│

1

D-backs' fantasy camp thrills new fans from Australia Down Under duo enjoys upscale experience, competitive environment at Salt River Fields By Steve Gilbert / MLB.com http://m.dbacks.mlb.com/news/article/106833892/arizona-diamondbacks-fantasy-camp-thrills-fans-from-australia Rehabbing Arroyo discusses jamming with D-backs in 2014 Right-hander, musician scheduled to start throwing for first time since surgery By Jamal Collier / MLB.com http://m.dbacks.mlb.com/news/article/106831850/bronson-arroyo-discusses-rehab-from-surgery-jamming-with-d-backs D-backs announce Minors deal with Cuban righty Lopez By Adam Berry / MLB.com http://m.dbacks.mlb.com/news/article/106688440/d-backs-announce-minor-league-deal-with-cuban-pitcher-yoan-lopez D-backs retiring Big Unit's number as part of promo sked By Austin Laymance / MLB.com http://m.dbacks.mlb.com/news/article/106820080/d-backs-retiring-big-units-number-as-part-of-promo-sked Marshall to receive PBSF Legends award By Adam Berry / MLB.com http://m.dbacks.mlb.com/news/article/106680866/arizona-diamondbacks-senior-advisor-jim-marshall-to-receive-professional-baseball-scouts-foundations-legends-award Randy Johnson will enter Hall of Fame with Arizona Diamondbacks cap By Zach Buchanan / The Arizona Republic http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/mlb/diamondbacks/2015/01/16/randy-johnson-enter-hall-of-fame-with-diamondbacks-cap/21861919/ Diamondbacks' Jim Marshall honored with scouting award By Zach Buchanan / The Arizona Republic http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/mlb/diamondbacks/2015/01/17/jim-marshall-diamondbacks-scouting-legends-award/21924663/ D-backs to give away 5 bobbleheads in 2015 By FOX Sports Arizona http://www.foxsports.com/arizona/story/d-backs-announce-2015-promotional-schedule-011615 D-backs' Trumbo, Reed still without deals for 2015 By Jack Magruder / FOX Sports Arizona http://www.foxsports.com/arizona/story/d-backs-trumbo-reed-still-without-deals-for-2015-011615

Randy Johnson will have Diamondbacks cap on Hall of Fame plaque By FOX Sports Arizona http://www.foxsports.com/arizona/story/randy-johnson-arizona-diamondbacks-cap-baseball-hall-of-fame-011615 Randy Johnson will enter Hall of Fame as member of Arizona Diamondbacks By ArizonaSports.com http://arizonasports.com/42/1799393/Randy-Johnson-will-enter-Hall-of-Fame-as-member-of-Arizona-Diamondbacks Celebrities announced for Waste Management Phoenix Open Pro-Am By ArizonaSports.com http://arizonasports.com/22/1800174/Celebrities-announced-for-Waste-Management-Phoenix-Open-ProAm Diamondbacks tap Cuba: Scherzer returns to Arizona roots By Mark Brown / Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/article/diamondbacks-tap-cuba-scherzer-returns-to-arizona-roots Randy Johnson to go into Hall of Fame as a Diamondback By Kim Hastings / Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/article/randy-johnson-to-go-into-hall-of-fame-as-a-diamondback Johnson selects Diamondbacks logo for Hall plaque By Mark Brown / Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/article/johnson-selects-diamondbacks-logo-for-hall-plaque Sports shorts: Johnson to have D-backs hat on plaque By Associated Press http://tucson.com/sports-shorts-johnson-to-have-d-backs-hat-on-plaque/article_e8d8c538-8fcd-5148-a797-9e6fb3745447.html Randy Johnson to wear Diamondbacks hat in Hall of Fame By Becca Smouse / ABC 15 http://www.abc15.com/sports/sports-blogs-local/randy-johnson-to-wear-diamondbacks-hat-in-hall-of-fame Johnson to wear D-Backs cap in Hall of Fame By Steve Stout / CBS 5 http://www.kpho.com/story/27869072/johnson-to-wear-d-backs-cap-in-hall-of-fame Randy Johnson picks Diamondbacks logo for Baseball Hall of Fame By Kristi Tedesco / KVOA - Tucson http://www.kvoa.com/news/randy-johnson-picks-diamondbacks-logo-for-baseball-hall-of-fame/

│

2

Johnson enters as Diamondback By Damien Alameda / Tucson News Now http://www.tucsonnewsnow.com/story/27871598/johnson-enters-as-diamondback The Smile Generation Wins D-backs Ambassador Award By The Smile Generation http://blog.smilegeneration.com/events/smile-generation-wins-dbacks-ambassador-award/

Scouts dinner highlights best aspects of the game Greats come together for awards ceremony, auction to benefit families in need By Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com http://m.mlb.com/news/article/106742628/barry-m-bloom-professional-baseball-scouts-foundation-awards-dinner-highlights-best-aspects-of-the-game Big Unit's Hall of Fame plaque to feature D-backs logo Arizona to retire Johnson's uniform number in August By Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com http://m.dbacks.mlb.com/news/article/106595160/d-backs-logo-to-be-depicted-on-randy-johnsons-hall-of-fame-plaque D-backs' MVP show a hit with Hall again as the star Club president hosts late-night format presentation to honor sponsors By Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com http://m.dbacks.mlb.com/news/article/106580014/barry-m-bloom-d-backs-most-valuable-partner-show-again-a-hit New faces, new places set up intriguing spring Best-laid plans could change with position battles on horizon By Doug Miller / MLB.com http://m.mlb.com/news/article/106784972/many-players-will-be-wading-into-new-waters-as-spring-training-position-battles-heat-up MLB gives back on MLK Day of Service Clubs, players volunteer in their communities to help neighbors on national holiday By Mark Newman / MLB.com http://m.mlb.com/news/article/106747528/mlb-gives-back-on-mlk-day-of-service D-backs, righty Lopez sign Minors contract Club likes Cuban starter's fastball, slider, sees 'good upside potential' By Josh Jackson / MiLB.com http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20150117&content_id=106693066&vkey=news_milb&fext=.jsp&sid=milb Randy Johnson picks Arizona logo By Jerry Crasnick / ESPN.com http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/12179383/randy-johnson-opts-arizona-diamondbacks-logo-hall-fame-bust?ex_cid=espnapi_public

Strengths, weaknesses of NL teams The positions where each team has depth or lacks depth as season approaches By Jason Martinez / ESPN.com http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/12188705/where-national-league-teams-depth-lack-depth-mlb Jeremy Hellickson avoids arbitration By Associated Press http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/12179324/jeremy-hellickson-arizona-diamondbacks-agree-deal-avoid-arbitration?ex_cid=espnapi_public A Guide to Minimizing the Opportunity Cost of the Yoan Lopez Signing By Ryan P. Morrison / Inside the 'Zona http://insidethezona.com/2015/01/guide-minimizing-opportunity-cost-yoan-lopez-signing/ Randy Johnson will go into Hall of Fame wearing D-backs cap By Mike Oz / Yahoo! Sports http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-league-stew/randy-johnson-will-go-into-the-hall-of-fame-wearing-a-d-backs-cap-183135635.html Randy Johnson's Hall of Fame plaque will have Diamondbacks cap By Matt Snyder / CBSSports.com http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-baseball/24965995/randy-johnsons-hall-of-fame-plaque-will-have-diamondbacks-cap Diamondbacks, Addison Reed exchange arbitration numbers By R.J. White / CBSSports.com http://fantasynews.cbssports.com/fantasybaseball/update/24967217/diamondbacks-addison-reed-exchange-arbitration-numbers Diamondbacks, Mark Trumbo exchange arbitration figures By R.J. White / CBSSports.com http://fantasynews.cbssports.com/fantasybaseball/update/24967176/diamondbacks-mark-trumbo-exchange-arbitration-figures Archie Bradley Tops List of Arizona Diamondbacks Prospects By Kevin Bonneville / SI.com http://heatwaved.com/2015/01/18/archie-bradley-tops-list-arizona-diamondbacks-prospects/ Arizona Diamondbacks to retire Randy Johnson's number By Charles Rahrig V / SI.com http://fansided.com/2015/01/16/arizona-diamondbacks-retire-randy-johnsons-number/ Predictions for Each Top Offseason Acquisition's Career with the Diamondbacks By Adam Young / Bleacher Report http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2332420-predictions-for-each-top-offseason-acquisitions-career-with-the-diamondbacks

│

3

Baseball Hall of Fame announces Randy Johnson’s plaque to feature Diamondbacks cap By Andy Clayton / New York Daily News http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/randy-johnson-hall-fame-plaque-feature-d-backs-cap-article-1.2081045

Cougars pitching coach’s craft piques Diamondback’s interest By Kevin Druley / Kane County Cougars http://www.kcchronicle.com/2015/01/19/cougars-pitching-coachs-craft-piques-diamondbacks-interest/ax1rtmr/

Hillsboro Hops’ GM K.L. Wombacher honored by Portland Business Journal By Hillsboro Hops https://hillsborohops.wordpress.com/2015/01/15/hillsboro-hops-gm-k-l-wombacher-honored-by-portland-business-journal/

Tyler Geivett Named New Voice of the Missoula Osprey Geivett will deliver all Osprey games live on ESPN Montana 102.9 FM By Missoula Osprey http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20150115&content_id=106501838&fext=.jsp&vkey=news_t518&sid=t518

MLB NEWS January 20, 2015 • MLB.com http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/news/mlb_news_index.jsp ASSOCIATED PRESS January 20, 2015 • Sports.yahoo.com http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/morenews MLB TRANSACTIONS January 20, 2015 • MLB.com http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/transactions

│

4

D-backs' fantasy camp thrills new fans from Australia Down Under duo enjoys upscale experience, competitive environment at Salt River Fields By Steve Gilbert / MLB.com http://m.dbacks.mlb.com/news/article/106833892/arizona-diamondbacks-fantasy-camp-thrills-fans-from-australia SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- It was not like Australians Greg Milburn and Jamie Bishop knew a lot about the Arizona Diamondbacks when they signed up for the team's 10th annual Fantasy Camp, which took place last week at Salt River Fields. But the pair did have a little background with the D-backs after Arizona opened the 2014 regular season in Sydney with a pair of games against the Dodgers. And well, the team had a bit of a reputation Down Under. "To be perfectly honest, we heard that the Diamondbacks were the toughest group of baseballers in the league," Milburn said. "It's just turned out to be a boon. We have a good time, but there's still competition here at this camp and I love that. It's hard baseball too and that's great, playing two games a day." After attending a Detroit Tigers Fantasy Camp four years ago, the pair had decided that if they were going to do it again, they would do one that took place in Arizona rather than Florida to cut down somewhat on the travel. While some teams put their campers up in Holiday Inns, the D-backs camp offers more of an upscale experience -- first at the J.W. Marriott Starr Pass Resort in Tucson and now at the Talking Stick Resort located near the team's Spring Training facility. ----

Arizona Diamondbacks ✔ @Dbacks Age ain't nothing but a number at the 10th annual #Dbacks Fantasy Camp: http://atmlb.com/1wUWgOb ---- "The accommodations are truly fantastic," Milburn said. "It's really opened my eyes to another part of America. Americans are the luckiest people on earth. You live in a great country with all these great sports and people are serious about their teams." The longtime friends came to the U.S. a few days before camp to visit the Aussie Pie Kitchen in Santa Monica, Calif., which was opened not long ago by Bishop's brother, and they spent a few days after camp ended in Las Vegas. In between, they rubbed elbows with D-backs legends like Luis Gonzalez and Mark Grace. "Australia doesn't have this kind of culture when it comes to sports," Bishop said. "Everybody here knows all these guys." Baseball is gaining more of a foothold in Australia, and it received a boost last March when Major League Baseball held its first games there in 100 years.

The two games between the Dodgers and D-backs drew sellout crowds. While they knew things did not go well on the field for the D-backs in 2014, Bishop and Milburn are counting on a rebound by their newly adopted team. "They weren't doing well on the scoreboard, they were down a little bit, but they had a lot of passion," Bishop said. "Getting with the D-backs now is great, because while they aren't doing so great right now, we know they are coming back. So we'll be able to say we started with them just when they were climbing up."

Rehabbing Arroyo discusses jamming with D-backs in 2014 Right-hander, musician scheduled to start throwing for first time since surgery By Jamal Collier / MLB.com http://m.dbacks.mlb.com/news/article/106831850/bronson-arroyo-discusses-rehab-from-surgery-jamming-with-d-backs The Major League team that could put together the best band might reside within the D-backs clubhouse. Right-hander Bronson Arroyo joined MLB Network's Hot Stove on Monday to talk about his health for this upcoming season, but not before talk ventured toward the club's various talented musicians. Mark Trumbo, Aaron Hill and Arroyo recently played a show onstage where Trumbo and Hill provided the guitar, and Arroyo, normally a guitar player himself, provided the vocals. Last year, Arizona had a music room set up in its clubhouse where the trio was often joined by A.J. Pollock and Rubby De La Rosa on the drums. Arroyo began gaining interest in music during the early 1990s after listening to Pearl Jam. He did not start playing until '99, when he was a Minor League player in the Pirates organization. "We would have jam sessions almost daily before the game, a couple of hours before the game," Arroyo said, "which was very unique to have that opportunity and was just a lot of fun with the guys." Unfortunately for Arroyo, he likely had more time than he would want for music in 2014. He was limited to just 14 starts last season before being shut down in order to have Tommy John surgery, the first time he has landed on the disabled list in his 15 years in the Majors. It snapped a streak of him making at least 29 starts every year since '04. "It was definitely tough for me," Arroyo said. "I've made my career in this game by my durability." Arroyo, who will turn 38 in February, is signed through 2015 with a team option for '16. When Arroyo was healthy in '13, he had a 3.79 ERA in 32 starts for Cincinnati. Arroyo has been rehabbing in Arizona, and he was scheduled to play catch for the first time on Monday. He hopes to return to the mound this summer, with June being an optimistic date, but reasonably in July sometime before the All-Star break.

│

5

"I've been beat up and found a way to get on the mound," Arroyo said. "I'm not really worried about it."

D-backs announce Minors deal with Cuban righty Lopez By Adam Berry / MLB.com http://m.dbacks.mlb.com/news/article/106688440/d-backs-announce-minor-league-deal-with-cuban-pitcher-yoan-lopez The D-backs officially agreed to terms Saturday on a Minor League contract with Cuban right-hander Yoan Lopez. Lopez, 21, played three seasons for Isla de la Juventud in Cuba's Serie Nacional de Beisbol from 2011-14. In 47 games (39 starts), he put together a 15-13 record and a 3.76 ERA, with 117 strikeouts in 232 innings. The club did not announce the terms of the deal, but MLB.com's Jesse Sanchez reported Tuesday that Lopez will receive a record-setting $8.27 million bonus from Arizona. That figure surpassed the $8 million the Angels gave Cuban infielder Roberto Baldoquin as the largest bonus given under the new international guidelines. "Yoan is a good looking young starter with good upside potential," D-backs senior vice president, baseball operations De Jon Watson said in a statement. "His delivery and arm work very well. He features a plus fastball and slider, and his curveball has good shape and depth and should play average. The changeup has a chance to have swing-and-miss value down the road. We are excited to add another quality arm to the organization." The 6-foot-4, 190-pound Lopez is the second Cuban player signed by the D-backs this offseason, as they also reached a six-year, $68.5 million deal with third baseman/outfielder Yasmany Tomas. The D-backs have featured six Cuban-born players in club history: Eddie Oropesa (79 games), Juan Miranda (65), Livan Hernandez (45), Vladimir Nunez (31), Alberto Castillo (17) and Orlando Hernandez (nine).

D-backs retiring Big Unit's number as part of promo sked By Austin Laymance / MLB.com http://m.dbacks.mlb.com/news/article/106820080/d-backs-retiring-big-units-number-as-part-of-promo-sked The D-backs announced their promotional schedule for the 2015 season on Monday, highlighted by the retirement of Randy Johnson's No. 51 uniform, five bobblehead giveaways and theme nights throughout the year. Johnson will be inducted into the Hall of Fame this summer -- he'll be wearing a D-backs cap on his plaque -- and the club will honor the starting pitcher with a special bobblehead giveaway on July 25, which coincides with Hall of Fame weekend in Cooperstown. The organization will retire his uniform number during a special ceremony on Aug. 8, when Arizona welcomes the Reds. D-backs Mini Plans go on sale next Monday, allowing fans to secure their seats for these festivities.

The other four bobblehead giveaways include: Hello Kitty on April 11, Josh Collmenter on May 9, Tony La Russa on June 6 and a Star Wars edition A.J. Pollock on July 18. The team will also give away a number of additional items this season: a Paul Goldschmidt cap on April 25; a D-backs fedora on May 24; socks on July 19; an insulated lunch bag on July 26 and a beer stein on Sept. 12. The D-backs will play at home on Mother's Day, Father's Day, Independence Day and Labor Day. The Mother's Day game will feature a ladies T-shirt giveaway. Fans are also invited to a number of theme nights throughout the season: Country Night on April 25; superheroes night on May 22; outdoor recreation night on May 23; Native American Recognition Day on June 20; Star Wars night on July 18; Alumni Day on Aug. 9; Hispanic Heritage Day on Oct. 3. Also returning in 2015, the D-backs will host postgame fireworks shows following 12 Friday night home games, with a special fireworks night on the Fourth of July when Arizona hosts the Rockies. For more information on all of the promotions going on in 2015, visit dbacks.com/giveaways.

