Arizona Diamondbacks All-Time Team

The Suns lost their semi-final series to the Denver Nuggets and promptly fired their coach (Kevin Durant trade demand in 3...2....) The Coyotes are homeless and likely headed for Houston. The Cardinals traded out of the third overall pick in last month's draft and appear to be tanking for the top pick in 2024.

But at least Arizona has the Diamondbacks. Here's their all-time roster.

Like their expansion brethren in Tampa, the Diamondbacks have had only one home. That might change in the near future.

Bob Brenly came down from the broadcast booth to become the bench boss of Arizona's only championship team. His original lineup is arguably less impressive than the 2001 squad.

Goldschmidt and Gonzalez are locks. Montero and Tracy have scant competition. Everyone else is vulnerable.

As you might expect from a franchise that is only a quarter-century old, Arizona has accumulated some more infield options in recent years. 

Arizona did not carry a backup first baseman on their original roster. Christian Walker would be a fine understudy for their franchise star Paul Goldschmidt. He's got the inside track at a bench spot now that Craig Counsell is managing the All-Time Brewers.

	Diamondbacks stats	WAR	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	OPS+
	Christian Walker	10.3	0.250	0.329	0.460	0.789	112
	*Aaron Hill	6.8	0.273	0.331	0.439	0.769	108
	Nick Ahmed	12.6	0.236	0.290	0.381	0.671	77
	*Stephen Drew	13.2	0.266	0.328	0.436	0.765	96
	*Jay Bell	9.7	0.263	0.355	0.458	0.812	104
	*Chad Tracy	5.9	0.280	0.339	0.453	0.792	100
	Jake Lamb	7.5	0.239	0.329	0.433	0.762	97
x-	Craig Counsell	12.7	0.266	0.348	0.357	0.705	80

Jake Lamb doesn't hit enough to take Tracy's spot and Ahmed (second among AZ infielders in games played) doesn't hit at all. Jay Bell will be the middle infield backup.

Bob Brenly shuffles his outfield to make room for Ketel Marte, who can play anywhere in the middle of the diamond.

	Diamondbacks stats	WAR	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	OPS+
	*Steve Finley	18.0	0.278	0.351	0.500	0.851	111
	*A.J. Pollock	18.7	0.281	0.338	0.467	0.805	113
	*Chris Young	14.3	0.239	0.318	0.437	0.755	95
	*David Peralta	15.3	0.283	0.340	0.463	0.803	112
	Ketel Marte	18.2	0.283	0.350	0.475	0.825	119

Marte will start at DH, pushing David Peralta to the bench. Chris Young is the odd man out.


Brenly loses a key piece to his pitching rotation as a future Hall of Famer is assigned elsewhere.

Zack Greinke is a Royal, and Curt Schilling is a Phillie. That means the #2 starter behind the Big Unit is now Brandon Webb. The Diamondbacks don't have a lot of options for the back end of their rotation.

Below is a list of every eligible pitcher with over 100 starts for the franchise.

	Diamondbacks stats	WAR	ERA	ERA+	K/BB	WHIP	starts
	Brian Anderson	7.7	4.52	101	2.68	1.278	129
	Ian Kennedy	7.2	3.92	103	2.82	1.252	119
	Miguel Batista	11.6	3.99	117	1.66	1.364	109
	Merrill Kelly	9.6	3.87	110	2.97	1.217	106
	Wade Miley	5.2	3.79	103	2.55	1.323	102

Merrill Kelly gets the nod for now, but bird killer Zac Gallen is coming soon.


The outlook in Arizona's bullpen isn't much brighter.

Matt Mantei is third in franchise history with 74 saves (J.J. Putz is second but he's closing for Seattle). However his ERA is high even for a new franchise, and 15 pitchers have made more appearances for the Snakes.

	Diamondbacks stats	SV	ERA	ERA+	K/BB	WHIP	games
	*Archie Bradley	28	3.96	112	2.48	1.375	249
	*Matt Mantei	74	4.04	116	2.35	1.342	178
	David Hernandez	18	3.64	112	3.28	1.137	274
	Josh Collmenter	2	3.54	112	2.93	1.180	200

David Hernandez had better control than anyone in this quartet. Brenly makes room for him by cutting ...Bradley. Mantei manages to stick around.

Looking ahead, the Diamondbacks have a strong crop of prospects at or nearing the majors. Infielder Geraldo Perdomo, catcher Gabriel Moreno, and outfielder Corbin Carroll have arrived. Zac Gallen will make his 100th start this season - if he stays healthy. High draft picks Jordan Lawlar and Druw Jones are deeper down the pipeline. This all-time roster could look vastly different a decade from now.

TL; DR: Four changes from the original roster. Counsell, Young, Greinke, and Bradley out. Walker, Marte, Kelly, and Hernandez in. 

Come back tomorrow for our next All-Time Team, the Colorado Rockies.

Can Chico pitch?

Thanks for reading!



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