Towers mulling over changes to ballclub
Towers mulling over changes to ballclub
Towers arrived just before batting practice and planned on flying with the team to Kansas City and holding a meeting in his hotel suite on Thursday night.
"We'll sit up in the suite and spend a lot of hours talking about where we're at at the quarter point," Towers said.
Having played just shy of a quarter of the season the D-backs, who were a popular pick to repeat as National League West champs, are just 17-22, and manager Kirk Gibson and Towers have made no secret of the fact that there could be some personnel changes in the offing.
Towers has spent the last couple of days talking with his scouts, farm director Mike Bell and other team's GMs to get a feel for what the team's internal options might be, as well as what the trade market looks like.
Gibson, meanwhile, has done his homework, as well as talking to Triple-A manager Brett Butler and Double-A skipper Turner Ward.
"I want the process to be a good one," Towers said of the discussions. "I can't tell you if there's going to a move or not. Maybe none, but we just kind of want to re-evaluate where we're at, and if there are any other options out there that might make us better and kind of spark the club a little bit."
One possible spark would be the return of injured outfielder Chris Young. One of the more popular, not to mention productive, players on the team, Young has been out since April 18 with an injured throwing shoulder.
Young played in three games for Class A Visalia this week and was set to play for Triple-A Reno on Thursday.
"If all goes well I think there's probably a pretty good chance he could be in Kansas City on Friday," Towers said. "I wouldn't say he's probably back 100 percent with the arm, but I've watched him myself and there's still enough carry on it."
Young's return would certainly be a boost. He was hitting .410 with five homers and 13 RBIs at the time of the injury.
"It will be nice to get him back," Towers said. "Just his personality, the way he carries himself, I think will be good, and the guys will enjoy having him around again."
Even at this early stage in the season, Towers said he has been open to making a trade.
"I've had a couple people call about some of our bullpen depth," Towers said. "I have placed a couple of calls, but nothing is close. You get ideas here and there, but every idea that I've had has been shot down so far. I think you're always looking. Now I've got a much better feeling of where we're at."
That the D-backs have an identical record through 39 games that they did last year does not comfort Towers.
"Last year was last year," he said. "We're a different team. A lot of the same guys here, but I personally think we were playing better last year at this time than we are this year. We haven't played that well this year."
Whether that leads to changes remains to be seen.