PHOENIX -- The Arizona Diamondbacks are younger, no question. After building for the present following a run to the NL West title in 2011, they opted for a more long-term approach this offseason.
But do not confuse youth with rebuilding, the D-backs are quick to say.
They believe they can return to contention this season with the new group in place, a group that starts at the top with general manager Dave Stewart and manager Chip Hale. They also believe they stockpiled a host of players, especially pitchers, to keep them relevant for the long haul in what may be the toughest division in baseball -- a fact seldom recognized.
D-BACKS OPENING DAY ROSTER
| Pos. |
Name | Age |
| SP | Josh Collmenter | 29 |
| SP | Rubby De La Rosa | 26 |
| SP | Jeremy Hellickson | 27 |
| SP | Chase Anderson | 27 |
| SP | Archie Bradley | 22 |
| RP | Addison Reed | 26 |
| RP | Brad Ziegler | 35 |
| RP | Evan Marshall | 24 |
| RP | Oliver Perez | 33 |
| RP | Daniel Hudson | 28 |
| RP | Randall Delgado | 25 |
| RP | Andrew Chafin | 24 |
| C | Tuffy Gosewisch | 31 |
| C | Gerald Laird | 35 |
| 1B | Paul Goldschmidt | 27 |
| 2B | Chris Owings | 23 |
| 3B |
Jake Lamb | 24 |
| SS | Nick Ahmed | 25 |
| INF | Aaron Hill | 33 |
| INF | Cliff Pennington | 30 |
| Utl | Jordan Pacheco | 29 |
| OF | A.J. Pollock | 27 |
| OF | Mark Trumbo | 29 |
| OF | David Peralta |
27 |
| OF | Ender Inciarte |
24 |
Hale spoke of a youth movement, and gave his comments full context.
"We're not just giving this season up to try to groom some young guys," the ultra-competitive Hale said. "We feel that the young guys we have are ready to win. They are winning ballplayers. We do want to go with out guys who we feel are our future, but if they weren't ready to play in the big leagues they wouldn't be here."
So here they are, many of the pieces around which the D-backs will build in the foreseeable future. They start Monday against defending World Series champion San Francisco.
The core group starts with Paul Goldschmidt, of course, who is signed through 2019, including a final team option year. Goldschmidt typifies the duality of the D-backs' roster. He is 27, one of the best young players in baseball and their oldest starting infielder. New shortstop Nick Ahmed will play all season at 25. Third baseman Jake Lamb will play all season at 24. Second baseman Chris Owings, who signed at 17, will turn 24 in mid-August.
The D-backs moved veteran Aaron Hill to the bench to accommodate Ahmed, who was the final piece insisted upon by then-general manager Kevin Towers in order to consummate the seven-player Justin Upton trade in the winter of 2012.
The outfield is a similar blend. Mark Trumbo, 29, is the oldest -- and most powerful -- among a group that includes A.J. Pollock (27), converted pitcher David Peralta (27) and multi-tasking reserve Ender Inciarte (24). Yasmany Tomas, who was optioned to Triple-A Reno on Saturday, also figures in there at some point. Peralta's age is mitigated by his lack of outfield experience. He has played there less than Inciarte, for example, and thus may not be near his ceiling.
All but Trumbo is under team control for at least three more years. Trumbo has one year of arbitration remaining and Pollock will begin the arbitration process next winter. The others will be around as long as the D-backs consider them valuable, which could be awhile.
The roster decisions this spring were not driven by a desire to get young, chief baseball officer Tony La Russa said. They were driven by a desire to get good after a last-place finish a year ago.
"Whoever was the best player was going to get the playing time or the pitching time," said Hall of Fame manager La Russa, who went through his first spring training after being hired last May. "I think one of the good things that happened was that they were given opportunities, and a lot of guys -- some guys with some experience, some guys with little experience -- really have been productive on a daily basis in all facets.
"It just so happens that because of the young talent that is here, there is a lot of responsibility being put on guys who are in their 20s. But there was no veteran here who said we have to penalize you because you've been around awhile. You develop guys in the minor leagues. We don't feel that way (playing youth for youth's sake), and it would be the wrong message for the fans to think that we are going to play somebody or pitch somebody that we hope will be competitive in a couple of years. That is what development is for."
The D-backs' only regular older than 30 is catcher Tuffy Gosewisch, who is one-third of a catching group that also includes Gerald Laird and Jordan Pacheco. The bullpen is an older group, but closer Addison Reed is just 26.
The rotation is as about as young as the starting position players. Only Josh Collmenter (29) and Jeremy Hellickson (27) have as much as two full seasons of major league experience. Chase Anderson (27), Rubby De La Rosa (26) and rookie Archie Bradley (22) round out the out-of-camp rotation, although the D-backs have plenty of candidates they believe worthy at the minor league level in case a need for reinforcements arises. Patrick Corbin (25) has a soft return date of June after Tommy John surgery last March, which throws another arm into the group.
The D-backs also believe in their stable of young starters. Robbie Ray and Allen Webster were acquired in offseason deals and will open at Triple-A Reno, and home-grown talents Aaron Blair, Braden Shipley and Cuban free agent Yoan Perez will begin the year at Double-A Mobile.
"I think we have a lot of pitching depth," Hale said. "I think we have guys in spring training are a lot better than they pitched. And they are going to go down and prove that to us and fight their way back to the big leagues. What happens is, when guys are ready in the minor leagues and we think they are better than the guys here, then that forces the front office to move guys to make spots for them."
With a mix of youth and potential, let the games begin. The D-backs will concede nothing.
"This time of the year, you can throw the paper away," La Russa said. "It's the way the team comes together -- and guys that have no track record and other guys that have struggled, they put it together. Or the guys you expect to be good struggle. That's what's so fascinating about the season. So, like I was always telling my dad, the more confusing it gets, the simpler you keep it.
"You get ready to pay the three best games you can against San Francisco. Period. To show our fans and the Giants and our teammates that are going to really have a lot of effort. I think the talent is there to be competitive and then crank 162 of them. Why do the impossible and try to have a crystal ball. Nobody has it."
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