D-backs still seeking starter, but Towers happy

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- The D-backs left the Winter Meetings with the corner-outfield power bat they coveted in Mark Trumbo, and minus a couple of prospects.

Still left on their wish list is a frontline starting pitcher, and while they were said to be the frontrunner in the Matt Garza sweepstakes, general manager Kevin Towers didn't agree.

"I don't think so, no," Towers said. "I wouldn't say that we're that close on anything right now at this point in time on the free-agent front."

The D-backs will make a hard run at Japanese right-hander Masahiro Tanaka if he is posted, and while they are interested in Garza, Towers seems hesitant to go beyond a three-year deal.

Having already dealt left-handed pitching prospects Tyler Skaggs and David Holmberg along with young outfielder Adam Eaton this winter, the D-backs are hesitant to part with more prospects, which could hamper them from landing the starter they're looking for in a trade.

"[On the] trade front, there are some things that we can do," Towers said. "We're going to continue to discuss. Will we? I'm not sure right yet. Go back, huddle up again, try to regroup and get out of the feeding frenzy here."

As it stands right now, the D-backs' rotation is Patrick Corbin, Wade Miley, Trevor Cahill, Brandon McCarthy and Randall Delgado, with top prospect Archie Bradley waiting in the wings. So it's possible the team will not acquire another starter.

"We don't feel like we have to," Towers said. "We still have plenty of depth there. We don't really feel like we have to do something unless it's the right deal. We'd still like to add somebody if we can, but if we don't, we all feel like we value the prospects that we still have. Unless it's a significant upgrade to what we currently have, we'll just stand pat."

Deals done: Acquired Trumbo and two players to be named later in a three-team trade with the Angels and White Sox.

Rule 5 Draft activity: The D-backs selected right-hander Marcos Mateo of the Cubs in the Major League portion of the Draft.

"Power arm, fastball up to 97 mph with a wipeout slider," D-backs director of baseball operations Ryan Isaac said. "Two-pitch profile for the pen, a lot to like about that."

The D-backs lost left-hander Patrick Schuster and right-hander Kevin Munson in the Major League portion.

In the Triple-A phase of the Draft, the D-backs selected right-hander Michael Lee and left-hander Hector Hernandez.

Goals accomplished: The D-backs nabbed the power bat they wanted, and while they didn't get a frontline starter, they now have a very good idea what it would take to land one via trade as well as what the cost would be for one on the free-agent market.

Unfinished business: Along with possibly adding a starter, the D-backs will now look to fortify their bench. Their first order of business will be to check in again with infielder Eric Chavez. The veteran has expressed a desire to return, but he first wanted to see what other moves the team made this winter.

Bottom line: "We're happy with where we're at. We haven't added a lot to payroll, we still have payroll flexibility and I think we're a better offensive club than we were before we got here."
-- Towers