1:56 pm EST (Yahoo Sports)

Seven teams have reportedly inquired about Dan Uggla for reasons that escape me 1:45 pm EST (NBC Sports)

Waiting for Lester at winter meetings 1:44 pm EST (The Associated Press)

Duquette staying put as Beeston stays in Toronto 1:40 pm EST (Comcast SportsNet Mid Atlantic)

Francisco Liriano re-signs with the Pirates for $39 million 1:32 pm EST (NBC Sports)

AP source: Robertson, White Sox reach 4-year deal 1:27 pm EST (The Associated Press)

White Sox want to sign Jeff Samardzija to long-term deal 1:17 pm EST (NBC Sports)

Report: Dodgers, Padres “working hard” on a Matt Kemp deal, which is “getting closer” 1:09 pm EST (NBC Sports)

Kenny Williams on White Sox acquiring Samardzija, Robertson: 'Exactly what we wanted' 1:09 pm EST (Comcast SportsNet Chicago)

Samardzija traded to the White Sox 1:02 pm EST (The Associated Press)

Are the White Sox this year's offseason winners? 12:58 pm EST (Comcast SportsNet Mid Atlantic)

Fantasy Risers: AL West 12:53 pm EST (Rotoworld)

Shark Watch: White Sox-A's make Samardzija trade offical 12:52 pm EST (Comcast SportsNet Chicago)

A's send Samardzija, Ynoa to White Sox for four players 12:50 pm EST (Comcast SportsNet Bay Area)

The Braves to acquire Alberto Callaspo 12:41 pm EST (NBC Sports)

Giants unsure where they stack up in Lester sweepstakes 12:20 pm EST (Comcast SportsNet Bay Area)

The Reds are reportedly open to trading Aroldis Chapman 12:19 pm EST (NBC Sports)

Don Cooper: David Robertson stabilizes White Sox bullpen 12:18 pm EST (Comcast SportsNet Chicago)

Cubs “on the verge of acquiring” Diamondbacks catcher Miguel Montero 12:03 pm EST (NBC Sports)

Madison Bumgarner once dated someone named Madison Bumgarner 11:18 am EST (NBC Sports)

Reds interested in John Axford 10:47 am EST (NBC Sports)

Mets “aggressively shopping” Dillon Gee 10:15 am EST (NBC Sports)

Angels claim they aren’t shopping C.J. Wilson 9:25 am EST (NBC Sports)

UPDATE: It looks like the Blue Jays aren’t getting rid of Paul Beeston after all 9:12 am EST (NBC Sports)

Red Sox make multi-year offer to Justin Masterson 8:45 am EST (NBC Sports)

Lester has four offers in the $150 million range, and one team may go an extra year 8:29 am EST (NBC Sports)

Source: A's deal Samardzija to White Sox 4:39 am EST (Comcast SportsNet Bay Area)

A’s to get Marcus Semien, Chris Bassitt from White Sox for Jeff Samardzija 3:05 am EST (NBC Sports)

Are Nats all-in for 2015 or still focused on future? 2:48 am EST (Comcast SportsNet Mid Atlantic)

Beane: Recent trades 'about the next few years' 2:22 am EST (Comcast SportsNet Bay Area)

Beane has turned A's into ultimate cyclical crop 2:09 am EST (Comcast SportsNet Bay Area)

Miller could get chance as Yankees closer 2:05 am EST (The Associated Press)

Huge questions for Nats at Winter Meetings 2:05 am EST (Comcast SportsNet Mid Atlantic)

SportsNet Central: Sox reportedly land Samardzija 1:48 am EST (Comcast SportsNet Chicago)

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Report: White Sox trade for Jeff Samardzija, sign Robertson 1:41 am EST (Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia)

Winter Meetings: Day One 1:29 am EST (Rotoworld)

The Yankees never made an offer to David Robertson 1:14 am EST (NBC Sports)

White Sox land David Robertson on four-year deal 1:03 am EST (Comcast SportsNet Chicago)

Merloni: Who should Sox target if they lose Lester? 1:00 am EST (Comcast SportsNet New England)

Jon Lester remains the key to the free-agent market 12:55 am EST (Yahoo Sports)

White Sox agree to terms on four-year, $46 million contract with closer David Robertson 12:42 am EST (NBC Sports)

Chase Headley expected to sign by end of Winter Meetings 12:35 am EST (NBC Sports)

December 8, 2014

Yankees still in on David Robertson, could go four years 11:43 pm EST (NBC Sports)

Banister looking forward to a healthy Texas lineup 11:19 pm EST (The Associated Press)

New York Yankees' Jason Zillo wins Fishel Award 11:16 pm EST (The Associated Press)

Decision time is coming for Cubs and Jon Lester 10:58 pm EST (Comcast SportsNet Chicago)

White Sox reportedly nearing trade for Jeff Samardzija 10:50 pm EST (NBC Sports)

A's pitcher Jeff Samardzija traded to White Sox 10:47 pm EST (Comcast SportsNet Chicago)

Regrets on Lester low-ball offer? Cherington won't say 10:42 pm EST (Comcast SportsNet New England)

