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Colorado Rockies: NL West Preview Series – Arizona Diamondbacks

By Ryan Ladika

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JUNE 30: Madison Bumgarner #40 of the San Francisco Giants pitches against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the top of the first inning of a Major League Baseball game at Oracle Park on June 30, 2019 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JUNE 30: Madison Bumgarner #40 of the San Francisco Giants pitches against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the top of the first inning of a Major League Baseball game at Oracle Park on June 30, 2019 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 12: Ketel Marte #4 of the Arizona Diamondbacks in action against the New York Mets at Citi Field on September 12, 2019 in New York City. The Mets defeated the Diamondbacks 11-1. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 12: Ketel Marte #4 of the Arizona Diamondbacks in action against the New York Mets at Citi Field on September 12, 2019 in New York City. The Mets defeated the Diamondbacks 11-1. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

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A lot of that production stemmed from Ketel’s breakout season that saw the former Mariner explode for a .981 OPS in 144 games, demolishing his previous career-high of .768. He clubbed 32 home runs, also a career-high, and finished 4th in National League MVP voting.

Starling brings a hot bat to the desert following a productive final season with the Bucs. He slashed .295/.342/.503 with a .845 OPS in 132 games last year, and gave the Pirates a boost of 3.0 wins, according to FanGraphs‘ fWAR. His 119 wRC+ was his highest mark since 2016, and he swiped 25 bases as well.

Calhoun rebounded nicely from a dreadful 2018, slashing .232/.325/.467 with a 108 wRC+ and 2.5 fWAR. Those last two are drastic improvements from two years ago when he posted 79 and 0.0 in those categories, respectively.

If this were shaping up to be a normal season, I would expect Arizona to improve upon their 85-win total from a year ago. With the season currently on hold due to COVID-19 concerns and no estimated start date on the horizon, it’s difficult to know how many games we will see played in 2020, and what the postseason structure will look like.

Next. Is Nolan Arenado a fit for the Chicago White Sox?. dark

Before Spring Training started, though, Arizona was viewed as a trendy Wild Card pick, and I believe their offseason moves make another postseason berth in Phoenix very likely in the next few years.

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