The Arizona Diamondbacks have signed 27-year old righty reliever Jensen Lewis to a minor league deal. Lewis pitched in 22 games (0 starts) in AAA-ball for the Cleveland Indians last year and he was 3-2 with 2 saves, a 5.14 ERA and a 1.96 WHIP. He last pitched in the majors in 2010 with the Indians. Lewis has pitched in 161 games (0 starts) in his first four years in the majors and he is 7-11 with 14 saves, a 3.68 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP. This was a good signing for the Diamondbacks as Lewis has been a decent pitcher in the majors.

The Diamondbacks have signed 27-year old righty swinging shortstop Wladimir Sutil to a minor league deal. Sutil played in 84 games in AA+AAA-ball last year and he was 71 for 264 (.269 avg, .676 OPS) with 36 runs scored, 2 homers, 16 RBIs and 15 stolen bases. He has now played in 761 games in his first 8 years in the minors and he is 733 for 2,681 (.273 avg, .661 OPS) with 410 runs scored, 4 homers, 226 RBIs and 188 stolen bases. The D-Backs are going to likely stash Sutil in AAA in 2012.

The Diamondbacks could use a little more help in the bullpen and on the bench in 2012. The good thing about that are those are areas you can improve the team on the cheap. With that in mind, here are the three guys I would sign:

1. Conor Jackson - Righty swinging 1B/OF Conor Jackson could help the D-Backs if he were to return, and he wouldn’t be getting overpaid anymore.

2. Dan Wheeler - Righty reliever Dan Wheeler isn’t flashy, but he usually gets the job done.

3. Arthur Rhodes - The D-Backs were operating without much from the left side of the pen last year. I think Rhodes has at least one more decent year in him.

24-year old righty swinging RF Justin Upton finished 4th in the voting for the 2011 N.L. MVP Award. Upton played in 159 games for the Diamondbacks last year and he was 171 of 592 (.289 avg, .898 OPS) with 105 runs scored, 31 homers, 88 RBIs and 21 stolen bases. He has now played in 581 games in his first five years with the Diamondbacks and he is 584 of 2,109 (.277 avg, .845 OPS) with 331 runs scored, 91 homers, 296 RBIs and 62 stolen bases. The Diamondbacks have to feel fortunate that they didn’t trade Upton last winter.

28-year old lefty swinging catcher Miguel Montero of the D-Backs finished tied for 21st in the 2011 N.L. MVP voting with fellow catcher Yadier Molina of the Cardinals. Montero played in 140 games for the Diamondbacks last year and he was 139 of 493 (.282 avg, .820 OPS) with 65 runs scored, 18 homers, 86 RBIs and 1 stolen base. He has now played in 513 games in his first six years in the majors and he is 442 of 1,629 (.271 avg., .789 OPS) with 216 runs scored, 58 homers, 246 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. Montero has a very bright future with the Diamondbacks.