Marshall to receive PBSF Legends award By Adam Berry / MLB.com http://m.dbacks.mlb.com/news/article/106680866/arizona-diamondbacks-senior-advisor-jim-marshall-to-receive-professional-baseball-scouts-foundations-legends-award Jim Marshall, the D-backs' senior advisor, Pacific Rim operations, will receive the Professional Baseball Scouts Foundation's Legends in Scouting Award on Saturday night at the annual "In the Spirit of the Game" banquet in Los Angeles. Marshall, 83, has been with Arizona since 1996. He maintains the D-backs' relations with baseball organizations in Australia, Japan, Korea and Taiwan. He helped introduce the club to Japan and Asia, a job that involved making transactions to send players to Japan and scouting players in Asia to potentially sign. He also helped prepare the organization for the 1997 Major League Expansion Draft and assisted manager Buck Showalter from 1998-2000. Marshall has held various managerial, coaching and scouting responsibilities over the years -- including a job managing D-backs chief baseball officer Tony La Russa with Double-A Wichita in 1973. The Legends in Scouting Award, in which nominees are selected and voted upon by the scouting community, is given annually to those who have demonstrated a strong work ethic while maintaining the high standards set by scouts before them over the course of an entire career. The banquet honors scouts, players, executives and managers, while raising money to support the foundation's mission of helping scouts in need by providing emergency resources through grants to the scouts and their families. Marshall spent a combined nine years in the Majors, playing for five seasons and managing for four. He became the first

│

6

American-born player from a Major League roster to sign with a Japanese team in 1963. He spent three years playing for the Chunichi Dragons, batting .268 with 78 home runs and 252 RBIs.

Randy Johnson will enter Hall of Fame with Arizona Diamondbacks cap By Zach Buchanan / The Arizona Republic http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/mlb/diamondbacks/2015/01/16/randy-johnson-enter-hall-of-fame-with-diamondbacks-cap/21861919/ Legendary pitcher Randy Johnson will enter the Hall of Fame as a representative of the Diamondbacks, a fact the team will leverage as part of its promotional schedule for the 2015 season. When his induction was announced, Johnson evaded questions on which team's hat his Hall of Fame bust would feature, but on Friday the Hall announced that the Diamondbacks were selected over the Seattle Mariners, with whom he came into his own. Johnson won a World Series and four Cy Young Awards with Arizona, but had a bitter divorce after the 2008 season that led to him recording his 300th win with the San Francisco Giants. "After reflecting the last week and conferring with the Hall of Fame, we've come to the decision that the Diamondbacks logo on my Hall of Fame plaque makes the most sense," Johnson said in a statement released by the museum. "I want to express my most sincere thanks to all the teams I played for — Montreal, Seattle, Houston, the New York Yankees and San Francisco — and particularly all of the fans for supporting me. I'm very humbled by this honor." The Diamondbacks will give away 20,000 Johnson Hall of Fame bobbleheads at their July 25 game, the day before Johnson's induction in Cooperstown. The team will also retire his No. 51 jersey on Aug. 8. Other bobblehead giveaways include Diamondbacks Hello Kitty (April 11), Josh Collmenter (May 9), Tony La Russa (June 6) and Star Wars A.J. Pollock (July 18). The team will also give away Paul Goldschmidt caps on April 25, a Diamondbacks fedora on May 24, a Diamondbacks backpack on June 20 and a Diamondbacks beer stein on Sept. 12.

Diamondbacks' Jim Marshall honored with scouting award By Zach Buchanan / The Arizona Republic http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/mlb/diamondbacks/2015/01/17/jim-marshall-diamondbacks-scouting-legends-award/21924663/ Jim Marshall, the Arizona Diamondbacks' senior advisor of Pacific Rim Operations, was honored with Professional Baseball Scouts Foundations' Legends of Scouting Award at the 12th annual "In The Spirit of the Game" banquet Saturday in Los Angeles. Marshall, 83, has been with the organization since its inception and is credited with introducing the club to the Asian market. The award, voted upon by the scouting community, is given to those who have "demonstrated a strong work ethic while maintaining the high standards set by scouts before them over

the course of an entire career," according to a release sent out by the Diamondbacks.

D-backs to give away 5 bobbleheads in 2015 By FOX Sports Arizona http://www.foxsports.com/arizona/story/d-backs-announce-2015-promotional-schedule-011615 PHOENIX -- The Arizona Diamondbacks announced the 2015 promotional schedule, highlighted by the retirement of Randy Johnson's No. 51 and bobblehead giveaway in 2015. D-backs mini-plans will go on sale Jan. 26 allowing fans to secure their seats for the historic festivities and include options for a 10-Game Mini-Plan and Prime Seat 6-Pack. Johnson will be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame this year and the D-backs will honor him with a special Hall of Fame bobblehead giveaway on July 25, which coincides with Hall of Fame weekend in Cooperstown. In addition, the D-backs will retire Johnson's uniform No. 51 during a special ceremony on Aug. 8. Johnson recently rejoined the D-backs' organization and will serve as Special Assistant to the President & CEO Derrick Hall. The D-backs will give away five bobbleheads in 2015, including D-backs Hello Kitty (April 11), Josh Collmenter (May 9), Tony La Russa (June 6), A.J. Pollock Star Wars (July 18) and Randy Johnson Hall of Fame (July 25). Additional new and exciting giveaway items include a Paul Goldschmidt Cap (April 25), D-backs Mother's Day Ladies' Soft-style T-shirt (May 10), D-backs Fedora (May 24), D-backs Fun Socks (July 19), D-backs Insulated Lunch Bag (July 26) and D-backs Beer Stein (Sept. 12). The D-backs will be home for the holidays and will celebrate with fans on Mother's Day (May 10), Father's Day (June 21), Fourth of July and Labor Day (Sept. 7), and will honor our heroes on Sept. 11. Fans can expect several specialized theme nights throughout the season, including Country Night (April 25), Superheroes Night (May 22), Outdoor Recreation Night (May 23), Native American Recognition Day (June 20), Star Wars Night (July 18), Alumni Day (Aug. 9), and Hispanic Heritage Day (Oct. 3). Also returning in 2015, the club will host post-game fireworks shows, presented by Gila River Casinos, following 12 Friday night home games and one special fireworks night on Fourth of July. The D-backs' 2015 promotional dates are available at dbacks.com/giveaways, with highlights below: 2015 Magnet Schedule, courtesy of Pepsi (40,000 fans on April 6 vs. Giants) Opening Day Street Festival (April 6 vs. Giants) Gila River Casinos Fireworks Night (April 10 vs. Dodgers) D-backs Hello Kitty Bobblehead (10,000 fans on April 11 vs. Dodgers) Country Night, presented by Wyndham Vacation Ownership (April 24 vs. Pirates)

│

7

Gila River Casinos Fireworks Night (April 24 vs. Pirates) Paul Goldschmidt Cap, courtesy of Sanderson Ford (20,000 fans on April 25 vs. Pirates) Gila River Casinos Fireworks Night (May 8 vs. Padres) Josh Collmenter Bobblehead, courtesy of Arizona Sports 98.7 FM (20,000 fans on May 9 vs. Padres) Mother's Day (May 10 vs. Padres) Ladies' Soft-style T-shirt (10,000 moms on May 10 vs. Padres) Superheroes Night (May 22 vs. Cubs) Gila River Casinos Fireworks Night (May 22 vs. Cubs) Outdoor Recreation Night (May 23 vs. Cubs) MLB Network Bag (20,000 fans on May 23 vs. Cubs) D-backs Fedora, courtesy of Gila River Casinos (20,000 fans on May 24 vs. Cubs) Gila River Casinos Fireworks Night (June 5 vs. Mets) Tony La Russa Bobblehead, courtesy of Chevrolet (20,000 fans on June 6 vs. Mets) Gila River Casinos Fireworks Night (June 19 vs. Padres) Native American Recognition Day, presented by Gila River Casinos (June 20 vs. Padres) D-backs Backpack, courtesy of Gila River Casinos (20,000 fans on June 20 vs. Padres) Father's Day (June 21 vs. Padres) Fourth of July (July 4 vs. Rockies) Gila River Casinos Fireworks Night (July 4 vs. Rockies) Gila River Casinos Fireworks Night (July 17 vs. Giants) Star Wars Night (July 18 vs. Giants) A.J. Pollock Star Wars Bobblehead (20,000 fans on July 18 vs. Giants) D-backs Fun Socks (10,000 fans on July 19 vs. Giants) Gila River Casinos Fireworks Night (July 24 vs. Brewers) Randy Johnson Hall of Fame Bobblehead (25,000 fans on July 25 vs. Brewers) D-backs Insulated Lunch Bag, courtesy of Arizona Milk Producers (5,000 kids on July 26 vs. Brewers) Gila River Casinos Fireworks Night (Aug. 7 vs. Reds)

Randy Johnson No. 51 Retirement (Aug. 8 vs. Reds) Alumni Day, presented by Sanderson Ford (Aug. 9 vs. Reds) Gila River Casinos Fireworks Night (Aug. 28 vs. A's) Gila River Casinos Fireworks Night (Sept. 11 vs. Dodgers) D-backs Beer Stein, courtesy of Budweiser (10,000 21+ fans on Sept. 12 vs. Dodgers) Gila River Casinos Fireworks Night (Oct. 2 vs. Astros) Hispanic Heritage Day, presented by Budweiser (Oct. 3 vs. Astros) Hispanic Heritage Day Street Festival, presented by APS (Oct. 3 vs. Astros)

D-backs' Trumbo, Reed still without deals for 2015 By Jack Magruder / FOX Sports Arizona http://www.foxsports.com/arizona/story/d-backs-trumbo-reed-still-without-deals-for-2015-011615 PHOENIX -- The Diamondbacks and right-hander Jeremy Hellickson on Friday reportedly agreed on a $4.275 million contract for 2015, leaving outfielder Mark Trumbo and closer Addison Reed as the only arbitration-eligible players left. The sides are to exchange salary figures today, and the arbitration process will continue until an agreement is reached or an arbitrator sets the player's salary at one figure or the other. Hearings would begin Feb. 1. With about $10 million expected to go to Trumbo and Reed and another $7 million to the remaining players with less than three years service time, the D-backs are projected to spend about $85 million on payroll this year, among the reasons they can consider free agent right-hander James Shields. Trumbo made $4.8 million in his first year of arbitration in 2014, when he slashed .235/.293/.415 with 14 home runs and 61 RBI while missing almost half the season with a stress fracture in his left foot. Trumbo averaged one RBI every 5.4 at-bats, the highest of his career. His average of one homer per 23.4 at-bats was his lowest. Reed, who was was 1-7 with a 4.25 ERA and 32 saves in 38 chances, is entering his first year of arbitration eligibility. He made $538,500 last year, his first with the D-backs. Earlier, the D-backs signed David Hernandez to a $2 million deal to avoid arbitration in mid-December and infielder Cliff Pennington for $3.275 million on Dec. 29. They already had picked up the options of Daniel Hudson and Matt Reynolds. The fact Yasmany Tomas' six-year, $68.5 contract is weighted heavily on the back side is a factor. Tomas is to make $2 million this year, $4 million in 2016, $6 million in 2017 and $10 million in 2018, with one quarter of his $14 million bonus to be paid each year.

│

8

Randy Johnson will have Diamondbacks cap on Hall of Fame plaque By FOX Sports Arizona http://www.foxsports.com/arizona/story/randy-johnson-arizona-diamondbacks-cap-baseball-hall-of-fame-011615 Randy Johnson's Hall of Fame plaque will bear an Arizona Diamondbacks cap. The announcement was made Friday morning by the Hall of Fame. ----

Arizona Diamondbacks ✔ @Dbacks It's official. The #Dbacks logo will appear on the cap of the Hall of Fame plaque for Randy Johnson. #RJ51HOF ---- In an accompanying annoucement, the Diamondbacks said they will retire Johnson's No. 51 in a ceremony at Chase Field before a game with Cincinnati on Aug. 8. While Johnson pitched 10 seasons for the Seattle Mariners and eight for the Diamondbacks, he enjoyed his greatest success in Arizona. He was the National League Cy Young Award winner in each of his first four seasons with the D-backs and was co-MVP of the 2001 World Series. He had a 118-62 record and 2.83 ERA while making 232 starts for the D-backs. For the Mariners, he was 130-74 with a 3.42 ERA in 266 starts. He won the American League Cy Young Award with Seattle in 1995 as part of a stellar Mariners team that is credited with saving baseball in Seattle. With Johnson, Ken Griffey Jr. and Edgar Martinez leading the team into the playoffs, the Washington state legislature voted to fund a new stadium for the team after citizens had voted down a sales tax referendum designed to fund the stadium. Johnson and the other three members of the Hall of Fame Class of 2015 -- Pedro Martinez, Craig Biggio and John Smoltz -- will be formally inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday, July 26 in Cooperstown, N.Y., as the centerpiece of a four-day celebration of baseball. Each Hall of Fame plaque will be revealed as the prelude to each electee’s induction speech on July 26. The Hall of Fame plaque, which serves to reflect the totality of a career, details an individual’s accomplishments in the game in approximately 90 words, while listing each team on which an individual played or managed. An artist rendering of the individual being honored tops the Hall of Fame plaque, and in many instances, a cap, where a logo may or may not featured, is included. "The Museum staff works with each inductee by suggesting an appropriate logo option, or no logo at all," said Jeff Idelson, President of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. "For those whose most compelling contributions clearly took place with one team, a logo makes sense. For those whose careers were built significantly among multiple teams, not having a team logo is equally acceptable. Regardless of the selection, a Hall of Famer belongs to every team for which he played or managed, as well as every fan who followed his career."

Randy Johnson will enter Hall of Fame as member of Arizona Diamondbacks By ArizonaSports.com http://arizonasports.com/42/1799393/Randy-Johnson-will-enter-Hall-of-Fame-as-member-of-Arizona-Diamondbacks Randy Johnson will be the first man to enter the National Baseball Hall of Fame as an Arizona Diamondback. Johnson will wear a D-backs cap on his Hall of Fame plaque, the Hall of Fame museum announced Friday. ----

Arizona Diamondbacks ✔ @Dbacks It's official. The #Dbacks logo will appear on the cap of the Hall of Fame plaque for Randy Johnson. #RJ51HOF ---- The left-hander, who is part of a four-man 2015 Hall of Fame class, played eight seasons for the D-backs from 1999-2004 and 2007-08 and guided Arizona to its first and only World Series championship in 2001. Johnson, who won four Cy Young awards with the D-backs from 1999-2002, will have his number retired by the team in August. ----

Arizona Diamondbacks ✔ @Dbacks

The #Dbacks will retire Randy Johnson's No. 51 during a special ceremony at Chase Field on Saturday, Aug. 8. #RJ51HOF ----

Celebrities announced for Waste Management Phoenix Open Pro-Am By ArizonaSports.com http://arizonasports.com/22/1800174/Celebrities-announced-for-Waste-Management-Phoenix-Open-ProAm Waste Management Phoenix Open officials announced the celebrity lineup Monday for the 2015 Annexus Pro-Am. Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians, who led the team to an 11-5 record and a playoff berth in 2014, will be making his second straight appearance at the pro-am. He is just one of several current and former Cardinals that will participate in the event. Bob Barker will not be participating, but the coach of the NCAA championship-winning Ohio State football program will take the greens in Scottsdale. An NBA legend will also participate, as will a current Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher and a team legend who was recently voted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Two ESPN sportscasters and two country music singers are also slated to play among the star-studded field. The Annexus Pro-Am tees off at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 28, on TPC Scottsdale's Stadium Course. The Waste Management Phoenix Open is a week of festivities that begins on Jan. 26 and concludes on Feb. 1.

│

9

To see some of the standout names in the Jan. 28 pro-am, click through the photos below.

