Diamondbacks Getting Roster in Order
At the conclusion of the Winter Meetings the Arizona Diamondbacks have a clearer view of what their roster will look like to begin the 2010 campaign. For the next few days the team will review the current make-up of their roster to decide which players they will keep and which will not be offered contracts.
Arizona has nine players who are eligible for arbitration and it is unclear whether they will offer contracts to all of them. Looking over the list it is hard to imagine they will let any of them walk away but stranger things have happened in baseball.
The salary arbitration eligible list includes shortstop Stephen Drew, outfielder Conor Jackson, catcher Miguel Montero, infielder Augie Ojeda, and pitchers Blaine Boyer, Chad Qualls, and Aaron Heilman.
That list was pared by two today when the Diamondbacks agreed to terms with infielder Augie Ojeda and pitcher Blaine Boyer. Both of these players contributed to the Diamondbacks last season and will be relied upon in 2010.
Ojeda received a one-year contract for $825,000. He will go into Spring Training as one of three candidates to be the everyday second baseman for the Diamondbacks. Ojeda offers flexibility being able to play most of the infield positions. He has also had success coming off the bench as a pinch hitter.
Boyer began the 2009 season with the Atlanta Braves before moving to the St. Louis Cardinals. The Diamondbacks claimed him off waivers when the Cardinals were forced to make a roster move. Boyer will be looked upon as a long reliever who can give manager AJ Hinch a few innings in the middle of a game.
The Diamondbacks will attempt to sign the remaining seven arbitration eligible players before the arbitration process begins in earnest early next year.
