A day after the World Series ended, the Diamondbacks did some roster shuffling that began when they declined the contract option on corner infielder Chad Tracy, as expected. Tracy was paid a $1 million buyout rather than the $7 million he would have made in 2010.
Right-hander Yusmeiro Petit and left-hander Doug Slaten were claimed off waivers by Seattle and Washington, respectively, while right-hander Daniel Cabrera elected free agency rather than accept an outright assignment to the minor leagues. Outfielders Alex Romero and Trent Oeltjen, who lack the service time necessary to opt for free agency, were outrighted to Class AAA Reno.
Tracy, 29, was a potent middle-of-the-order bat in 2005-06, when he combined for 75 doubles, 47 home runs, 152 RBIs and a .297 batting average, but injuries to both knees limited his playing time in 2007 and 2008.
With Tracy's large salary figure looming, however, it became apparent in the second half of the 2009 season that he would not return, and his playing time dwindled accordingly as the D-backs looked first at Josh Whitesell and then Brandon Allen as first basemen of the future. Tracy hit .237 with 15 doubles, eight homers and 39 RBIs in 257 at-bats this year.
Petit served as a early-season emergency fill-in for Brandon Webb but was ineffective. By the end of the season had fallen behind Billy Buckner and Kevin Mulvey in the pecking order for what likely will be one open spot in the 2010 rotation. Petit was 3-10 with a 5.82 ERA in 23 appearances, and he gave up 19 homers in 89 2/3 innings.
Slaten was 0-0 with a 7.11 ERA in 11 early-season appearances with the D-backs in 2009 before spending most of the season at Class AAA Reno, where he was 3-2 with a 3.09 ERA. His best major league season came in 2007, when he was 3-2 with a 2.72 ERA in 61 appearances. He was delayed out of spring training in 2008 because of offseason knee surgery and did not recover his form, going 0-3 with a 4.73 ERA with the D-backs.
The D-backs, short of starting pitchers, took a chance on major league veteran Cabrera late last season, when they signed him to minor league contract in August and brought him to the majors in September as a possible candidate for the 2010 rotation. Cabrera scuffled, going 1-4 with a 6.55 ERA in six outings (one start) with the D-backs, striking out seven and walking seven in 11 innings. The D-backs would have had to offer him salary arbitration to bring him back for 2010, an expense they did not want to incur.
Copyright (C) 2009 The Sports Xchange. All Rights Reserved.