Diamondbacks tap Cuba: Scherzer returns to Arizona roots By Mark Brown / Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/article/diamondbacks-tap-cuba-scherzer-returns-to-arizona-roots Some might consider the Diamondbacks’ recent signing of two Cuban-born players as a particular twist of fate. Just a month ago, the Diamondbacks clearly appeared out of the picture to an effort to obtain the services of Yasmany Tomas, a raw power hitter, whom the organization believes has tremendous potential. Plus, no pundit had right-handed pitcher Yoan Lopez, a hard-throwing 21-year-old, on the Arizona radar screen. Undaunted by previous huge contacts to marginal players and reluctance to enter the free-agent market with force, Ken Kendrick, the team’s managing partner, opened his checkbook and dished out $68.5 million (six years) for Tomas, who will be given first opportunity to win the third base job in this spring. That represented the biggest contract in Arizona franchise history. Then, Kendrick wrote a check for a reported $8.27 million and awarded Lopez the largest bonus in club history. On Monday, the Diamondbacks signed Lopez to a minor league contract, and he will likely open the 2015 season with the Double-AA Mobile BayBears. While both call Cuba their home country, each defected and thus fell under specific major league baseball’s international signing regulations. Still, the Diamondbacks’ foray into the previously restricted island could help open the gates for further development. “Keep in mind both (Tomas and Lopez) defected, so we really didn’t go into Cuba,” said Rob Manfred, who takes over as baseball’s 10th commissioner on Jan. 25. “We’ll keep a close eye on what the Obama administration does from this point. We need to be very cognizant how the laws of the United States pertain going forward.” Arizona is not the first team, in recent years, to go after Cuban talent. With a rich, baseball history, the game was introduced to the island in the 1860s. That’s when students returned from attending American schools and initiated the game. Even before Fidel Castro took power in 1959, many stars, such as Minnie Minoso, Camilo Pascual, Tony Taylor, Mike Cueller and Sandy Amoros had arrived and played on major league teams. Since Castro assumed power, additional players, like Tony Perez of Cincinnati’s Big Red Machine fame and recently Jose Abreu, Yasiel Puig, Rey Ordonez, Kendrys Morales, Juan Miranda, who

had a cup of coffee with the Diamondbacks, Orlando Hernandez, Livan Hernandez, Jose Fernandez, Yunel Escobar, Odrisamer Despaigne, Aroldis Chapman, Yoenis Cespedes, Yuniesky Betancourt, among others, made significant contributions. Now, the Diamondbacks made their influence known in exploring the Cuban market, which prompted Bud Selig, who leaves next week as baseball’s Commissioner, to say, “we talked about a Cuba in detail” during the recent owners’ meetings. Still, the movers and shakers are always exploring ways to obtain talent. “We have the internationalization of the game continuously on our radar screen,” Manfred said. “We’ll continue to search for the best players.” BACK TOGETHER When the Nationals signed right-hander Max Scherzer to a reported seven-year, $210 million contract Monday, the 30-year-old became reunited with Nats’ general manager Mike Rizzo. The fact that Washington entered the Scherzer sweepstakes in mid-January might be due to the fact that Rizzo decided to jump into the discussion. As the Diamondbacks’ director of scouting from 2000 to 2007, Rizzo was responsible for drafting Scherzer into the Arizona organization. Selected in the first round, and 11th overall, Scherzer spent his first two major league seasons with Rizzo and the Diamondbacks. With a 0-4 mark his first season in 2008, Scherzer improved to 9-11 the next year, a 4.12 ERA but fanned 174 hitters in 170 innings. That winter, the native of Chesterfield, Mo. was sent to Detroit as part of a three-team transaction. After Scherzer was dealt, Rizzo, who was by-passed for the Diamondbacks’ GM position, bolted and became general manager of the Nationals in 2009. As part of the deal involving Scherzer, the Diamondbacks received Edwin Jackson from the Tigers and Ian Kennedy from the Yankees. Since the trade, Kennedy was moved to San Diego and Jackson has played for the White Sox, the Cardinals, the Nationals and the Cubs.

Randy Johnson to go into Hall of Fame as a Diamondback By Kim Hastings / Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/article/randy-johnson-to-go-into-hall-of-fame-as-a-diamondback In an announcement sure to surprise Mariners' fans, Randy Johnson (aka "The Big Unit") has decided to enter baseball's Hall of Fame as a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Johnson made the announcement from his Arizona home Friday afternoon. The decision was likely based on Johnson's World Series title with Arizona. A contributing factor was believed to

│

10

be Johnson's current employment as a member of the Arizona front office. Johnson won the bulk of his games as a member of the Mariners. His 130 wins for Seattle rank him second in team history. Only Jamie Moyer won more games for the Mariners. Students of Seattle baseball recall Johnson as being the ace of the staff on the 1995 team credited with saving baseball in The Emerald City. The big lefty was 18-2 during that halcyon season. He received the American League Cy Young Award for his achievements that year. Johnson's 1998 departure from the Seahawks was under less than ideal circumstances. Disenchanted with the direction of the Mariners and ready to move on Johnson slipped to 9-10 with an uncharacteristically high 4.33 ERA. The M's traded Johnson to Houston, where he compiled a 10-1 record and a 1.28 ERA in 11 starts. He led the Astros to the National League Central Division crown in his half season as a member of that team. Surrounding his two stints in Arizona, where he won 118 games, Johnson played with the New York Yankees and the San Francisco Giants. It was as a member of the Giants that Johnson won his 300th game. In the statement in which he made the Hall of Fame team designation announcement Johnson thanked, by name, all of the teams for whom he played. The announcement about which team's name would be on Johnson's Hall plaque was prominent on the Diamondbacks' website. No mention of the announcement could be found on the Mariners' site early Friday afternoon.

Johnson selects Diamondbacks logo for Hall plaque By Mark Brown / Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/article/johnson-selects-diamondbacks-logo-for-hall-plaque When Randy Johnson appeared before the media to discuss his Hall of Fame induction earlier this month, the first question asked reference his hat. “Have you decided which logo will be on your plaque,” a reporter asked. “Haven’t made that decision and I’ll think about that,” was Johnson’s response. In the end, the decision took only a few weeks because Johnson came to the conclusion that his most influential years as an intimidating left-handed pitcher was with the Diamondbacks. That concluded, Johnson reached his decision late Thursday night when he told team president Derrick Hall that he will sport a Diamondbacks logo in his induction plague. Johnson is the first player who played any part of his career with Arizona to be inducted into baseball's Hall of Fame. Based on Johnson’s decision, the Hall of Fame made the formal announcement Friday morning.

Johnson is scheduled to be enshrined in Cooperstown on July 26 along with pitchers Pedro Martinez, John Smoltz and infielder Craig Biggio. "I couldn't be happier," Hall told MLB.com on Thursday. "It's a combination of Randy and the Hall of Fame. They get together and talk about what makes most sense. I actually think he was highly decorated in Arizona and that those were his best years. I think it's only fitting that our first Hall of Famer is Randy Johnson." Johnson pitched for the Diamondbacks from 1999 to 2004 and again for parts of the 2007 and 2008 seasons. He finished with a record of 303-163, 3.29 ERA and his 4,875 strikeouts is tops among left-handers on baseball history. Only Nolan Ryan recorded more career strikeouts. Johnson won five Cy Young Awards, four with the Diamondbacks and one with Seattle. In all, Johnson played 22 years in the majors for Montreal, Seattle, Houston, Arizona, the New York Yankees and San Francisco. Perhaps Johnson's best season was 2002, the year after he help guide the Diamondbacks to the World Series win over the New York Yankees. In that season, Johnson went 24-5, 2.32 ERA in 260 innings of work. The most strikeouts recorded in one season was in 2001 when he fanned 372 batters in 249 innings. Influential in helping the Diamondbacks to the 2001 title, Johnson went 3-0 during that World Series and posted a 1.04 ERA. HELLICKSON SIGNS On Friday, the Diamondbacks avoided arbitration with right-hander Jeremy Hellickson. Acquired from the Rays in an off-season deal, Hellickson signed a one year contract for a reported $4.275 million. In 2014 with the Rays, Hellickson, who will be 28 by opening day, earned a reported $3,625 million. Last season, Hellickson missed nearly the first half of the season due to elbow surgery and finished with 1-5 record and a 4.52 ERA in 13 starts. In four years with the Rays, Hellickson recorded a 40-36 mark and a 3.78 ERA in 108 starts. Hellickson’s signing now leaves pitcher Addison Reed and outfielder Mark Trumbo as remaining Arizona players who are arbitration-eligible.

Sports shorts: Johnson to have D-backs hat on plaque By Associated Press http://tucson.com/sports-shorts-johnson-to-have-d-backs-hat-on-plaque/article_e8d8c538-8fcd-5148-a797-9e6fb3745447.html PHOENIX — Randy Johnson will wear an Arizona Diamondbacks cap on his plaque in baseball’s Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame made the announcement Friday.

│

11

Johnson had said it was out of his hands as to whether the cap would be from the Diamondbacks, from his previous team, the Seattle Mariners, or have no insignia at all. Johnson said in a statement Friday that after thinking about the issue and conferring with Hall of Fame representatives, they came to the decision that “the Diamondbacks logo on my Hall of Fame plaque makes the most sense.” Johnson had his biggest success with Arizona, winning four consecutive Cy Young Awards and a World Series title. • The Diamondbacks avoided arbitration with right-hander Jeremy Hellickson, agreeing to a one-year contract for $4,275,000. Arizona acquired Hellickson in an offseason trade with Tampa Bay. • David Price and the Tigers avoided arbitration with a record-setting deal. Price agreed to a $19.75 million contract, the largest one-year deal for a player who filed for arbitration. • Stephen Strasburg and the Nationals agreed to a $7.4 million, one-year contract and avoided salary arbitration. • Pittsburgh and South Korean infielder Jung Ho Kang finalized an $11 million, four-year contract on Friday. Also, former UA standout Mark Melancon was among nine of the Pirates’ 12 players who filed for arbitration earlier this week who agreed to one-year contracts. The 29-year-old will make $5.4 million, more than double the $2,595,000 he earned last season when he converted 33 of 37 save opportunities. • Infielder Stephen Drew and the Yankees finalized a $5 million, one-year contract, a deal that puts him in position to become New York’s starting second baseman. • First baseman Chris Davis and Baltimore reached agreement on a $12 million contract for next season and catcher Matt Wieters got a one-year deal for $8,275,000. • The San Padres and All-Star Tyson Ross agreed to a one-year deal.

Randy Johnson to wear Diamondbacks hat in Hall of Fame By Becca Smouse / ABC 15 http://www.abc15.com/sports/sports-blogs-local/randy-johnson-to-wear-diamondbacks-hat-in-hall-of-fame NEW YORK - The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum announced that an Arizona Diamondbacks logo will appear on the cap for Randy Johnson’s plaque. Johnson’s induction marks the first time a Diamondbacks logo will be featured on a player in the Hall of Fame. His plaque will also include a brief description about his professional accomplishments and other teams Johnson has played for. Johnson, along with Craig Biggio, Pedro Martinez and John Smoltz, were elected into the Hall of Fame by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America on January 6.

The newest members of the Hall of Fame will be formally inducted on July 26 in Cooperstown, New York. The ceremony is part of a four-day celebration of baseball and the players in the Hall of Fame.

Johnson to wear D-Backs cap in Hall of Fame By Steve Stout / CBS 5 http://www.kpho.com/story/27869072/johnson-to-wear-d-backs-cap-in-hall-of-fame Johnson, the fireball throwing lefthander who pitched for six teams in a 22-year career, won four Cy Young awards and a World Series with the Diamondbacks. The Hall of Fame and Museum made the announcement Friday that the Diamondbacks cap was selected. Johnson will be the first representative of the Diamondbacks in the Hall of Fame. Johnson is among four electees to the Hall. Craig Biggio, and pitchers Pedro Martinez and John Smoltz were also selected. The caps of the other three players will be made Jan. 22. "After reflecting the last week and conferring with the Hall of Fame, we've come to the decision that the Diamondbacks logo on my Hall of Fame plaque makes the most sense," Johnson said. "I want to express my most sincere thanks to all the teams I played for – Montreal, Seattle, Houston, the New York Yankees and San Francisco – and particularly all of the fans for supporting me. I'm very humbled by this honor." The four players will be inducted Sunday, July 26 at the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY. The induction ceremony will be televised live on the ML Network.

Randy Johnson picks Diamondbacks logo for Baseball Hall of Fame By Kristi Tedesco / KVOA - Tucson http://www.kvoa.com/news/randy-johnson-picks-diamondbacks-logo-for-baseball-hall-of-fame/ PHOENIX- Randy Johnson will wear an Arizona Diamondbacks cap on his plaque in baseball's Hall of Fame. Previously, Johnson had said the logo decision was out of his hands. Then, in a statement today, he said "the Diamondbacks logo on my Hall of Fame plaque makes the most sense." Johnson also said, "I want to express my most sincere thanks to all the teams I played for -- Montreal, Seattle, Houston, the New York Yankees and San Francisco -- and particularly all of the fans for supporting me. I'm very humbled by this honor." Randy Johnson was with the Arizona Diamondbacks 1999-2004, and again 2007-2008. He was elected to the Hall on January 6th along with Pedro Martinez, John Smoltz and Craig Biggio. The 2015 Class will be formally inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame July 26 in Cooperstown, New York.

Johnson enters as Diamondback By Damien Alameda / Tucson News Now

│

12

http://www.tucsonnewsnow.com/story/27871598/johnson-enters-as-diamondback (COOPERSTOWN, N.Y.) – The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum has announced that an Arizona Diamondbacks logo will appear on the cap of the Hall of Fame plaque for 2015 Hall of Fame electee Randy Johnson. The cap selections for the remainder of the Hall of Fame Class of 2015 – Craig Biggio, Pedro Martinez and John Smoltz – will be announced on January 22. The Hall of Fame Class of 2015 will be formally inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday, July 26 in Cooperstown, N.Y., as the centerpiece of a four-day celebration of baseball and their careers as part of Hall of Fame Weekend 2015. Biggio, Johnson, Martinez and Smoltz were elected to the Hall of Fame by the Baseball Writers' Association of America on January 6. “After reflecting the last week and conferring with the Hall of Fame, we've come to the decision that the Diamondbacks logo on my Hall of Fame plaque makes the most sense,” said Johnson. “I want to express my most sincere thanks to all the teams I played for – Montreal, Seattle, Houston, the New York Yankees and San Francisco – and particularly all of the fans for supporting me. I'm very humbled by this honor.” Each Hall of Fame plaque will be revealed as the prelude to each electee's induction speech on July 26. The Hall of Fame plaque, which serves to reflect the totality of a career, details an individual's accomplishments in the game in approximately 90 words, while listing each team on which an individual played or managed. An artist rendering of the individual being honored tops the Hall of Fame plaque, and in many instances, a cap, where a logo may or may not featured, is included. “The Museum staff works with each inductee by suggesting an appropriate logo option, or no logo at all,” said Jeff Idelson, President of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. “For those whose most compelling contributions clearly took place with one team, a logo makes sense. For those whose careers were built significantly among multiple teams, not having a team logo is equally acceptable. Regardless of the selection, a Hall of Famer belongs to every team for which he played or managed, as well as every fan who followed his career.” The four newest members of the National Baseball Hall of Fame will take their permanent place in Cooperstown on Sunday, July 26, with the ceremony beginning at 1:30 p.m. EDT – televised live on MLB Network, highlighting four days of celebratory events and programs for baseball fans of all ages, as part of Hall of Fame Weekend 2015, July 24-27. Hall of Fame Weekend 2015 will also feature the Saturday, July 25 Awards Presentation, when J.G. Taylor Spink Award winner Tom Gage and Ford C. Frick Award winner Dick Enberg will each be honored. The Weekend will include family programming for baseball fans of all ages, including the July 25 Parade of Legends and a July 27 Legends of the Game Roundtable discussion event with the four inductees. More than 50 Hall of Famers are expected to return for Hall of Fame Weekend, with the full list of returnees to be announced in

early July, to honor the Class of 2015 at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is an independent not-for-profit educational institution, dedicated to fostering an appreciation of the historical development of baseball and its impact on our culture by collecting, preserving, exhibiting and interpreting its collections for a global audience as well as honoring those who have made outstanding contributions to our National Pastime. Opening its doors for the first time on June 12, 1939, the Hall of Fame has stood as the definitive repository of the game's treasures and as a symbol of the most profound individual honor bestowed on an athlete. It is every fan's "Field of Dreams," with its stories, legends and magic shared from generation to generation.

The Smile Generation Wins D-backs Ambassador Award By The Smile Generation http://blog.smilegeneration.com/events/smile-generation-wins-dbacks-ambassador-award/ The Smile Generation® was presented with the D-Backs Ambassador Award at the Arizona Diamondbacks MVP (Most Valuable Partner) show for their partnership efforts during the 2014 Major League Baseball season. We at The Smile Generation are honored to have been awarded the distinction of outstanding ambassador partner to the Arizona Diamondbacks organization for the 2014 MLB season. The Dbacks are one of the earliest sponsored teams of The Smile Generation, and we are very grateful for the relationship and their contributions to the Arizona community at large. Kevin Lawton, Regional Partner for the Desert Mountain Region, on winning: Our partnership with the Dbacks has allowed us a unique opportunity to continue to raise awareness for The Smile Generation in Arizona and many additional baseball markets. As a Diamondbacks fan, I’m so proud of the team’s efforts and their relentless pursuit of greatness. The Dbacks and their shared goal of community activation continue to be an ideal partner for The Smile Generation. We look forward to many more great years ahead…and hopefully a World Series Championship! Kristie VanEngelen, Account Services Executive, summed up the recognition: The Arizona Diamondbacks organization was pleased to be able to recognize The Smile Generation for their years of partnership. 2014 was a standout year, which included some of our most popular promotions to date: “Baxter’s Ears” Hat and Birthday Bash, the employee rally, and more!We are so glad to be able to highlight your team’s efforts through the D-backs Ambassador Award! Diamondbacks President and CEO Derrick Hall is a model leader who puts his customers above all else. He created and installed the FAWTSY (Find A Way To Say Yes) customer service principle throughout the Dbacks organization.

│

13

We at The Smile Generation also believe in FAWTSY. We help patients find the dental health they need, through trusted, local dentists.