Phillies face challenges trying to make 'real-world' trades 10:37 pm EST (Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia)

Report: A's close to trading Samardzija to White Sox 10:37 pm EST (Comcast SportsNet Bay Area)

Sox willing to acquire pitchers headed to free agency 10:28 pm EST (Comcast SportsNet New England)

Report: Mariners in lead to land Melky Cabrera 10:26 pm EST (Comcast SportsNet Bay Area)

Diamondbacks finalize $68.5M deal with Tomas 10:26 pm EST (The Associated Press)

Carlos Martinez will wear No. 18 to honor Oscar Taveras 10:17 pm EST (NBC Sports)

Red Sox continue to wait on Lester's decision 10:08 pm EST (Comcast SportsNet New England)

Hahn: Hot stove rumors make process 'extremely difficult' 10:05 pm EST (Comcast SportsNet Chicago)

Kevin Cash embraces challenge of following Joe Maddon as Rays manager 10:04 pm EST (Yahoo Sports)

Cubs in talks to acquire Miguel Montero from Diamondbacks 9:58 pm EST (Comcast SportsNet Chicago)

Nats open to options at second (or third) base 9:48 pm EST (Comcast SportsNet Mid Atlantic)

Cubs, Diamondbacks discussing Miguel Montero trade 9:39 pm EST (NBC Sports)

Indians acquire Brandon Moss from Athletics 9:37 pm EST (The Associated Press)

Kendrys Morales is looking for “Billy Butler money” 9:21 pm EST (NBC Sports)

Report: Don't count out the Yankees with Lester 9:05 pm EST (Comcast SportsNet New England)

Tony La Russa denies Diamondbacks ownership blocked Miguel Montero-for-Andre Ethier 8:48 pm EST (NBC Sports)

Duquette: Free agent signings more likely than trades 8:26 pm EST (Comcast SportsNet Mid Atlantic)

Duquette, Williams not focused on Blue Jays' job 8:10 pm EST (The Associated Press)

Rizzo gives Storen vote of confidence as Nats closer 8:06 pm EST (Comcast SportsNet Mid Atlantic)

Angels have “gotten some hits” on C.J. Wilson 8:05 pm EST (NBC Sports)

Major League Baseball roundup 8:02 pm EST (Reuters)

Great news for Phillies if Jon Lester picks Giants 7:34 pm EST (Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia)

Indians have been asked about Carlos Santana 7:32 pm EST (NBC Sports)

Report: Braves and Rangers discusing Evan Gattis trade 7:26 pm EST (Comcast SportsNet Mid Atlantic)

The Yankees and Jon Lester? Crazy, right? Well 7:11 pm EST (NBC Sports)

Duquette says his focus is on Orioles 7:04 pm EST (Comcast SportsNet Mid Atlantic)

Pat Gillick on Amaro: “Ruben didn’t all of a sudden get dumb” 7:00 pm EST (NBC Sports)

Rangers, Braves reportedly talking Evan Gattis trade 6:49 pm EST (NBC Sports)

Cash: Honor to follow Maddon as Rays' manager 6:38 pm EST (The Associated Press)

Colby Rasmus is on the Royals’ radar 6:23 pm EST (NBC Sports)

Lame-duck GM? Pat Gillick has Ruben Amaro's back 6:21 pm EST (Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia)

December 9, 2014 • MLB.com http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/transactions

Last updated: Tue, December 9, 2014, 13:06 EST

Monday, December 8, 2014

Team Player Transaction

Arizona Diamondbacks

Zeke Spruill Designated for Assignment

Baltimore Orioles

Steve Lombardozzi

Outrighted to Minors

Baltimore Orioles Patrick McCoy Outrighted to Minors

Boston Red Sox Jemile Weeks Outrighted to Minors

Chicago White Sox

Rob Brantly

Acquired Off Waivers From from Marlins, Miami

Cleveland Indians Bryan Price Designated for Assignment

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Cleveland Indians Brandon Moss

Traded From from Athletics, Oakland (for 2B Joey Wendle)

Los Angeles Angels

Marc Krauss

Acquired Off Waivers From from Astros, Houston

Miami Marlins

Jhonatan Solano

Signed to a Minor League Contract

Pittsburgh Pirates Josh Lindblom

Acquired Off Waivers From from Athletics, Oakland

Texas Rangers Scott Barnes

Acquired Off Waivers From from Orioles, Baltimore

Toronto Blue Jays

Chris Colabello

Acquired Off Waivers From from Twins, Minnesota

Washington Nationals

Brandon Laird

Signed to Play in Japan, (Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters)

Sunday, December 7, 2014

Team Player Transaction

Oakland Athletics

Philip Humber

Signed to Play in Korea, (Kia Tigers)

Saturday, December 6, 2014

Team Player Transaction

Arizona Diamondbacks

J.C. Ramirez

Signed to a Minor League Contract

Miami Marlins

Chris Narveson

Signed to a Minor League Contract

Miami Marlins Cole Gillespie

Signed to a Minor League Contract

San Diego Padres Joe Wieland

Signed, ( 2015)(avoids arbitration)