D-backs likely to continue focusing on rotation at Meetings
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Yes, the D-backs landed the biggest catch on the free-agent market by agreeing to terms with right-hander Zack Greinke on a stunning six-year, $206.5 million deal late last week. But that doesn't mean this week will be a slow one for them.
The Winter Meetings get underway on Monday morning and run through Thursday morning's Rule 5 Draft, and D-backs general manager Dave Stewart and his staff will continue to look to add to the starting rotation.
Rumors have linked the D-backs to free-agent right-hander Mike Leake. But after laying out so much money for Greinke, the team appears more focused on adding a second starter through a trade.
Expect the name of outfielder A.J. Pollock to come up quite often this week. D-backs team president/CEO Derrick Hall said last week that almost every team in baseball has asked about him.
Pollock finished fourth among National League position players in Baseball Reference's WAR stat (7.4), so the D-backs would need to be overwhelmed in order to part with a rising star who is still controlled for the next three seasons.
"I think it's safe to categorize [him] as almost untouchable," Hall said of Pollock. "It's clear that every team knows [first baseman Paul Goldschmidt] is off limits, and it's almost time to send a message that A.J. is off limits, because he's the first name that comes up -- and understandably."
The team could announce the Greinke signing as soon as Monday night or Tuesday morning -- and when it does, we will have full coverage on dbacks.com.
D-backs manager Chip Hale will have his annual Winter Meetings session with reporters on Wednesday afternoon, and you'll find coverage of that, as well, at dbacks.com.
You can also follow me on Twitter @SteveGilbertMLB.
MLB.com and MLB Network will have wall-to-wall coverage of the 2015 Winter Meetings from the Opryland Hotel in Nashville, with the Network launching 35 hours of live Winter Meetings coverage. Fans can also catch live streaming of all news conferences and manager availabilities on MLB.com, as well as the announcement of the Hall of Fame Pre-Integration Era Committee inductees on Monday at 9 a.m. MT and the Rule 5 Draft on Thursday at 8 a.m.