Scouts dinner highlights best aspects of the game Greats come together for awards ceremony, auction to benefit families in need By Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com http://m.mlb.com/news/article/106742628/barry-m-bloom-professional-baseball-scouts-foundation-awards-dinner-highlights-best-aspects-of-the-game LOS ANGELES -- There's nothing better on the West Coast in the offseason than the Professional Baseball Scouts Foundation Awards Dinner. This year, the 12th annual soiree was staged on Saturday night by founder Dennis Gilbert at the famous Century Plaza Hotel. The affair, in honor of outgoing Commissioner Bud Selig, always offers a bit of the poignant and the absurd. The absurd: Comedian Garry Shandling did a bit about baseball's pace of game, an issue being addressed by the experimental use of a 20-second pitch clock at the top levels of the Minor Leagues this coming season. Mimicking Red Sox slugger David "Big Papi" Ortiz, Shandling slowly donned a pair of batting gloves, first the left hand, repeatedly loosening and tightening the Velcro strip into the microphone. "You can't hear this [scratching] sound on TV," he said. Shandling then stepped away from the mike and slowly, methodically worked on the right hand, pulling the glove out of his back pocket, loosening and tightening the Velcro strip, loosening and tightening the Velcro strip. "I've actually gotten a soda and a hot dog and done an entire set at the Improv waiting for Big Papi to hit," Shandling quipped. The poignant: Jim Marshall, an Arizona Diamondbacks scout for the past 20 years, was one of five scouts given the Legends in Scouting Award this year. Marshall, a former player and manager with a resume a mile long, is 83 years old and has been in the game for 63 years. He's been around so long that in 1962, Marshall was an original New York Met. "The Scouts Foundation is very special, and I appreciate being honored," Marshall said afterward. "The Foundation does all that it can to help people in the game and bolster anyone who has problems and financial needs." Really, this is what the Scouts Foundation is all about: Honoring the scouts -- who discover the players and are the bedrock of the sport -- and helping those who have fallen on hard times in their advanced years. The backbone of the dinner is a silent and not-so-silent auction of sports and entertainment memorabilia that raises about $1 million a year, most of that money distributed to scouts in need and their families. The items range from the usual

autographed baseballs and photographs to a George Washington signature with a starting auction price of $15,000. According to Gilbert, this year, the Foundation helped a scout who couldn't afford to remain in hospice and paid for him to stay there until he passed away. The family of another scout was unable to pay his funeral costs. The Foundation interceded. "Recently, we've had more people under claim, more people that we've helped," said Gilbert, a former player, scout, agent and now consultant to White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf. "Every single time that a general manager gets fired, a new general manager comes in and they bring their own people. It has nothing to do with competence. Then all of a sudden, you see a lot of veteran scouts out of work. "When they go to get jobs other than baseball, it's: 'What kind of work experience do you have?' And being a baseball scout trains you for absolutely nothing else than being a baseball scout. So who wants to hire a 65-year-old guy who has been a scout for the last 25 years? Those are the people we really help the most." And that's why the baseball community gathers here every year among a bevy of current and retired scouts. The dinner attracts about 1,200 annually, including fans who have paid hundreds of dollars per ticket to take part in the auction and mingle with the greats. On Saturday night, 11 of the 66 living members of the National Baseball Hall of Fame -- not including this summer's incoming quartet of inductees -- were in attendance. That group included Phil Niekro, Paul Molitor, Robin Yount, Dave Winfield, Tommy Lasorda, Bobby Cox, Rich "Goose" Gossage, Pat Gillick, George Brett, Brooks Robinson and Frank Robinson. They were joined by Ford C. Frick Award winners Vin Scully and Bob Uecker, plus former and current owners Reinsdorf, Tom Werner of the Red Sox, Lew Wolf of the A's, Bill Giles of the Phillies and Peter O'Malley of the Dodgers. Selig is always there and was joined by Commissioner-elect Rob Manfred, who said in prepared remarks that attending the dinner was one of the things that makes him most proud to be part of the sport of baseball. It is everything that is good about the sport: people helping people who are such a big part of the baseball family. More of the absurd: Uecker, the long-time Brewers announcer, was shown on a short video mimicking his famous Miller Lite commercial about attending a game at Dodger Stadium. Being moved by an usher, he mused that his seat "must be in the front row." He wound up near the back row of an empty upper deck, similar to where his statue is now located behind home plate at Miller Park. The video showed Uecker at a table in the kitchen sitting down to eat his meal. Later, he entertained with a monologue as only Uecker can. As usual, he killed. More of the poignant: Dusty Baker being given the Tommy Lasorda Managerial Achievement Award. Baker, whose playing career flourished under Lasorda, has been out of the game since he was dismissed by the Reds after the 2013 season, and he is

│

14

now running his own winery near his adopted hometown of Sacramento, Calif. Baker said prior to the dinner that he was honored to be here among the scouts. "Scouts are the lifeblood of this game, they are," he said. "Scouts do the work. I was very lucky. I came across some great scouts at a very young age. They motivate these young men to think that they might be able to play their dreams out. Scouts have been a big part of my life. Scouts are very unheralded." Save for every year on this night, at least.

Big Unit's Hall of Fame plaque to feature D-backs logo Arizona to retire Johnson's uniform number in August By Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com http://m.dbacks.mlb.com/news/article/106595160/d-backs-logo-to-be-depicted-on-randy-johnsons-hall-of-fame-plaque PHOENIX -- Randy Johnson will be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame this summer as a member of the D-backs. Johnson told club president Derrick Hall about his decision on Thursday and the Hall of Fame made a formal announcement on Friday morning. In addition, the D-backs will retire Johnson's No. 51 in a ceremony at Chase Field on Aug. 8. Johnson will be inducted along with fellow pitchers John Smoltz and Pedro Martinez and 3,000-hit-club member Craig Biggio on July 26 in Cooperstown, N.Y. The 6-foot-10, left-handed Johnson, second all-time with 4,785 strikeouts, will be the first member of the D-backs to go into the Hall with their logo appearing on his plaque. "I couldn't be happier," Hall told MLB.com on Thursday. "It's a combination of Randy and the Hall of Fame. They get together and talk about what makes most sense. Obviously he had options. Seattle might have made some sense, Montreal. He talks about Houston, although he was there the shortest, he had some of his best days there. I actually think he was highly decorated in Arizona and that those were his best years. I think it's only fitting that our first Hall of Famer is Randy Johnson." Hall broke the news Thursday to a crowd of business partners and season-ticket holders during the team's annual Most Valuable Partner dinner and show in Chandler, Ariz. Biggio will be the first player to go in as an Astro, the team for which he played his entire 20-year career, during which he amassed 3,060 hits. Smoltz, like fellow staff mate Tom Glavine did last year, will be inducted as a Brave. Smoltz pitched the first 20 of his 21 big league seasons in Atlanta. That leaves only Martinez's logo in question, although there has been some suggestion that he will go in as a member of the Red Sox, the organization for which he had his most formidable years. Johnson was non-committal two weeks ago, after he was elected into the Hall of Fame by eligible members of the Baseball Writers' Association of America with 97.3 percent of the vote. He had 118 of his 303 wins, pitched a perfect game, shared the 2001 World Series Most Valuable Player Award and won four of his five Cy Youngs for the D-backs.

Though Johnson may be most identified for his eight years and two stints with the D-backs, who appointed him as a special assistant to Hall on the day he was elected, he was brought up by the Expos, played 10 seasons with the Mariners, went 10-1 with a 1.28 ERA in 11 late-season starts for the Astros in 1998, won 34 games (17 and 17) in two seasons for the Yankees and recorded his 300th career win in his final season of 2009 with his hometown Giants. He grew up in Livermore, Calif. Johnson wasn't given the chance to finish his career with the D-backs when he became a free agent after the 2008 season. Contract talks broke down and he signed with San Francisco. The D-backs inked free-agent right-hander Jon Garland instead. Considering it all, Johnson could have mimicked Greg Maddux and Tony La Russa, who last year were inducted into the Hall without any logo on their plaques so not to offend any of the other teams they worked for. "Yeah, I know. He could have done that and I'm thrilled he didn't," Hall said. "I can't thank him enough for that. It's appropriate. He and I have had conversations in the past. I was always hoping he would go in as a D-back. He kept it close to the vest, but I'm absolutely ecstatic for everybody that he is." Hall said the team will also distribute Johnson bobbleheads on July 25, when the D-backs will be home playing the Brewers. Two weeks later, before a 5:10 p.m. MT game against the Reds, Johnson's number No. 51 will be the second retired by the D-backs, who previously honored Luis Gonzalez by hanging his No. 20 on the white upper right-field façade at Chase Field. Johnson's number will join his former teammate along with the No. 42 worn by Jackie Robinson, which is retired throughout Major League Baseball. "That day we'll do a big, broad celebration of Randy, retiring his number, and then we'll have the alumni game the next day," Hall said. "It'll be a great event."

D-backs' MVP show a hit with Hall again as the star Club president hosts late-night format presentation to honor sponsors By Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com http://m.dbacks.mlb.com/news/article/106580014/barry-m-bloom-d-backs-most-valuable-partner-show-again-a-hit CHANDLER, Ariz. -- It never hurts to be a bit self-deprecating, D-backs president Derrick Hall said on Thursday night. And then he and his staff went out and proved it during the club's fourth annual Most Valuable Partner show and dinner in the theater at the Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino. The show, cast in a late night television comedy format with Hall hosting as a little bit Jimmy Fallon and a little bit Jimmy Kimmel, started off with a bang, as Hall showed a video highlight of the D-backs' forgettable 64-98, 2014 season. It lasted all of about 15 seconds with sidekick Cullen Maxey, the team's executive vice president of business operations, noting that the highlight was the season's last pitch. "And the crowd got it, they understood it," Hall said about the group of around 250 that included club sponsors, business partners and season-ticket holders.

│

15

Moments later, as Hall went through his pre-scripted monologue, he mused about the torture report recently released by the federal government. "Well, they did a torture report about the D-backs, too," Hall deadpanned. "We made the fans sit through 162 games." Bah, bam. The second set is at 10:30. Don't forget to tip your waitress. "We felt like we had to poke fun at ourselves the whole time," Hall said backstage afterward. "I was hoping that the players wouldn't take offense. But they get it. They understand you have to poke fun at yourself. They were terrific. They would come up in between skits or sets and whisper in my ear, 'Oh, you're killing it. This is so great. This is so fun.' They weren't offended. They were on board. I couldn't be happier with the way it turned out." Many current and former D-backs took part in the antics and handed out the annual awards to longtime and newer sponsors who are treated as part of the family. Josh Collmenter squashed eggs on the head of a D-backs executive. Bronson Arroyo, Mark Trumbo and Aaron Hill joined the band and jammed to Neil Young's "Rockin' In The Free World." Hill and Trumbo played guitars and Arroyo, who channels Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder, sang the vocals. They rocked. There was good news. Arroyo, who underwent Tommy John surgery on his right elbow this past season, said he's about to begin throwing again on Monday. Paul Goldschmidt, presenting the Silver Slugger and Gold Glove Awards, waggled his left hand in the air and told the crowd: "All healed!" Goldschmidt was hit with a pitch and missed the last two months of the season with a fractured bone in that hand. He said he's been working out regularly at the club's Salt River Fields complex and is raring to go. "You've got to laugh about it," Hall said. "Then it's time to turn the page and move forward." The concept is this: Rather than having the usual staid business-to-business summit every year to brainstorm about projects and campaigns with sponsors, the D-backs came up with this approach, which is certainly novel in professional sports and might not be mimicked much in the business world. The past three years, the show was a replica of the Academy Awards with Hall playing different characters and presenting the awards in that Oscars, Golden Globes and Emmys style. Not this year. "We've talked about it for awhile, that's kind of how I run my meetings, which we call First Fridays," Hall said. "It's on the couch with D. Hall. So Rob, who's our producer, said, 'Why don't we take that concept and do the late-night talk show for our corporate partners?' It was working so well with the Academy Awards, but we thought it was time for a refresh. And it was perfect timing."

Chase Bank, Coors Light, Smile Generation and Jack in the Box all won major awards for advertising and community involvement campaigns. Raising Cane's, a local multioutlet restaurant that specializes in chicken fingers, was named the Rookie of the Year. Safelife won the Silver Slugger and Fry's Food Stores was the Gold Glove winner. Circle K, a chain of convenience stores that has been a D-backs sponsor since Day 1 in 1998, was given the Lifetime Achievement Award. And once again, Taco Bell was the Fan Favorite. This coming season, if the D-backs score a modest five runs or more during a game at Chase Field, fans will be able to turn in their ticket stubs the next day for free tacos. No wonder the fans love it. No wonder the business partners eat up the entire show. "They like it. You can see they have fun here," Hall said. "They show up year after year. They're competitive. They want to win. I mean, they come out from New York, they come out from Chicago and California. They come here for this. It's a biggie. It's gotten to the point where other teams will call us and ask for the playbook, you know, 'How do you make that happen?' And I don't know that many can duplicate it because we have such a talented staff and production crew. It's unbelievable." Actually, they'd have to borrow Hall, the part-Fallon/part-Kimmel, who pulls the entire show together.

New faces, new places set up intriguing spring Best-laid plans could change with position battles on horizon By Doug Miller / MLB.com http://m.mlb.com/news/article/106784972/many-players-will-be-wading-into-new-waters-as-spring-training-position-battles-heat-up The Major League Baseball offseason is filled with high expectations and best-laid plans, with the goal of busy October nights being the motivation for transactions and depth-chart maneuvers, major and minor. With yearly turnover coming from ever-fluid positioning created by free agency and the trade market, teams embark on new strategies come Spring Training. Even though the exhibition games of the Grapefruit and Cactus leagues will go far toward determining who will take the field throughout the 2015 season, the 30 big league clubs already have certain concepts set in January. Here are cases where players could be testing new waters, whether it be changing position, finally arriving as full-time players or trying out the Major Leagues for the first time: Yasmany Tomas, 3B, D-backs: Sure, Tomas has played a bit of third base during an impressive career in Cuba, but now he's slated to man the hot corner as a $68.5 million-over-six-years franchise slugger in his first go-around in U.S. professional ball at the highest level. It's bold, but with Tony La Russa and Dave Stewart at the helm of the organization, did you expect anything different? Mookie Betts and Rusney Castillo, OF, Red Sox: Both got a taste of the bigs last year and looked promising enough to think that

│

16

there's a chance they'll play alongside each other for nine innings a night on the Fenway green. But Castillo also is new to the States from Cuba and Betts is a converted second baseman blocked at the position by Dustin Pedroia. There are still adjustments to be made. Marcus Semien, SS, A's: Semien has all of four big league appearances at shortstop in limited action over the last few seasons for the White Sox, but now that Oakland has dealt Yunel Escobar to Washington for reliever Tyler Clippard, he's the heir apparent at the anchor position in the A's infield. Unless general manager Billy Beane makes another deal, of course. Didi Gregorius, SS, Yankees: Speaking of shortstops, Gregorius is no stranger to the gig, but this gig? Replacing an all-time legend in retired captain Derek Jeter? That's a whole other assignment that pretty much defines "new waters." Dellin Betances, RP, Yankees: On the same team, Betances could very well jump into the closer's role after a dominant campaign (1.40 ERA, 0.78 WHIP, 135 strikeouts in 90 innings) as the setup man for departed David Robertson, who signed with the White Sox after ably filling Mariano Rivera's ninth-inning role. Arismendy Alcantara (OF), Javier Baez (IF), Jorge Soler (OF), Cubs: Will this terrific trio of prospects-turned-big-leaguers-on-the-cusp be penciled in as Opening Day regulars? It remains to be seen -- and the outfield picture got more crowded with the trade for Dexter Fowler -- but the potential is there, and the Chicago brass expects to win now after offseason upgrades, including one of the highest-ticket free agents on the market in new staff ace Jon Lester. All three have shown remarkable talent -- and that they have a lot to learn. Others: Dalton Pompey, OF, Toronto; Joc Pederson, OF, Dodgers; Christian Vazquez, C, Red Sox; Jose Ramirez, SS, Indians; Anthony Gose, OF, Tigers.

MLB gives back on MLK Day of Service Clubs, players volunteer in their communities to help neighbors on national holiday By Mark Newman / MLB.com http://m.mlb.com/news/article/106747528/mlb-gives-back-on-mlk-day-of-service Dave Stewart grew up in Oakland, a future Major League star pitcher, and the remarkable things he saw and heard as a boy about the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. are vivid in his memory now, at the age of 57. "I used to ask my parents why he endured the things he did for no apparent reason," said Stewart, the senior vice president and general manager of the D-backs. "I was too young to understand his cause. I understand now that nothing you accomplish in this life time comes without great sacrifice, persistence, courage and strength. Those characteristics gave me the opportunity of equality, and to be looked at like all men. "Dr. King gave his life for that. I am forever grateful, and so are my kids and their kids."

On Monday, people around Major League Baseball joined with all those who celebrated MLK Day of Service, observing more of a "day on" than a "day off." Clubs and players volunteered in their communities to help neighbors, work on civic projects, visit hospitals and family shelters, participate in MLK heritage events and generally getting involved. This annual holiday is observed on the third Monday of January each year, but to mark the Jan. 15 birthday of the late civil rights leader. Phillies center fielder Ben Revere attended the Martin Luther King Jr. Sharing the Heritage Celebration and Day of Service event, held in partnership with the Citizens Bank Foundation, at The African American Museum in Philadelphia. It was a celebration with special events and activities, including hands-on service projects, a community celebration with live performances, readings and more. Revere, who welcomed guests in the auditorium and thanked fans for taking part in this year's MLK Day of Service, was raised in Atlanta and taught the importance of the civil rights movement at an early age. "He's definitely an inspiration," Revere said. "When I think of him, I think of equality, opportunity and peace. That's the main focus. Growing up in the South at that time, it was tough. But he never gave up. He never stopped believing. He just kept going." The Mets produced a video about King, with Lance Johnson and Lenny Harris discussing his legacy. "I think he wanted equality for all ethnic groups," Johnson said. "He wanted things to be fair, he wanted everybody to have a chance to live the American dream. And basically that's just what he wanted, fairness." "It was a great impact on them, especially the African-American ballplayer today, to reach out and find out who he really is inside," Harris said. "Because he'd done so much for American people in general to make sure he established the rights of your own, the feelings of your own rights, just to be on top and where you should be in life, just to progress." For the surviving family of Jackie Robinson, the day was especially meaningful. The Brooklyn Dodgers infielder who broke baseball's color barrier in 1947 also became an influential civil rights leader and King's friend in the movement during the '60s. Rachel Robinson, Jackie's widow, attended the movie "Selma" on MLK Day as part of three generations in their family -- along with her daughter Sharon and two granddaughters. "MLK Day is a workday for all of us," said Sharon, educational consultant for MLB. "It's a day of reflection and appreciation for Dr. King and his work and words, but more importantly it asks each of us what we are doing to serve our communities and keep the values he espoused alive. That's what it means to me. So that's why my family chose to go Monday to see 'Selma,' three generations, so we can see it together and purposely chose a time when we can sit down and reflect on it. "Part of the way you continue to make a difference in people's lives is by doing the kind of outreach that our clubs are doing.

