The Diamondbacks have re-signed 28-year old righty reliever Blaine Boyer to a 1-year contract. Boyer pitched in 30 games (0 starts) for the D-Backs last season and he was 0-1 with a 2.68 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP. He has now pitched in 174 games (0 starts) in his major league career and he is 6-10 with 1 save, a 4.76 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP. This was a good signing for the D-Backs as Boyer pitched well for them in 2009.

The Arizona Diamondbacks have selected 25-year old lefty reliever Zach Kroenke in the Rule 5 Draft out of the Yankees’ organization. Kroenke pitched in 36 games (2 starts) in AAA-ball last season and he was 7-1 with 4 saves, a 1.99 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP. He has now pitched in 162 games (32 starts) in his five years in the minors and he is 25-15 with 9 saves, a 3.30 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP. Lefty relief has been a big problem for the Diamondbacks for a long time now so they will likely be more than happy to give Kroenke a chance to win a job in their bullpen in 2010.

The Arizona Diamondbacks have acquired 26-year old righty starting pitcher Edwin Jackson and 24-year old righty starting pitcher Ian Kennedy. The cost was 25-year old righty starting pitcher Max Scherzer and 23-year old lefty reliever Daniel Schlereth who were both dealt to the Tigers. The Tigers also received 22-year old outfielder Austin Jackson and 27-year old lefty reliever Phil Coke from the Yankees while the Yankees got 28-year old lefty outfielder Curtis Granderson in this deal.

Edwin Jackson will serve as the #3 starter for the D-Backs this season as he is coming off the best year of his major league career. Jackson pitched in 33 games (all starts) for the Tigers last season and he was 13-9 with a 3.62 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP. This was a risk for the D-Backs however based on his career numbers. Jackson has pitched in 139 games (110 starts) in his 7 years in the majors and he is 38-39 with a 4.66 ERA and a 1.51 WHIP. 24-year old righty Ian Kennedy will compete for a spot at the back end of the D-Backs’ rotation this spring. He pitched in only 1 game (0 starts) for the Yankees last season and he was 0-0 with a 0.00 ERA and a 2.00 WHIP. Kennedy also pitched in 4 games (all starts) in AAA-ball last year in which he was 1-0 with a 1.59 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP. Kennedy has now pitched in 14 games (12 starts) in his major league career and he is 1-4 with a 6.03 ERA and a 1.68 WHIP. Kennedy was once one of the brighest prospects in the Yankees’ system so if he can just stay healthy the Diamondbacks might have something here.

The price was high to roll the dice on Jackson and Kennedy. Max Scherzer has a huge upside and I’m stunned that the D-Backs traded him because of that. Scherzer pitched in 30 games (all starts) last season and he was 9-11 with a 4.12 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP. He pitched 2 years for the Diamondbacks in which he worked in 46 games (37 starts) and he was 9-15 with a 3.86 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP. Daniel Schlereth was the D-Backs #3 rated prospect heading into last season according to Baseball America. He looked the part in AA+AAA ball last season as he worked in 22 games (0 starts) in which he was 0-0 with 4 saves, a 0.98 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP. But, in the majors he had a rough debut. Schlereth pitched in 21 games (0 starts) for the Diamondbacks last season and he was 1-4 with a 5.89 ERA and a 1.64 WHIP.

The Diamondbacks are already getting panned in the media for this trade but I think it all depends on Jackson. If he can pitch like he did last season the price will be worth it.

25-year old switch hitting catcher Carlos Corporan has been signed to a minor league deal by the D-Backs. Corporan played in 71 games in A+AAA ball last year and he was 48 for 225 (.213 avg, .538 OPS) with 10 runs scored, 1 homer and 24 RBIs. He also played in 1 game for the Brewers last season and he was 1 for 1 with a run scored. Corporan was signed for organizational depth as he has never been much of a ballplayer even in the minors.

The Diamondbacks have signed 26-year old lefty swinging outfielder Drew Macias to a minor league deal. Macias played in 86 games in AAA-ball last season and he was 69 for 297 (.232 avg, .672 OPS) with 43 runs scored, 5 homers, 27 RBIs and 5 stolen bases. Macias also played in 51 games for the Padres last year and he was 15 for 76 (.197 avg, .638 OPS) with 8 runs scored, 1 homer and 7 RBIs. Macias has now played in 69 games in parts of three years in the majors and he is 19 for 96 (.198 avg, .661 OPS) with 11 runs scored, 3 homers and 12 RBIs. The D-Backs better hope that they don’t need Macias in 2010 as he just isn’t that good of a player.