Major League Baseball

Stewart says free agent Billingsley could fit for D-backs

Published Nov. 11, 2014 7:22 p.m. ET

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PHOENIX -- Diamondbacks general manager Dave Stewart made a couple of things clear at Major League Baseball's general managers meetings Tuesday at the Arizona Biltmore:

 --Nothing is happening on the Miguel Montero trade front.

 --Free-agent Chad Billingsley will be considered for a spot in the starting rotation.

 --Two preliminary conversations have taken place with Tampa Bay regarding available right-hander Jeremy Hellickson.

 --Mark Trumbo will be a right fielder.

 --Cliff Pennington will be back.

 --The D-backs like what they have seen from free agents Cuban outfielder Yasmany Tomas and Japanese right-hander Kenta Maeda but are not sure if they play in the market.

 The thread running through Stewart's message was that even as the D-backs attempt to add a front-end starter and perhaps back-end rotation depth, no move will be made that jeopardizes the future.

 "I'd like to win as soon as I can," Stewart said. "The key is trying to acquire a pitcher. At the same time, I have to be really, really smart in the steps that are taken to win games. What we would like to do is be sure we don't cripple ourselves at the major-league level . . .

 "If we are going to get the type of pitcher that I'm talking about, I'm well aware that we're going to have to give up something. Just going to try to be as calculated in what we give to get what we need to take steps forward. We're not in a rush to do anything right now. We can't overpay."

 The D-backs are not in the market for the big free agents, but one way to get a No. 2 or No.3 starter would be to move Montero. Teams have asked about him, Stewart said, but he is not being shopped. Montero is a natural target because he is a productive left-handed hitter at a premium position, and a move also would clear $40 million in salary through 2017. The D-backs have a possible catcher-in-waiting in power-hitting minor leaguer Peter O'Brien, who was acquired for Martin Prado at the trade deadline and has five home runs in the Arizona Fall League.

 Stewart has not seen a need to speak to Montero at this point.

 "I don't see any point in raising concerns when there are none," he said. "At this point, there are no concerns.

 "When I played, my name was thrown around quite a bit. But my mentality to that process was always that if my name is being thrown around, I know it is being thrown around for the good.

"He's had good years here. He's played well here. If something should happen, it would be a case of somebody wanting him. And to be wanted in this game is good. I've tried to make it as clear as I can publicly that all of our players have been asked about. I've not shopped any of our players." 

 Hellickson, 27, is the type of younger, controllable starting pitcher that appeals to the D-backs -- and to every other cost-conscious franchise, of course. He has two years or arbitration eligibility remaining after missing half of the 2014 season following elbow surgery.

 The D-backs are very unlikely be in the market for Hellickson, according to sources, presumably because the price is too high.

 "We've made it known we are trying to improve our rotation, so we have to look at him as a possibility," Stewart said.

 Billingsley appears to make more sense for the D-backs. A former top starter with the Dodgers, Billingsley has missed the last two seasons with injuries elbow and flexor tendon injuries that sidelined him the last two seasons, and he could be available at a fair price while demonstrating a return to form. Stewart was Billinsgley's agent up until the time he joined the D-backs, so there is plenty of familiarity.  

 "Chad is a guy who definitely we would have to consider as well," Stewart said. "I know his health history. Unless something drastic has changed in the last month or two, I know where he is going to be in November, January and February, which he is supposed to be pitching-ready for spring training.

 "So, yeah, he would definitely be a possibility for me. I know him as a person as well, and know how he'll fit in our clubhouse." 

 Trumbo played left field and first base for the D-backs this season, moving to first only after Paul Goldschmidt was injured Aug. 1, but has told the D-backs he believes right field might be a better fit. 

 "He's expressed that there is some comfort in that position for him," Stewart said. "Organizationally, we are going to look at the option of playing him out there."

 Pennington, who hit .254 in 68 games as an infield reserve last season, will be offered salary arbitration this winter, Stewart said. There was speculation that Pennington could be non-tendered because of the D-backs' glut of middle infielders that includes Didi Gregorius, Chris Owings, Aaron Hill and Nick Ahmed. Pennington could be in line for a salary in the $4 million to $5 million range after playing for $3.25 million on the second year of a two-year deal in 2014.

 "I know we are going to have him back," Stewart said. "He is not a non-tender guy. He plays a very good role for us."

 Tomas, 24, is seen as another Jose Abreu-type production bat. He is said to be seeking a contract higher than the six-year, $72 million deal Rusney Castillo signed with Boston late last summer. 

 "I don't know how big we're going to play," Stewart said. "He's a guy who could have some pretty big impact on our team and in our lineup. We have to consider being part of that."

 "I don't know that we'll be able to do something short-term with him. If I were the agent, which I've done that before, I wouldn't be looking for anything short term. He's in a position where there is a pretty good market for his services. My guess would be that it is going to take something longer term with a less AAV (average annual value) to get him."

 Maeda, 26, is 82-59 with a 2.44 ERA in seven years with the Hiroshima Toyo Carp of the Japanese Central League.

 "I love Maeda," Stewart said. "We're going to try to be in the market when he does post. I've seen a lot of video and film, and we think he has a chance to be very successful in major league baseball."

The D-backs will interview internal candidates Todd Donovan and Bill Gayton for the scouting director position vacated when Ray Montgomery was hired by Milwaukee last week, Stewart said. Donovan is the Northeast scouting director and Gayton is a professional scout. External candidates also will be interviewed, Stewart said.

 Follow Jack Magruder on Twitter

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