│

17

Same thing with our Jackie Robinson Scholars -- they're out doing service. There are different ways, and service is one of them." Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen and Blue Jays pitcher Marcus Stroman were examples of many players who tweeted messages of meaning: In Dallas, participants in the Texas Rangers Foundation's "just keep livin" program volunteered at the North Texas Food Bank, helping to generate a total of 18,754 meals going to families. The Rangers Foundation created a partnership with Matthew and Camila McConaughey and their "just keep livin" Foundation in 2011. The partnership includes the creation an after-school program centered on nutrition, exercise and wellness for local high school students. The program has had a dramatic impact over the last four years for just keep livin students at Pinkston High School in Dallas; Sam Houston High School in Arlington; and Eastern Hills High School in Fort Worth. In Houston, Astros staff members volunteered at four locations during the day. The itinerary included Shriners Hospital for Children, Star of Hope Women and Family Shelter (lunch service), Star of Hope Men's Development Center (lunch service), and Houston Food Bank. The White Sox Volunteer Corps -- which unites White Sox fans through service opportunities within the Chicago area -- had 60 members assist City Year with a large scale beautification project at Gage Park High School and Rachel Carson Elementary School. Volunteers worked on many projects, including painting, light construction and educational activities to enhance these important spaces on the South Side of Chicago. White Sox Charities supports the City Year program at Tilden Career Community Academy, which places City Year Corps members in classrooms to provide in-school academic support and mentoring, in addition to afterschool programming for students most at risk of dropping out of school. Mariners reliever Fernando Rodney was in South Korea visiting with U.S. military troops as part of a USO tour, spending MLK Day in a unique way to make a difference. In the days leading up to MLK Day, the D-backs were part of two key events in the Phoenix area. One was the 21st annual MLK Jr. Living the Dream Community Dinner celebration, in which several D-backs executives were in attendance. Additionally, D-backs senior vice presidents Marian Rhodes and De Jon Watson attended the ceremonial naming of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. in Phoenix on Thursday. The YMCA of Metropolitan Milwaukee hosted its 16th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast, where community and state leaders gathered for the largest MLK Day event in the state of Wisconsin. About 700 community and state leaders were expected to gather, as the Brewers donated game tickets to the attendees. Also, Brewers Community Foundation is a "Legacy Sponsor" of The Marcus Center for the Performing Arts' 31st annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Celebration. About 1,900 people attend annually. The event includes arts, speech and

writing contests. The contests are featured throughout Milwaukee Public Schools and the City of Milwaukee. Bob Kendrick, head of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, tweeted the sentiment of the day there: For more information and ways to get involved, visit MLBCommunity.org.

D-backs, righty Lopez sign Minors contract Club likes Cuban starter's fastball, slider, sees 'good upside potential' By Josh Jackson / MiLB.com http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20150117&content_id=106693066&vkey=news_milb&fext=.jsp&sid=milb Move over, Roberto Baldoquin. The D-backs have signed Cuban-born right-hander Yoan Lopez to a Minor League deal with a $8.27 million bonus, MLB.com reported on Saturday. That figure makes Lopez the recipient of the largest bonus doled out under new international guidelines. The previous record was set by Baldoquin, a 20-year-old shortstop, who received a bonus of $8 million for signing with the Angels four weeks ago. Lopez, 21, works with four pitches, and Arizona believes two of them are already advanced. "Yoan is a good-looking young starter with good upside potential," D-backs senior vice president of baseball operations De Jon Watson said in a statement. "His delivery and arm work very well. He features a plus fastball and slider, and his curveball has good shape and depth and should play average. The changeup has a chance to have swing-and-miss value down the road. We are excited to add another quality arm to the organization." ----

Jesse Sanchez ✔ @JesseSanchezMLB RHP pitcher Yoan Lopez is officially a #Dback. Pictured here with DBacks GM Dave Stewart. #Cuba ---- The righty comes with three years of experience in Cuba's Serie Nacional de Beisbol, where he went 15-13 with a 3.76 ERA over 47 games -- 39 of them starts. He stands at 6' 4"and weighs 190 pounds. The D-backs signed another Cuban, Yasmany Tomas, to a six-year deal worth $68.5 million earlier in the offseason.

Randy Johnson picks Arizona logo By Jerry Crasnick / ESPN.com http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/12179383/randy-johnson-opts-arizona-diamondbacks-logo-hall-fame-bust?ex_cid=espnapi_public Randy Johnson became a major league star with the Seattle Mariners, but he'll enter the Baseball Hall of Fame representing the Arizona Diamondbacks.

│

18

"After reflecting the last week and conferring with the Hall of Fame, we've come to the decision that the Diamondbacks logo on my Hall of Fame plaque makes the most sense," Johnson said in a statement released by the Hall on Friday. "I want to express my most sincere thanks to all the teams I played for -- Montreal, Seattle, Houston, the New York Yankees and San Francisco -- and particularly all of the fans for supporting me. I'm very humbled by this honor." Johnson was elected to the Hall on Jan. 6 along with Pedro Martinez, John Smoltz and Craig Biggio. His 97.3 percent plurality was the eighth highest in the history of Hall of Fame balloting behind Tom Seaver, Nolan Ryan, Cal Ripken Jr., Ty Cobb, George Brett, Hank Aaron and Tony Gwynn. Johnson posted a 130-74 record and a 3.42 ERA and won a Cy Young Award in 9½ seasons with Seattle. Although he spent more time with the Mariners than any other club, he went 118-62 with a 2.83 ERA over eight seasons in Arizona and captured four of his career Cy Young Awards with the Diamondbacks. Johnson pitched a perfect game for Arizona at age 40, and he was named co-MVP of the 2001 World Series with Curt Schilling after they combined to pitch Arizona past the Yankees in seven games. On the same day that Johnson was elected to Cooperstown last week, the Diamondbacks announced that he would be returning to the team in a front-office capacity as a special assistant. This summer, Johnson will join Luis Gonzalez as the only Arizona players to have their uniform numbers retired. "The Museum staff works with each inductee by suggesting an appropriate logo option, or no logo at all," Hall president Jeff Idelson said in the statement. "For those whose most compelling contributions clearly took place with one team, a logo makes sense. For those whose careers were built significantly among multiple teams, not having a team logo is equally acceptable." Greg Maddux and Tony La Russa both entered the Hall of Fame last summer with no logos on their plaques after enjoying major success with multiple teams during their careers. The Hall of Fame will announce the logos for the three other new members next Thursday, but there won't be any suspense in the decisions. Biggio played 20 seasons with the Houston Astros, and Smoltz spent almost all of his career with the Atlanta Braves before late cameos with Boston and St. Louis. Martinez, who broke in with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Montreal Expos, made four All-Star teams and won two Cy Young Awards with the Red Sox before spending four seasons with the New York Mets and closing out his career in 2009 with the Phillies.

Strengths, weaknesses of NL teams The positions where each team has depth or lacks depth as season approaches By Jason Martinez / ESPN.com http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/12188705/where-national-league-teams-depth-lack-depth-mlb

On Saturday, we laid out the areas in which each American League team has depth or lacks depth; now it's time for the National League team examinations. Let's get to it. Arizona Diamondbacks Deep in ... Outfielders: Outfield depth hasn't been an issue for the Diamondbacks in recent years, but this group might be the most talented of all of those groupings. Healthy seasons from Mark Trumbo and center fielder A.J. Pollock, who was having a great season before a fractured hand knocked him out of action for three months, would be a major boost to an offense that finished 25th in the majors in runs scored last season. They'll be joined by Cuban slugger Yasmany Tomas -- unless he somehow proves he's a capable defender at third base -- with Ender Inciarte and David Peralta both pushing for playing time after strong rookie seasons. Light in ... Starting pitching: A trio of impressive pitching prospects, Archie Bradley, Aaron Blair and Braden Shipley, gives the Diamondbacks a glimmer of hope for the not-so-distant future. Unfortunately, that future cannot come soon enough; only Bradley is realistically expected to reach the majors in 2015. It's hard to imagine a team that plans on giving the ball to either Josh Collmenter or Jeremy Hellickson on Opening Day staying in the pennant race very long. With several unproven young pitchers plus Trevor Cahill (5.61 ERA in 2014) vying for the last three spots in the rotation, it could be another long season in Arizona. Atlanta Braves Deep in ... Starting pitching: The Braves appear to be in full rebuild mode, but they have a chance to stick around in the pennant race much longer than anyone expects. That's because their starting pitching, led by Julio Teheran and Alex Wood, should continue to be one of the best in the league. And while they've traded away three of their best hitters this offseason in Jason Heyward, Justin Upton and Evan Gattis, their pitching depth has improved greatly. Shelby Miller, acquired from the Cardinals, likely will be the No. 3 starter. Mike Foltynewicz, acquired from the Astros, and Manny Banuelos acquired from the Yankees, will compete for the No. 5 spot in the rotation. Tyrell Jenkins (also acquired from the Cardinals) could help in 2016, while Max Fried (acquired from the Padres) might be the best pitching prospect in the system. Light in ... Outfielders: Trading away Heyward and Upton would have been an easier pill to swallow for Braves fans had there been some young talent ready to step in. But that wasn't the case.

│

19

And that's why former Yankees prospect Zoilo Almonte (career .211 BA, 2 homers, 33 K's in 149 MLB plate appearances) is probably the team's best option to play left field. The addition of Nick Markakis should help lessen the blow, but he'll be returning from neck surgery, and B.J. Upton's days as a productive hitter could be behind him for good. Chicago Cubs Deep in ... Infielders: With Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant at the corners and some combination of Javier Baez, Starlin Castro and Addison Russell up the middle, the Cubs could have the most talented infield in baseball both in the near future and for years to come. Rizzo, who was 10th in NL MVP voting in 2014, is the old man of the group at age 25. Castro, who is entering his sixth big league season and is already a three-time All-Star, is only 24 years old. Baez and Bryant both have the power potential to hit at least 30-35 homers. While Russell has no clear path to the majors despite being one of the best prospects in the game, he'll likely have a shot at the second base job if Baez's high strikeout totals (95 K's in 229 plate appearances in 2014) are outweighing his power production. Light in ... Outfielders: On paper, an outfield of Chris Coghlan, Arismendy Alcantara and Jorge Soler looks like it could be good. Coghlan finally returned to the form that earned him Rookie of the Year honors back in 2009, Alcantara combined for 20 homers and 29 stolen bases between Triple-A and the majors in 2014, and Soler showed that he could be a middle-of-the-lineup force during his 24-game big league stint. In reality, though, those three players are major question marks heading into 2015. Coghlan easily could revert back to the unproductive player he was between 2010 and 2013. Alcantara hit .205 with a 17-to-93 walk-to-strikeout ratio in his 70 big league games. And Soler is not the only young player to burst onto the scene and impress over a small sample of plate appearances; if history has taught us anything, it's hit or miss on those guys. As such, veteran backups Chris Denorfia and Ryan Sweeney could end up playing a bigger role than expected in 2015. Cincinnati Reds Deep in ... Corner outfielders: Adding Marlon Byrd wasn't exactly a move that was going to excite the Reds' fan base after a disappointing 86-loss season, but it was the right move. Plenty of outfield talent is on the way. But it probably wasn't going to arrive in 2015, which is why the Reds dealt for a veteran with one year left on his contract (and an option for 2016) to be a stopgap solution. Yorman Rodriguez, Kyle Waldrop and Jesse Winker could all be ready to compete for a starting job in 2016, which is much better

than the Jason Bourgeois-versus-Brennan Boesch battle that was shaping up before the Byrd acquisition. Light in ... Relief pitching: Aroldis Chapman is one of the best closers in the game. But unless the current plan is to have him pitch two- to three-inning stints next season, it's going to be tough to get him a lead. Trading away Mat Latos and Alfredo Simon didn't help the cause, with their unproven replacements being much less likely to pitch deep into games. More often than not, the Reds will be turning to Sam LeCure, Jumbo Diaz and Manny Parra with the game on the line in the seventh and eighth innings, which is far from ideal. Cuban pitcher Raisel Iglesias, who signed a seven-year deal with the team last June, could prove to be the answer. But he's expected to come to camp as a starter, and despite an impressive performance in the Arizona Fall League, no one really knows what to expect in his first pro season. Colorado Rockies Deep in ... Outfielders: No team is in better position than the Rockies to deal from a position of strength, their outfield, to improve a position of weakness, their starting pitching. More on the latter momentarily. Carlos Gonzalez's stock has fallen in recent years due to his inability to stay healthy for a full season, but he's still just 29 years old and could hit in the middle of any team's lineup. The values are rising, however, for Charlie Blackmon, Corey Dickerson and Drew Stubbs, each coming off very good seasons, and minor leaguers David Dahl and Raimel Tapia, who are quickly becoming two of the better outfield prospects in the game. Light in ... Starting pitching: It's hard to predict how any pitcher will fare once they arrive in the majors and are forced to pitch their home games at Coors Field. As a result, the Rockies' starting pitching depth is seemingly never deep enough. As things stand now, the organization's pitching depth wouldn't be sufficient for any team, much less one that plays at a hitter's haven like Coors Field. After Jorge De La Rosa, the Rockies will do their best to survive the long season with Jhoulys Chacin, Jordan Lyles, Tyler Matzek and possibly even Jair Jurrjens and John Lannan filling out the rotation. They do have two terrific pitching prospects, Eddie Butler and Jon Gray, on the verge of the majors. Unfortunately, that doesn't have quite the same effect for the Rockies as it would for any other organization in baseball. Los Angeles Dodgers Deep in ... Middle infielders: Between new double-play combination Howie Kendrick and Jimmy Rollins and a group of backups that could

│

20

include Justin Turner, Darwin Barney, Alex Guerrero and Enrique Hernandez, the team has sufficient talent and depth up the middle for 2015 and beyond. However, with Kendrick and Rollins set to become free agents after the season, their stay with the Dodgers could be a short one. Prospect Corey Seager, who is set to begin the season in Double-A, should be ready to take over at shortstop, while Darnell Sweeney (.850 OPS, 14 HR, 15 SB in Double-A) could compete with Guerrero and Hernandez for the second base job in 2016. Light in ... Starting pitching: It's hard to find a weakness on this Dodgers team, but if there's one area of concern, it's the starting rotation, which includes two pitchers, Brett Anderson and Brandon McCarthy, who have seemingly been on the disabled list more than they've been active in their careers. Anderson has pitched 206 1/3 total innings over the past four seasons, while McCarthy was hampered by injuries much more often during the first half of his big league career (2005-2010), but the injury-prone tag hasn't gone away completely. He has averaged only 24 starts per season since 2011. On paper, a healthy Dodgers rotation is one of the best assembled in recent memory. But if Zach Lee, Juan Nicasio or Joe Wieland is forced into the rotation for an extended period of time, which is likely, the drop off will be significant. Miami Marlins Deep in ... Starting pitching: Even without ace Jose Fernandez, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery, or offseason acquisition Dan Haren, who has stated he won't play for any team that's not on the West Coast, the Marlins are in terrific shape in the pitching department. The acquisition of Mat Latos further strengthened a starting rotation with a pair of emerging top-of-the-rotation starters, Henderson Alvarez and Jarred Cosart, and several good pitching prospects, including Justin Nicolino and Jose Urena, who could arrive in the next year or two. Once Fernandez returns, possibly by midseason, this group has a chance to be one of the best in baseball. Light in ... Middle infielders: Just as an abundance of depth in a certain area can give teams the upper hand in trade talks, a lack of depth can cause teams to overpay in a trade. This might have been the case when the Marlins included their best pitching prospect, Andrew Heaney, in a deal to acquire Dee Gordon to fill a hole at second base. While Gordon does provide an upgrade at the position and will wreak havoc on the basepaths, he had struggled in the big leagues prior to last season, and despite posting outstanding overall numbers, he had just a .300 OBP after the All-Star break. He'll team up with shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria, who has a career .286 OBP.

The Marlins eventually will have to decide whether Gordon's speed and Hechavarria's defense make up for their inability to reach base often enough. Milwaukee Brewers Deep in ... Outfielders: Carlos Gomez has replaced Ryan Braun as the team's perennial MVP candidate. But if Braun comes back strong after offseason thumb surgery, the Brewers have a chance to field one of the most productive outfields in the game. Khris Davis has hit a homer every 19.3 at-bats in his 200 big league games, and Gerardo Parra is one of the best fourth outfielders in the game. Light in ... Relief pitching: The Brewers have done very little this offseason, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. The lineup and rotation aren't weak links, by any means, so major additions weren't needed. The bullpen is another story, though. Closer Jonathan Broxton is far from his days as a dominating power pitcher, Jim Henderson and Tyler Thornburg are returning from injuries that kept them out for most of 2014, and lefty Will Smith had a 7.27 ERA over his final 34 appearances after posting a 1.36 ERA during the first three months of the season. New York Mets Deep in ... Starting pitching: Most teams would love to have Dillon Gee in the No. 4 or 5 spot in their rotation. On this Mets team, he's their No. 6, which means he'll be in the bullpen if he's not traded. The highly anticipated arrival of top prospect Noah Syndergaard isn't far away, while lefty Steven Matz (2.24 ERA, 2.2 BB/9, 8.4 K/9 in 24 starts between high Class A and Double-A) could take his spot as the next great Mets prospect. Matt Harvey arrived in 2012, followed by Zack Wheeler in 2013 and Jacob deGrom last season. It wouldn't be a surprise to see the trend continue with Syndergaard in 2015 and Matz in 2016. Light in ... Corner outfielders: The Mets' pitching staff is ready to win in 2015, and it'll need some help from the offense, which is why Michael Cuddyer and Curtis Granderson, who will be 36 and 34, respectively, on Opening Day, need to stay healthy and productive. Having Eric Campbell, John Mayberry Jr. and Kirk Nieuwenhuis fill in occasionally is fine, but it will be hard to get this team to the next level if either of their starting corner outfielders go down for an extended period of time. Philadelphia Phillies Deep in ... Nothing: Depth has not been a strength for the Phillies, which is why they've struggled the past few seasons when key players have either been injured or just haven't produced. By passing on

│

21

opportunities to trade players when they have value, the necessary rebuilding process has been delayed. Trading Jimmy Rollins and Marlon Byrd is a step in the right direction, as they've acquired three good starting pitching prospects who could start the season in Double-A. A deal involving ace Cole Hamels could be next. Light in ... Starting pitching: Not even a healthy Cliff Lee teaming with Hamels atop the rotation will be enough to make this Phillies team competitive. There isn't nearly enough help behind them. Aaron Harang gives them a veteran innings-eater in the No. 3 spot, although his fly ball tendencies could hurt him at Citizens Bank Park. David Buchanan and Jerome Williams, the projected fourth and fifth starters, were both surprisingly very good after each joined the rotation in 2014, but don't expect it to happen again in 2015. What you can expect is a lot of young pitchers who aren't ready for the majors auditioning for a spot in 2016. Pittsburgh Pirates Deep in ... Outfielders: While I wouldn't go so far as calling Andrew McCutchen, Starling Marte and Gregory Polanco the best outfield in baseball, mostly because Polanco is unproven, they certainly could be in the very near future. And if Polanco still isn't ready to claim the starting right field job, Travis Snider is more than capable of stepping in, as evidenced by his .880 OPS while playing regularly in the second half of last season. Light in ... Catchers: Without Russell Martin, the Pirates will turn to Francisco Cervelli and Chris Stewart as their catching duo, which tells you what they think of Tony Sanchez. The No. 4 pick in the 2009 draft, Sanchez has not been able to establish himself as the team's "catcher of the future" while spending most of the past three seasons in Triple-A. The future now appears to belong to Reese McGuire, the team's first-round pick in 2013, but he's slated to start the year in high Class A and is at least three years away from the big leagues. San Diego Padres Deep in ... Corner outfielders: The Padres' outfield was crowded before the acquisitions of Matt Kemp, Wil Myers and Justin Upton. It's just a lot more talented now. There's not much balance with this group, though. While the only true center fielder on the roster, Cameron Maybin, will mostly be limited to late-inning defensive duty, the team is stacked with corner outfielders, likely forcing Myers to start in center field. Two very good prospects, Rymer Liriano and Hunter Renfroe, are also waiting in the wings and could battle for a starting job in 2016. That is, unless the Myers-in-center-field experiment isn't a success and he's moved back to a corner spot.

Light in ... Shortstops: Since the end of the regular season, the Padres have cut ties with starting shortstop Everth Cabrera and traded away prospects Jace Peterson and Trea Turner. While Alexi Amarista did an admirable job filling in for an injured Cabrera in 2014, he has never done it over a full season, and he has a career .279 OBP in 423 big league games. Clint Barmes, who will be 36 years old on Opening Day and hasn't been a productive hitter in years, could end up getting a bulk of the playing time. The team's best shortstop prospect, Jose Rondon, is probably two years away from the majors. San Francisco Giants Deep in ... Relief pitching: After facing off against a dominant Royals bullpen in the World Series, it's easy to forget that the Giants have a pretty good bullpen of their own. Reliability is a better description for the group of Santiago Casilla, Sergio Romo, Jeremy Affeldt, Javier Lopez, Jean Machi and Yusmeiro Petit, although an infusion of power arms could be arriving soon. Hunter Strickland and Erik Cordier, who can both hit triple digits on the radar gun, could arrive in the majors in 2015, as could Steven Okert, a lefty with a mid-90s fastball. Light in ... Third basemen: After losing free agent Pablo Sandoval to the Red Sox, the Giants opted against giving the third base job to Adam Duvall and instead traded for Casey McGehee. With the 26-year-old Duvall, who hit 27 homers in Triple-A last season, seemingly not in the team's future plans at the hot corner and no other decent third base prospects down on the farm, the Giants will be in the same boat next offseason when McGehee becomes a free agent. St. Louis Cardinals Deep in ... Outfielders: As a whole, the Cardinals' outfield has it all. Matt Holliday is still one of the best hitters in the game. Along with being an outstanding defensive right fielder, 25-year-old Jason Heyward has the ability to put together an MVP-caliber season at the plate. Jon Jay has hit better than .300 in three of his five seasons. Peter Bourjos might be the best defensive center fielder in baseball. And Randal Grichuk and Stephen Piscotty are ready to step in when needed. Light in ... Nothing: The Cardinals have been one of the best-run franchises in baseball for years. They've had 14 winning seasons, 11 playoff appearances and two World Series titles over the past 15 years, and roster depth has been a huge part of that success. Like every other team in the league, they lose players to injury or free agency, but they never seem to miss a beat. There is

│

22

seemingly always a player in the minors ready to step in. And in the rare case there's not, they make the smart moves to acquire the right players in free agency or through trades. Washington Nationals Deep in ... Starting pitching: The Nationals' rotation was expected to have one weak link in 2014, but Tanner Roark proved otherwise with his breakout season. Depth shouldn't be a major issue, either. Blake Treinen did well as a spot starter, and A.J. Cole, the team's second-best pitching prospect, should be ready if a long-term need should arise. Light in ... Relief pitching: Trading away Tyler Clippard, who had a 2.63 ERA with an average of 74 relief appearances and 29 holds per season over the past five years, leaves the Nats with a late-inning void. As of now, Aaron Barrett, who had his ups and downs as a rookie, and Craig Stammen are in line to replace him as the top setup man, with Matt Thornton and Jerry Blevins expected to be the primary lefties. While all four should have key roles in the bullpen, none of them is the type of pitcher to strike fear into an opponent trying to come back from a deficit late in the game.

Jeremy Hellickson avoids arbitration By Associated Press http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/12179324/jeremy-hellickson-arizona-diamondbacks-agree-deal-avoid-arbitration?ex_cid=espnapi_public PHOENIX -- The Arizona Diamondbacks have avoided arbitration with right-hander Jeremy Hellickson, agreeing to a one-year contract for $4,275,000. The Diamondbacks acquired Hellickson in an offseason trade with the Tampa Bay Rays. Hellickson, the 2011 AL Rookie of the Year, spent most of last season on the disabled list. He was 1-5 with a 4.52 ERA and made $3,625,000. He has a 43-36 career record with a 3.75 ERA. Outfielder Mark Trumbo and reliever Addison Reed swapped proposed arbitration figures. Trumbo asked for a raise from $4.8 million to $6.9 million, and the Diamondbacks offered $5.3 million. Reed, in arbitration for the first time, asked for $5.65 million and was offered $4.7 million.

A Guide to Minimizing the Opportunity Cost of the Yoan Lopez Signing By Ryan P. Morrison / Inside the 'Zona http://insidethezona.com/2015/01/guide-minimizing-opportunity-cost-yoan-lopez-signing/ As Jeff Wiser broke down yesterday, in Cuban right-hander Yoan Lopez, the D-backs added an asset worth far more than the $8.27 million it took to get him inked. As he also covered in great detail, Lopez also cost much more than that $8.27 million. For starters, that figure is a signing bonus, not a guaranteed

salary, meaning that anything he makes in the minors or majors while under D-backs control is gravy. But as the team surely knows, the signing will cost them in at least three other very meaningful ways. 1. $8.27M is not $8.27M, thanks to a 100% luxury tax that will be paid on the D-backs’ international amateur bonus pool overage. Without knowing how close they were to their bonus threshold before signing, we can still estimate the present financial cost of the Lopez signing to be in the neighborhood of $16M. Still a good deal. 2. Losing the ability to sign any international amateur for more than $300,000 between July 2015 and July 2017 is a pretty big deal; in fact, you can’t argue that Lopez is worth a lot without simultaneously admitting that other amateurs over a two year period could be worth as much, or more. Pursuant to an addendum to the Collective Bargaining Agreement, the D-backs will still be penalized even if the sport transitions to an international draft, by losing picks. This is easily the biggest cost associated with the Lopez signing, especially considering they were slated for a 2015-2016 bonus pool more than twice the size of their 2014-2015 pool. 3. Timing the D-backs’ bonus position with that of powerhouses that will include several other teams, like the Yankees and Red Sox, and could end up including the Dodgers as well. This is very important. The Yankees went about their bonus-busting business the absolute right way this year: if they were going to bust, they were going to try to get everyone they liked. The fact that the D-backs weren’t going to have to contend with the Yankees over the next two bonus periods makes Cost #2 that much more costly; the Cubs lurk, but more could be done in the next two periods without the Yankees bidding. But as a completely separate cost, the D-backs will now have its first opportunity to buy amateurs over $300,000 at the exact time when the Yankees and Red Sox and Angels and others will also have its first opportunity in two years. Not only will the D-backs be able to get far less out of their 15-16 and 16-17 bonus pools, but chances are pretty good they’ll get less out of their 17-18 pool, too. It may sound like I’m very negative about the Lopez signing, but that’s not really true. I’m excited by Lopez, especially after reading Jeff’s piece yesterday, and the lost opportunities only matter if you assume the team would have seized those opportunities, which is far from a sure thing. Perfect is the enemy of good, and all that. Still, we will know much more come late July or August in terms of whether the D-backs handled all of this correctly. Part of it is that we’ll get a much clearer picture of who Lopez is — this is something the D-backs organization probably already knows, but the rest of us won’t be as far behind on sizing him up come the summer. The rest of it is that, although the D-backs have switched gears with their international pool strategy, a lot depends on whether they still put the pedal to the metal. There are three prongs to that attack. Pursue currently available international amateurs

│

23

This list starts and almost ends with Yoan Moncada, a “potential franchise player” who Jeff discussed yesterday. With Andrew Velazquez (who could have moved Chris Owings) out of the picture and Brandon Drury still a questionable choice at the keystone, one needs to be pretty high on Domingo Leyba to think that second base is not area of need for the D-backs in the not-too-distant future. I hesitate to bounce Jake Lamb from the medium-term picture because I have kind of a thing for the guy, but there’s also a decent chance that third base becomes a place where the D-backs could add to the major league squad in a couple of years; even if Yasmany Tomas sticks there in the short term, he could be moved off of the position if and when Mark Trumbo departs in two years. In other words, Moncada fits; even if you dream big on Drury, one of either second or third base could be available. There’s also the consideration that Moncada could be so good that it would make tons of sense to move other players out of the way. The price for Moncada will be high, although the cost may not be. The D-backs set a record for international amateurs with the Lopez signing, besting the $8M figure that saw Roberto Baldoquin sign with the Angels. The main point, though, is that he can’t do any additional opportunity cost damage; now that the D-backs will face Cost #2 (the important one) and Cost #3 above, the overall cost of signing Moncada drops significantly. If it takes Moncada takes $40M to sign, the team that gets him would pay an additional $40M in tax to the league. That sounds rich, but consider this: the D-backs appeared willing to eat a $20M posting fee to sign Masahiro Tanaka last winter or Kenta Maeda this winter. It seems that the team would only sign James Shields if he came at a discount, but what move would you prefer: $80M for four years of an aging Shields, or $80M for full club control over Moncada? I take Moncada given that choice, seven days a week and twice on Sundays. Part of the problem may be that $40M could be too low. The D-backs beat the Yankees to Lopez, but supposedly, New York could operate at a profit even if it had a $500M payroll. Luxury tax is hard to swallow, but it won’t count against the major league payroll tax — which could make those dollars look like a more attractive spend to the Yankees. And as best I can tell, the signing bonus wouldn’t count, either, unless Moncada signs a major league deal (which would guarantee him a spot on the 40-man). The Yankees have already been proven to be smart about their international amateur spending this period, and the smart money is on the Yankees’ smart money. The Red Sox have oodles of smart money, too. And now, it looks like the Dodgers are in the fray with some smart money of their own (and don’t bet against Jesse Sanchez’s intel). Yeesh. In the end, would it be shocking to see Moncada get a bonus over $50M? I don’t think so, considering the winner’s curse. Chances are not great for the D-backs to snag Moncada, which is probably one reason why signing Yoan Lopez wasn’t as great as it might otherwise appear. But honestly, I had kind of counted the D-backs out for Tomas and Lopez. The team should at least keep tabs on Moncada, and see if they can turn the two Cuban players they just signed into a recruiting asset — no one’s saying Moncada has to take the top bid, and just like Lopez’s interest was apparently piqued by the idea that the D-backs could provide a fast path to the majors, maybe Moncada’s can be, too. Free agency is where the real money is.

As I said, this is mostly about Moncada, but not completely. All of Baseball America’s Top 30 from in advance of the signing period have been signed, even at least one that had a pre-deal fall through. But hey, Moncada isn’t on there, and neither is Lopez. There’s still five and a half months before the end of this signing period. The D-backs should stay frosty, and jump on any other promising amateur that is eligible to sign before the next signing period in July. Who knows, he might not even be from Latin America — Junichi Tazawa signed with the Red Sox as an amateur once upon a time. Sell 2014-2015 international signing bonus slots When the dust settled after the Yankees’ international amateur blitzkrieg last summer, the thought occurred: why were the Yankees even keeping their tradeable bonus slots? The market for bonus slots came into focus shortly thereafter when Tommy La Stella was traded by the Braves to the Cubs for slots. For it to make sense to trade away slots that would force you to pay additional luxury tax, you’d have to get a return greater than the luxury tax. But in the wake of the La Stella deal, that looks possible, and that’s the nature of the Beyond the Box Score piece that Jeff hooked into his Yoan Lopez article yesterday. Essentially: the D-backs’ first slot for this year’s pool is #15, for $778,000. If they traded that slot away, that $16M estimate for the true cost of the Lopez signing would rise to $16.78M, because $778,000 of the approximately $11M in bonuses they’re paying to international amateurs would suddenly have a luxury tax associated with it. That means that for that particular bonus slot, the team would need to receive something of greater value in return in order for the exchange to be worthwhile. No one (including me) is saying that trading 2014-2015 slots would be easy, or even possible. A team cannot increase its bonus pool through trades to more than 150% of the amount it starts with, per the CBA, so most teams interested in acquiring them will be interested just to limit their luxury tax, making slots no more worth it to them than they are to the D-backs. I was all geared up to pitch a specific match here, but I can’t find them. The teams that we know are over the limit are well over the limit, except, perhaps, for the Rays (some data is missing). Further complicating matters: trades need to include all of particular slot, which is part of why we often see slots go in both directions when they get traded (it’s kind of like this), and that can make it even harder for a team to add exactly 50%. Still, this is another channel the D-backs need to keep watching — if they find a buyer, it would help make Lopez worth it (especially if they got a player back, instead of cash). It’s not outside the realm of possibility that a team that didn’t quite bust its limit might want to sign an additional amateur that comes out of the woodwork. Make pre-deals for future international signing bonus slots You’re hearing it here last: although teams can’t technically negotiate with players before the relevant signing period begins, it happens. All the time. Deals are frequently made as early as December of the preceding year (when the players in question are probably 15), and for all I know they happen even earlier.

│

24

And it’s the big time amateurs that cause bonus pool problems; teams can sign as many as six under $50,000 without those players’ bonuses counting against their pools, and any particular team can sign an infinite number of players for under $10,000, at least per the CBA. If you happen to be a team that wants to hit the 100%-150% range on your bonus pool, then, you need to start planning — early. Now is the time for the D-backs to start to feel out other teams about their 2015-2016 slots, which are going to be just about worthless to the D-backs. In addition to specific slots, teams start with a smallish but distinct pool of money — the D-backs will have plenty of cash to sign any of the players under $300,000 that they can get their hands on. What they don’t have is an ability to spend up to their full bonus pool, which is likely to be over $5M. Pre-deals between teams would be a little sketchy, no question. But the Yankees and Red Sox and Angels are in a similar position (although their pools are going to be nowhere near as high, so they might be more inclined to keep what they have). Some teams might only be willing to make that extra pre-deal or two with amateurs if they feel pretty sure that they have an arrangement with the D-backs in place to help make sure they don’t bust their pool despite going to 140% of what they’re currently likely to be allotted. Fewer teams willing to plan like that would mean a smaller market in July for the D-backs’ slots. It just makes sense — as does the D-backs putting a November reminder in their calendar to start shopping their 2016-2017 slots, as well. Making pre-deals for future slots is probably more important than the other two prongs here, especially considering the unlikelihood of signing Yoan Moncada, and even pre-deals don’t matter a ton. It’s a little like being on a diet, breaking down and ordering a giant Yoan Lopez cheeseburger. The damage is done, even if you leave the last few onion rings on the plate — but it still matters. Small victories, friends. I still think the smartest play for the D-backs was to write 2014-2015 off, to add a few slots and spend big but within their (newly-increased) bonus pool for 2015-2016 (considering it’s going to be huge), and then to bust their pool in the 2016-2017 period, when they’d be out of sync with the Yankees, Red Sox, and probably Cubs and Dodgers, too. I like the Lopez deal, in part because I’m not sure what the D-backs would have done otherwise — but the team still has some housekeeping before we can call it a win.

Randy Johnson will go into Hall of Fame wearing D-backs cap By Mike Oz / Yahoo! Sports http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-league-stew/randy-johnson-will-go-into-the-hall-of-fame-wearing-a-d-backs-cap-183135635.html One fanbase was going to be thrilled, the other was going to be bummed. Newly elected Hall of Famer Randy Johnson could only wear one team's cap on his plaque when he's enshrined in July. Unless, of course, he went the Greg Maddux route and went in with a blank cap.

If the Hall of Fame decided Johnson would go in as a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks, he'd be the first in franchise history. Ditto for the Seattle Mariners. The decision, handed down Friday, wasn't exactly surprising — The Big Unit will wear a D-backs cap. It's where he won his World Series ring. It's the team that appointed him to a special-assistant job right after the Hall of Fame announcement and also will be retiring his number. It's also where he showed up for a press conference after the Hall of Fame news. All that was left was the declaration. In a press release issued by the Hall of Fame, Johnson said of the decision: “After reflecting the last week and conferring with the Hall of Fame, we’ve come to the decision that the Diamondbacks logo on my Hall of Fame plaque makes the most sense,” said Johnson. “I want to express my most sincere thanks to all the teams I played for – Montreal, Seattle, Houston, the New York Yankees and San Francisco – and particularly all of the fans for supporting me. I’m very humbled by this honor.” Meanwhile, the Hall of Fame explained the process from its side: “The Museum staff works with each inductee by suggesting an appropriate logo option, or no logo at all,” said Jeff Idelson, President of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. “For those whose most compelling contributions clearly took place with one team, a logo makes sense. For those whose careers were built significantly among multiple teams, not having a team logo is equally acceptable. Regardless of the selection, a Hall of Famer belongs to every team for which he played or managed, as well as every fan who followed his career.” The Mariners certainly had a good case. Johnson didn't win a World Series ring there, but he did win more games in Seattle and spend more time in that uniform (10 years vs. eight in Arizona). At least they've got Ken Griffey Jr. coming next year. Johnson was the only real cap mystery among this year's Hall of Fame class. The others haven't been officially announced yet, but they're no-brainers — Craig Biggio will go in with a Houston Astros cap, John Smoltz as a member of the Atlanta Braves and Pedro Martinez with his Boston Red Sox logo. Oh, and hopefully his Jheri curl.

Randy Johnson's Hall of Fame plaque will have Diamondbacks cap By Matt Snyder / CBSSports.com http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-baseball/24965995/randy-johnsons-hall-of-fame-plaque-will-have-diamondbacks-cap Last week, we learned that Randy Johnson was included among a group of four inductees to the Hall of Fame via the BBWAA voting process. Friday, the Diamondbacks made an announcement that should be pretty exciting for fans of the still-young franchise: ----

Arizona Diamondbacks ✔ @Dbacks

│

25

Randy Johnson will be the first player to represent the #Dbacks in the National @BaseballHall of Fame. #RJ51HOF ---- Of Johnson's 22 seasons, 18 were spent with either Arizona or Seattle. There's been a bit of an ongoing debate since the results of the Hall of Fame election came out as to whether Big Unit would wear a Mariners cap, D-Backs cap or go blank. Here's what Johnson did with each of the two clubs. Seattle (10 years): 130-74, 3.42 ERA, 128 ERA+, 2162 K, 1.25 WHIP, 5 All-Star Games, 1 Cy Young Arizona (8 years): 118-62, 2.83 ERA, 164 ERA+, 2077 K, 1.07 WHIP, 5 All-Star Games, 4 Cy Youngs He spent more time in Seattle, but was obviously much more dominant in Arizona. There's also the transcendent 2001 postseason, in which Johnson was 5-1 with a 1.52 ERA and 47 strikeouts against eight walks in 41 1/3 innings. He came out of the bullpen on zero days' rest in Game 7 to collect the win as the D-Backs took their only World Series championship. My guess is that if the race was close, the tipping point was that postseason, though four Cy Youngs to one in addition to that postseason probably means it wasn't that close. As the Diamondbacks now have their first individual wearing their cap in the Hall, the Mariners still have none. Seattle fans shouldn't have to wait long, though. Ken Griffey Jr. will surely be inducted next year and sport a Seattle cap. Ichiro Suzuki is eventually taking that route as well. Players can provide input, but ultimately the decision as to the logo on the cap lies with the Hall of Fame, which decides based upon "where that player makes his most indelible mark." It's subjective, of course, but the Johnson decision makes sense. Though not officially announced yet, the other inductees' caps are rather obvious: Pedro Martinez, Red Sox (the other, albeit very remote, possibility is blank, due to his time with the Expos); John Smoltz, Braves; Craig Biggio, Astros.

Diamondbacks, Addison Reed exchange arbitration numbers By R.J. White / CBSSports.com http://fantasynews.cbssports.com/fantasybaseball/update/24967217/diamondbacks-addison-reed-exchange-arbitration-numbers Diamondbacks pitcher Addison Reed has filed for $5.6 million in arbitration, while the team has offered $4.7 million, CBSSports.com baseball insider Jon Heyman reports. Reed is eligible for arbitration for the first time this offseason. He racked up 32 saves in 2014 and has tallied 101 saves over the last three seasons. Reed also posted a 4.25 ERA and 69:15 K:BB ratio in 59 1/3 innings last season.

Diamondbacks, Mark Trumbo exchange arbitration figures By R.J. White / CBSSports.com

http://fantasynews.cbssports.com/fantasybaseball/update/24967176/diamondbacks-mark-trumbo-exchange-arbitration-figures Diamondbacks outfielder Mark Trumbo filed for $6.9 million in arbitration, while the team filed for $5.3 million, CBSSports.com baseball insider Jon Heyman reported Friday. Trumbo is in his second year of arbitration eligibility after making $4.8 million last season. He hit .235/.293/.415 with 14 home runs and 61 RBI in 328 at-bats in 2014.

Archie Bradley Tops List of Arizona Diamondbacks Prospects By Kevin Bonneville / SI.com http://heatwaved.com/2015/01/18/archie-bradley-tops-list-arizona-diamondbacks-prospects/ For the second consecutive year, right-handed pitcher Archie Bradley head a list of Arizona Diamondbacks prospects conducted by Baseball America. Here’s the entire list from Baseball America. 1. Archie Bradley, RHP 2. Braden Shipley, RHP 3. Aaron Blair, RHP 4. Yasmany Tomas, 3B/OF 5. Touki Toussaint, RHP 6. Jake Lamb, 3B 7. Brandon Drury, 2B/3B 8. Pete O’Brien, C/1B 9. Domingo Leyba, 2B/SS 10. Nick Ahmed, SS It’s no surprise that the top three prospects and four of the first five are pitchers. This has been a big strength of this organization for several years now as five pitchers were on the list in 2014 and four were on it the year before. With all the moves made by the front office this winter, that seems like it will remain the case for several years ahead. Despite having a down year in 2014, Bradley still deserves to be the D-Backs top prospect. Even with 3+ years of pro ball under his belt, Bradley is still only 22 and has the best overall stuff out of any guy in this group. He’ll be given a chance to earn a rotation spot during the spring. The remaining arms on this group are pretty impressive as well. Shipley and Blair don’t have the flash or name recognition that Bradley has, but they both have a very good chance to make an impact at Chase Field in the not too distant future. With both having spent time at Double-A in 2014, there’s a real good

│

26

chance that both righties begin the year at Reno and see time in Phoenix at some point in 2015. The real wild card out of the group is Toussaint, last year’s first round pick. The 18-year-old really struggled in his first year of pro ball (8.48 ERA over 28.2 innings), but he has tremendous upside and the stuff to be an ace of a staff down the line. As far as the position players, I’m not as high on them as I am with the pitchers. Tomas will start the season off with the big league club, so I’m not entirely sure it’s fair to put him on this list with him having not played an inning of pro ball over here in America. Scouts always talk about his power, but some of them worry whether he’s going to hit for a high enough average and if he can find a position to field. Lamb had a rough time of it after he was called up last season, so it’s too early to make a full judgment on him. He might not have a chance at making the roster though with Tomas moving to the hot corner. O’Brien might be the guy to get most excited about. He’s hit a total of 66 home runs over his first three minor league seasons, including 34 last season. The former Yankees farm hand might have the fastest track to the big leagues as well with the D-Backs having only Tuffy Gosewisch and Oscar Hernandez on the 40-man roster at the moment. The last two prospects are middle infielders, an area where the Diamondbacks already have quality depth. Leyba is a few years away from being ready, but the majority of scouts seem to like him. Ahmed has a great glove, but I don’t see how he’s going to hit enough to make any sort of impact. This is a group that will largely judged by how well the pitchers turn out. If this organization can hit on most of these guys, they should be competitive in a highly competitive National League West. If not, they could be in a world of hurt.

Arizona Diamondbacks to retire Randy Johnson's number By Charles Rahrig V / SI.com http://fansided.com/2015/01/16/arizona-diamondbacks-retire-randy-johnsons-number/ Randy Johnson won four Cy Young awards and a World Series in Arizona and is being honored for it Randy Johnson is the most decorated Arizona Diamondback of all-time and was probably the greatest player to wear the purple and turquoise (yes, he wore the red too.) After being announced as a Hall of Fame inductee a couple weeks ago, the Arizona Diamondbacks decided they are going to honor “The Big Unit” by retiring his No. 51 jersey. Johnson will have his number retired on August 8, when the Diamondbacks take on the Cincinnati Reds. Johnson isn’t the first Diamondback to have his number retired. Former outfielder and 2001 World Series hero Luis Gonzalez had his number retired by the club in 2010.

Johnson, in his career with the Diamondbacks, posted a 2.83 ERA with 118 victories and 2,077 strikeouts. He also had a perfect game for the Diamondbacks in 2004, when he retired 27 straight Atlanta Braves. ----

120 Sports ✔ @120Sports The @Dbacks announce they will retire Randy Johnson's No. 51 on August 8th. ---- Johnson also had a great career outside of Arizona, most notably with the Seattle Mariners. He also spent part of his career with Montreal, Houston, San Francisco, and the New York Yankees. In addition to retiring Johnson’s number, the Diamondbacks will be having Randy Johnson Hall of Fame bobblehead night on July 25. ----

Arizona Diamondbacks ✔ @Dbacks #Dbacks will also honor @RJ51Photos with a special Hall of Fame Bobblehead on July 25. Nod if you approve. ---- With Johnson going into the hall as a Diamondback and having done so much for the organization, it is only fitting they finally get to honor one of the greatest pitchers to ever toe the rubber. Johnson will also serve as a special assistant to the Diamondbacks front office.

Predictions for Each Top Offseason Acquisition's Career with the Diamondbacks By Adam Young / Bleacher Report http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2332420-predictions-for-each-top-offseason-acquisitions-career-with-the-diamondbacks The Arizona Diamondbacks needed to be active this offseason after an MLB-worst 64-98 record in 2014. There have been several additions to the pitching staff worth noting—Jeremy Hellickson, Rubby De La Rosa and Allen Webster, to name a few. The top offensive acquisition was Cuban slugger Yasmany Tomas. The D-Backs and general manager Dave Stewart's offseason moves will be judged on whether the young pitchers can stay healthy and if Tomas can live up to the hype. Here are the predictions for how each offseason acquisition's career will play out in Arizona. Allen Webster Acquired from the Red Sox in exchange for Wade Miley, Webster provides the D-Backs with a hard-throwing right-hander with not too much mileage. The 24-year-old spent two seasons in Boston, going 6-5 despite an awful 6.25 ERA in 18 starts. Even more concerning was his 46 walks in 89.1 innings pitched.

│

27

Still, GM Stewart has faith in this new acquisition. According to AZCentral.com, Stewart lists Webster as the fifth starter in his current rotation. He cited the need for "power arms" like former Arizona greats Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling as the reason behind the Miley trade that brought Webster to the desert. Webster's fastball ranges from 92-96 mph. Once ranked No. 46 on MLB.com's 2013 Top Prospects list, Webster may be just what the D-Backs need to bolster the starting rotation for the foreseeable future. Stewart's comments point toward Webster seeing action early, which should help him mature and fix the control problems that harmed him. He is scheduled to be a free agent in 2020. Career Prediction Webster begins his D-Backs career as a starter, eventually moving to the bullpen once Patrick Corbin returns from injury. He figures out his control problems after a move to the bullpen and becomes a solid seventh-inning reliever with the potential for a spot start on occasion. Rubby De La Rosa The other piece to the Miley deal happens to be another young flamethrower. The 25-year-old from the Dominican Republic sports a fastball ranging from 95-100 mph. In four seasons with the Dodgers and Red Sox, De La Rosa went 8-15 with a 4.34 ERA. His strikeout-to-walk ratio is better than Webster's at 2.11. As another heralded MLB prospect, De La Rosa's ceiling is extremely high. He also has Stewart's confidence, listed as his No. 2 starter on the depth chart. Because he has more starts under his belt than Webster, De La Rosa should be able to make an immediate impact in the rotation while Corbin and Daniel Hudson recover from elbow surgeries. He is scheduled to become a free agent in 2018. Career Prediction De La Rosa begins 2015 as the No. 2 starter and has an up-and-down season. At times, he shows potential to dominate hitters, but he sometimes becomes wild and struggles to go deep into games. Within a few seasons, De La Rosa will leave the rotation to become the D-Backs closer, where he can consistently unleash his 100 mph fastball. Jeremy Hellickson Acquired from the Rays for two prospects, Hellickson will be an unquestioned member of the D-Backs rotation beginning in 2015.

Hellickson went 40-36 with a 3.78 ERA in five seasons with the Rays. He is not a power pitcher like Webster or De La Rosa. However, Hellickson has shown the ability to be a consistently solid starter in MLB. In his first three seasons in Tampa Bay, Hellickson won 27 games and held a respectable 3.06 ERA. He won the AL Rookie of the Year in 2011. An elbow injury caused him to miss time and could have contributed to his struggles the past two seasons. Yet, he should be fully healthy entering his tenure with the D-Backs. A change of scenery may be all Hellickson needs to regain his 2011 form. He officially signed a one-year deal on Friday to avoid arbitration. Career Prediction Hellickson shows why he was an offseason bargain and leads the team in wins in 2015. He stays in Arizona for several years to come and serves as the D-Backs' No. 3 starter behind Corbin and Josh Collmenter—making Rays fans regret trading him. Yasmany Tomas The signing of the Cuban outfielder was certainly the highlight of the Arizona offseason. But there is a lot of hype involved, especially with the six-year, $68.5 million deal Tomas signed. Last season, Mark Trumbo was supposed to be a complement to Paul Goldschmidt—but that wasn't the case. Trumbo only played 88 games due to injury, hitting only 14 home runs in the hitter-friendly Chase Field. Now Tomas will be the focus in the batting order. Anything less than 30 home runs will likely disappoint D-Backs fans. Goldschmidt is set to return from a fractured hand, while Trumbo enters the season healthy. That leaves opposing pitchers to face Goldschmidt, Trumbo and Tomas consecutively (and not necessarily in that order). Opposing pitchers will not be able to pitch around all three of these hitters. Even if Tomas follows Goldschmidt and Trumbo in the order, he should see plenty of RBI opportunities. Expect Tomas to provide much-needed power to a D-Backs team that finished 25th in MLB in home runs last season. Career Prediction Tomas makes an early impact similar to what Jose Abreu did in Chicago last season. His power and presence in the lineup will also help Goldschmidt and Trumbo put up 30-plus home runs for several years. Although he may never overtake Goldschmidt as the face of the franchise, Tomas will break Luis Gonzalez's record for all-time home runs (224) if Goldschmidt fails to do so.

│

28

Baseball Hall of Fame announces Randy Johnson’s plaque to feature Diamondbacks cap By Andy Clayton / New York Daily News http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/randy-johnson-hall-fame-plaque-feature-d-backs-cap-article-1.2081045 Although the Big Unit had a longer stint with the Mariners and won more games in Seattle (130-118), it was in 2001 that Johnson helped pitch Arizona to a World Series title. Randy Johnson will head into Cooperstown wearing a Diamondbacks cap. Although the Big Unit had a longer stint with the Mariners and won more games in Seattle (130-118), it was in 2001 that Johnson helped pitch Arizona to a World Series title. The Baseball Hall of Fame made the announcement Friday that the D-backs logo will appear on the plaque for the 2015 Hall of Fame electee. “After reflecting the last week and conferring with the Hall of Fame, we’ve come to the decision that the Diamondbacks logo on my Hall of Fame plaque makes the most sense,” said Johnson. “I want to express my most sincere thanks to all the teams I played for – Montreal, Seattle, Houston, the New York Yankees and San Francisco – and particularly all of the fans for supporting me. I’m very humbled by this honor.” Johnson along with Craig Biggio, Pedro Martinez and John Smoltz were elected to the Hall of Fame on Jan. 6. The cap selections for the other three new Hall of Famers will be announced on Jan. 22. The Class of 2015 will be formally inducted on Sunday, July 16 in Cooperstown. Johnson, a five-time Cy Young Award winner, was the leading vote getter, being named on 534 of the 549 ballots, including one that was left blank. Johnson’s 97.3% is the eighth-highest percentage in the history of the balloting, trailing Tom Seaver (98.94), Nolan Ryan (98.7), Cal Ripken, Jr. (98.5), Ty Cobb (98.2), George Brett (98.2), Hank Aaron (97.8) and Tony Gwynn (97.6).

Cougars pitching coach’s craft piques Diamondback’s interest By Kevin Druley / Kane County Cougars http://www.kcchronicle.com/2015/01/19/cougars-pitching-coachs-craft-piques-diamondbacks-interest/ax1rtmr/

New Cougars pitching coach Doug Bochtler admits “I don’t have a coaching job because of my playing career,” a run that lasted parts of six seasons with four clubs. Instead, it’s an intense dedication and diligence to his craft that piqued the parent Arizona Diamondbacks’ interest. Each offseason, Bochtler fans the flame while working with pitchers from pre-teen through college age at the Cherokee Baseball and Softball Academy in Knoxville, Tennessee. He even credits the experience for enhancing his effectiveness with aspiring major leaguers. “Coaching is communicating, and it’s communicating the knowledge I have to the players that are entrusted to me,” Bochtler said. “The more people you work with, the more people that you see, the more ways you learn how to communicate effectively. You also don’t get stuck in the same old thing of, ‘This worked for the last five guys I had.’ You have to make it work for everybody.” Bochtler enters his fifth season with the D’backs organization with a sound understanding of the Midwest League. Last season, he was pitching coach of the South Bend SilverHawks, since renamed the Cubs after Kane County and South Bend essentially swapped affiliates. South Bend’s 3.49 ERA ranked fourth in the 16-team MWL as the club, not unlike the Cougars, dealt with a heavy dose of roster moves. In that regard, Bochtler figures he’ll work with some 2014 retreads in Kane County, although he doesn’t waste much time on guesswork before spring training begins in March. “There’s so many things that shake out during spring training,” Bochtler said. “I”ll have my eyes on certain people that we’re projecting to go toward over to Kane County, but when I get the kids and they’re officially mine, it’s a little bit different.” Bochtler is especially noted for his ability to teach the changeup. He’s helped big leaguers past and present with the pitch, including Jason Frasor, Trevor Hoffman and Johan Santana. “My last few years as a player, I was basically a coach in Triple-A, so it wasn’t a real stretch for me to get into coaching,” Bochtler said. “I guess it was a little bit more difficult to get back in than I would have thought. But I got in my first year trying. There’s a lot of guys wanting to get back coaching who have a difficult time getting in just because there’s so few jobs, you know.” ‘W’ flag redux: Cougars manager Mark Grudzielanek won’t know the makeup of his first club until at least two months from now, but he’s at least certain of one thing. He plans to put a premium on playing winning baseball, a philosophy that runs counter to his own minor league experience in the Montreal Expos system from 1991 to 1994. “I don’t think I ever heard that before back in the day when I played,” Grudzielanek said. “I don’t think that was an issue. They really didn’t care about winning back then. So when you go

│

29

out there and have that drive for these kids, and you can push these kids in a way, I think it’s awesome and beneficial for them in the long run.” Competing as a Cubs affiliate, the Cougars won a franchise-record 98 games last season, including a 7-0 postseason run to the Midwest League title. Several new Cougars figure to tout their own 2014 championship pedigree. Arizona’s Short-A affiliate at Hillsboro, Oregon, won the Northwest League title last fall. Meet and greet: A few tickets still remain for the Cougars’ “Meet the Diamondbacks” hot stove event on Jan. 30. Bell, Grudzielanek and D’backs vice president/special assistant to the general manager Bob Gebhard are set to be on hand for a fan Q&A that follows a buffet dinner in the Fifth Third Bank Ballpark super suite. “We’re all looking forward to getting there and getting in touch with the community,” Bell said. “I’ve heard such good things about the fan base, it’s just an exciting time for us. We’re excited to get there and take it in and get to know the community.” “Meet the Diamondbacks” admission is $50. Doors open at 6 p.m., with dinner to begin at 7. For information or for tickets, call the Cougars at 630-232-8811 or visit www.kccougars.com.

Hillsboro Hops’ GM K.L. Wombacher honored by Portland Business Journal By Hillsboro Hops https://hillsborohops.wordpress.com/2015/01/15/hillsboro-hops-gm-k-l-wombacher-honored-by-portland-business-journal/ Hillsboro Hops Executive Vice President and General Manager K.L. Wombacher has been named to the Portland Business Journal’s “Forty Under 40″ list. ---- Mike McMurray @mikemhops Congrats to @HillsboroHops GM & EVP KL Wombacher on being named to the Portland Biz Journal's "40 Under 40" list. #pbj40u40 ---- The award is given to professionals less than forty years of age who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and a commitment to the Portland community. This is a tremendous honor for the man who leads our staff. K.L. joined the organization in 2001 when they were still the Yakima Bears, and was instrumental in moving the franchise to Hillsboro. He has been twice named the Northwest League Executive of the Year in 2008 and 2013. In 2014, K.L. celebrated his first-ever Northwest League Championship when the Hops defeated the Vancouver Canadians. A hearty congratulations to K.L. from his staff and all of Hops Nation.

Tyler Geivett Named New Voice of the Missoula Osprey

Geivett will deliver all Osprey games live on ESPN Montana 102.9 FM By Missoula Osprey http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20150115&content_id=106501838&fext=.jsp&vkey=news_t518&sid=t518 MISSOULA, Mont. - The Missoula Osprey announced today the addition of Tyler Geivett as the new Voice of the Osprey. Geivett will also fill the role of media relations coordinator upon his arrival to Missoula in early June. Geivett is in his eighth year working in the Loyola Marymount University Athletics department, including his second as Assistant Athletics Director, External Communications. He currently travels with the LMU baseball program and serves as the radio broadcaster for all road games. Having called 200-plus LMU baseball games so far in his career, he is preparing to begin his eighth season on the air in February of this year. Geivett will call every Osprey game, both home and away this season on the O's radio nest, ESPN Montana 102.9 FM and online at MissoulaOsprey.com. He will also serve as an in-season media contact, contribute to the official Osprey website, and write content for the Osprey blog, Bird Droppings. "Tyler has an outstanding track record and we welcome him to the Osprey family," Jeff Griffin, Osprey Vice President/General Manager, said. "He is a quality individual, who is driven to deliver an excellent broadcast. I look forward to him adding his own flare to Osprey baseball this summer." Under his current title, Geivett serves as the primary media relations contact for the LMU baseball, volleyball, swimming, rowing, and tennis programs. Prior to beginning his tenure at LMU, Geivett earned a degree in psychology with a minor in sport management from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Following his graduation, he worked the 2007 Major League Baseball season in the public relations department for the Oakland Athletics. "I'm thrilled to be given the opportunity to pursue my passion of broadcasting at the professional level," Geivett said. "Everyone in the Osprey organization has been extremely welcoming, and I cannot wait to start calling Osprey baseball games and living in the beautiful city of Missoula." Geivett will make his professional baseball radio debut when the O's open the season on the road against the Helena Brewers June 18. The Osprey home opener is set for June 24 against Helena. Osprey ticket plans are still available and can be purchased at the MSO Hub Box Office, by phone at (406) 543-3300, and online at MissoulaOsprey.com.

January 20, 2015 • sports.yahoo.com/mlb/morenews http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/morenews

│

30

January 20, 2015

Kang can earn $750,000 annually in bonuses from Pirates 11:56 am EST (The Associated Press)

Pirates designate Jake Elmore for assignment 11:50 am EST (NBC Sports)

Nori Aoki finalizes $4.7M, 1-year deal with Giants 11:40 am EST (The Associated Press)

If you can’t hack it in baseball, try cricket? 11:32 am EST (NBC Sports)

Phil Coke is in The Best Shape of His Life 11:03 am EST (NBC Sports)

Players to Avoid: AL East 10:48 am EST (Rotoworld)

Do the Orioles have a surplus of catchers? 10:32 am EST (Comcast SportsNet Mid Atlantic)

Here’s one reason why baseball isn’t dying, you guys 10:30 am EST (NBC Sports)

Will the Rangers try to sign Yovani Galllardo long term? 10:20 am EST (NBC Sports)

The Tigers basically cut bait on Max Scherzer after he rejected their $144 million offer last year 9:40 am EST (NBC Sports)

The man who invented instant replay has died 9:10 am EST (NBC Sports)

Free agent shopping has slowed, but hasn't stopped 9:05 am EST (Comcast SportsNet Mid Atlantic)

Given all the advantages he’s had, is Brian Cashman the 21st best GM of all time? 8:28 am EST (NBC Sports)

Major League Baseball puts Fred Wilpon in charge of its finance committee. No, really. I’m not joking 7:38 am EST (NBC Sports)

‘Fill in the blank’- Scherzer contract means ____ for Sox 12:04 am EST (Comcast SportsNet New England)

January 19, 2015

UPDATE: Astros in “serious discussions” with Ryan Vogelsong 11:47 pm EST (NBC Sports)

The Mets will have a bigger scoreboard at Citi Field this season 11:02 pm EST (NBC Sports)

Looking at the biggest contracts for pitchers after Scherzer's deal 10:35 pm EST (Comcast SportsNet Mid Atlantic)

Angels release right-hander Yoslan Herrera so he can pitch in Japan 9:58 pm EST (NBC Sports)

Cubs GM Jed Hoyer says moving Luis Valbuena doesn’t change Kris Bryant’s timetable 8:55 pm EST (NBC Sports)

Aoki passes physical, deal with Giants official 8:03 pm EST (Comcast SportsNet Bay Area)

Hoyer doesn't see Cubs making big pitching deal now 8:02 pm EST (Comcast SportsNet Chicago)

Brewers trade pitcher Yovani Gallardo to Rangers 8:01 pm EST (The Associated Press)

Brewers GM Doug Melvin doesn’t expect to pursue James Shields 7:57 pm EST (NBC Sports)

Sports News Minute: Cubs taking renovation route over new ballpark 7:07 pm EST (Comcast SportsNet Chicago)

Report: Astros in 'serious discussions' with Vogelsong 6:49 pm EST (Comcast SportsNet Bay Area)

Rangers had “in-depth” trade talks about Cole Hamels before the Yovani Gallardo deal 6:31 pm EST (NBC Sports)

Report: Rangers acquire Gallardo from Brewers 6:13 pm EST (Comcast SportsNet Bay Area)

Cards pitcher Martinez honors Taveras, hopes to start 6:06 pm EST (The Associated Press)

Giants held private workout for Yoan Moncada 5:55 pm EST (NBC Sports)

Fowler traded from Astros to Cubs for Valbuena and Straily 5:49 pm EST (The Associated Press)

Here's what's on the Orioles' to-do list 5:45 pm EST (Comcast SportsNet Mid Atlantic)

Sources: Rangers acquire Yovani Gallardo from Brewers 5:29 pm EST (Yahoo Sports)

Yovani Gallardo trade to the Rangers finalized 5:16 pm EST (NBC Sports)

Coveted hurler Scherzer reportedly headed to Nats 4:58 pm EST (AFP)

Fans at Cubs Convention react to Rizzo's bold prediction 4:42 pm EST (Comcast SportsNet Chicago)

AP source: Scherzer, Nationals agree to $210M, 7-year deal 4:25 pm EST (The Associated Press)

Kevin Gregg throwing a showcase for about 15 teams 4:09 pm EST (NBC Sports)

Nationals favored again to win World Series after signing Scherzer 3:58 pm EST (Comcast SportsNet Mid Atlantic)

Report: Nationals likely to host the 2018 All-Star Game 3:02 pm EST (NBC Sports)

Pros/cons of trade options post-Scherzer signing 2:18 pm EST (Comcast SportsNet Mid Atlantic)

Michael Wacha says he is “extremely healthy” 1:53 pm EST (NBC Sports)

Krukow on Giants adding Aoki: 'Bochy likes guys like that' 1:49 pm EST (Comcast SportsNet Bay Area)

Report: Nationals open to trading Stephen Strasburg 12:48 pm EST (NBC Sports)

Report: Giants hold private workout for Cuban prospect Moncada 12:43 pm EST (Comcast SportsNet Bay Area)

Krukow: 'I thought Scherzer was an idiot,' but 12:26 pm EST (Comcast SportsNet Bay Area)

Nationals give Max Scherzer record contract with deferred money 12:14 pm EST (Comcast SportsNet Mid Atlantic)

Orioles looking to give Hassan a shot in outfield 12:00 pm EST (Comcast SportsNet Mid Atlantic)

Sources: Max Scherzer’s 7-year, $210 million deal with Nats contains historic deferrals 11:48 am EST (Yahoo Sports)

Max Scherzer’s seven-year deal with Nationals worth $210 million 11:45 am EST (NBC Sports)

Max Scherzer's departure leaves big hole in Tigers' rotation 11:35 am EST (Comcast SportsNet Chicago)

With Max Scherzer, 2015 Nats resemble 2011 Phillies 11:29 am EST (Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia)

What the Dexter Fowler trade says about the win-now Cubs 11:28 am EST (Comcast SportsNet Chicago)

│

31

New baseball tournament for top 12 national teams announced 11:16 am EST (The Associated Press)

Cubs acquire Dexter Fowler in a trade with the Astros 10:48 am EST (NBC Sports)

Report: Nationals plan to keep Jordan Zimmermann 10:41 am EST (NBC Sports)

Report: Brewers, Rangers have deal in principle for Yovani Gallardo 9:31 am EST (NBC Sports)

Ben Zobrist and his wife took out a full-page ad to thank Rays fans 9:08 am EST (NBC Sports)

Bud Selig on St. Louis: “You are the best baseball city.” 8:02 am EST (NBC Sports)

Scherzer deal will interest, not affect Orioles 7:57 am EST (Comcast SportsNet Mid Atlantic)

Why Nationals should keep their loaded staff together, even after adding Max Scherzer 5:14 am EST (Yahoo Sports)

Regression Candidates: SPs 2:16 am EST (Rotoworld)

Now with Max Scherzer, Nationals’ rotation could be historically elite 12:44 am EST (NBC Sports)

Source: Max Scherzer agrees to seven-year deal with Nationals 12:27 am EST (Yahoo Sports)

Reports: Scherzer agrees to long-term deal with Nationals 12:18 am EST (Comcast SportsNet Bay Area)

Max Scherzer has a seven-year deal with the Nationals 12:05 am EST (NBC Sports)

Washington Nationals 2015 roster preview: Bryce Harper 12:01 am EST (Comcast SportsNet Mid Atlantic)

January 18, 2015

Cardinals' Wacha has no concerns about shoulder 11:15 pm EST (The Associated Press)

Marlins sign Don Kelly to a minor league deal 11:03 pm EST (NBC Sports)

Report: Nationals not interested in trading Ian Desmond 10:59 pm EST (NBC Sports)

Nationals sign Kila Ka’aihue to a minor league deal 10:26 pm EST (NBC Sports)

Report: Nationals have 'checked in' on reliever Casey Janssen 9:40 pm EST (Comcast SportsNet Mid Atlantic)

Report: Scherzer has a seven-year deal with the Nationals 9:33 pm EST (Comcast SportsNet New England)

Dodgers sign Erik Bedard to a minor league deal 9:14 pm EST (NBC Sports)

Nationals have checked in on Casey Janssen 8:23 pm EST (NBC Sports)

Nats sign ace Max Scherzer to multiyear deal, sources confirm 8:21 pm EST (Comcast SportsNet Mid Atlantic)

Report: Max Scherzer “close” to signing a seven-year deal 7:12 pm EST (NBC Sports)

Cubs: Kris Bryant will try to force the Opening Day decision 6:35 pm EST (Comcast SportsNet Chicago)

Sale, Samardzija, Quintana give White Sox MLB's best SP trio 6:11 pm EST (Comcast SportsNet Chicago)

Report: Rangers close to acquiring Yovani Gallardo from Brewers 6:03 pm EST (NBC Sports)

January 20, 2015 • MLB.com http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/transactions

Last updated: Tue, January 20, 2015, 03:34 EST

Monday, January 19, 2015

Team Player Transaction

Chicago Cubs

Dexter Fowler

Traded From from Astros, Houston (for RHP Dan Straily and 3B Luis Valbuena)

Houston Astros

Dan Straily

Traded From from Cubs, Chi. Cubs (w/3B Luis Valbuena for OF Dexter Fowler)

Houston Astros

Luis Valbuena

Traded From from Cubs, Chi. Cubs (with P Dan Straily for OF Dexter Fowler)

Los Angeles Angels

Yoslan Herrera

Signed to Play in Japan, (Yokohama DeNA BayStars)

Milwaukee Brewers

Corey Knebel

Traded From from Rangers, Texas (for P Yovani Gallardo, four-player deal)

San Francisco Giants

Nori Aoki

Signed as Free Agent, ( 2015; Opt 2016)(one-year contract)

Sunday, January 18, 2015

Team Player Transaction

Boston Red Sox

Quintin Berry

Signed to a Minor League Contract

Chicago Cubs Daniel Bard

Signed to a Minor League Contract

Los Angeles Dodgers

Erik Bedard

Signed to a Minor League Contract

Miami Marlins Don Kelly

Signed to a Minor League Contract

Washington Nationals

Kila Ka'aihue

Signed to a Minor League Contract

Saturday, January 17, 2015

Team Player Transaction

Chicago Cubs

Francisley Bueno

Signed to a Minor League Contract

Los Angeles Angels

Collin Cowgill

Signed, ( 2015)(avoids arbitration)

San Francisco Giants

Gregor Blanco

Signed, ( 2015-2016)(two-year contract, avoids arbitration)

│

32