BallHype - Latest Arizona Diamondbacks News Articles

Diamondbacks Fill 40-Man Roster

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:12:28 +0000

Shortly after the postseason ended, the Arizona Diamondbacks made changes to their 40-man roster, designating players and moving them around, leaving the team with 35 on the roster. The addition of Aaron Heilman brought the total to 36, still four short of the maximum. The Diamondbacks today filled out the remainder of their roster, adding players and reinstating others from the 60-day disabled list. Outfielder Conor Jackson and pitchers Chad Qualls and Brandon Webb were activated from the 60-day disabled list. Additionally, Arizona added outfielder Cole Gillespie and pitchers Roque Mercedes, Daniel Stange, and Jordan Norberto to the roster. Gillespie has been playing in the Arizona Fall League and has opened eyes since coming over with Mercedes from the Milwaukee Brewers in the Felipe Lopez trade on July 19. Gillespie played well this season, hitting .273 in the minor leagues. During the Arizona Fall League Gillespie hit .333 in 20 games with seven doubles and a home run. He also had two ...

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Arizona native lifts Peoria to AFL title

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 22:46:00 +0000

C.J. Retherford helped bring the Desert Dogs' dominance to an end, as his two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth gave the Peoria Javelinas a 5-4 victory over Phoenix in Saturday's thrilling AFL championship.

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Desme wins Arizona Fall League MVP

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 20:25:00 +0000

Grant Desme, the Oakland outfield prospect who led the Arizona Fall League with 11 homers, has been chosen as the recipient of the league's Joe Black Most Valuable Player Award.

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Diamondbacks acquire RHP Aaron Heilman from Cubs

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 07:11:05 +0000

Reliever Aaron Heilman was acquired Thursday by the Arizona Diamondbacks from the Chicago Cubs for two minor league prospects.

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Sports Briefing | Baseball: Arizona Acquires Reliever

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 03:17:27 +0000

The Arizona Diamondbacks traded two minor leaguers to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for reliever Aaron Heilman, a former Met.

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Diamondbacks acquire RHP Aaron Heilman from Cubs

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 01:52:41 +0000

Reliever Aaron Heilman was acquired Thursday by the Arizona Diamondbacks from the Chicago Cubs for two minor league prospects.

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Strasburg hurts knee, out of Saturday's AFL title game [UPDATED]

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:50:08 +0000

Stephen Strasburg, the Nationals' prized pitching phenom, twisted his left knee while shagging flies during batting practice before the Phoenix Desert Dogs' regular season finale in the Arizona Fall League on Thursday, and has been scratched from Saturday's scheduled start in the AFL championship game, the team said in a news release Thursday night. According to the release, the injury is not considered serious, and an MRI exam taken shortly after the incident showed only "inflammation." Still, Strasburg is scheduled to fly to Los Angeles on Friday to be examined by orthopedist Lewis Yocum. Nationals General Manager Mike Rizzo did not immediately return voice and text messages seeking additional information, and players and coaches in Arizona were instructed not to discuss the injury with the media. According to two sources who were briefed on the injury, Strasburg, a 21-year-old right-hander, stepped awkwardly while shagging flies in the outfield, heard a

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Diamondbacks acquire RHP Aaron Heilman from Cubs

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:07 +0000

Reliever Aaron Heilman was acquired Friday by the Arizona Diamondbacks from the Chicago Cubs for two minor league prospects.

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D-backs acquire Heilman from Cubs

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:05:27 +0000

Reliever Aaron Heilman has been acquired by the Arizona Diamondbacks from the Chicago Cubs for two minor league prospects. The 31-year-old right-hander was 4-4 with a 4.11 ERA in 70 appearances last season, striking out 65 and walking 34. He spent six seasons with the New York Mets before he was traded to Seattle last December, then dealt to the Cubs a month later. Chicago gets 24-year-old left-hander Scott Maine and 23-year-old infielder Ryne White.

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Diamondbacks acquire Heilman from Cubs (AP)

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:34:08 +0000

Reliever Aaron Heilman was acquired Friday by the Arizona Diamondbacks from the Chicago Cubs for two minor league prospects. The 31-year-old right-hander was 4-4 with a 4.11 ERA in 70 appearances last season, striking out 65 and walking 34. He spent six seasons with the New York Mets before he was traded to Seattle last December, then was dealt to the Cubs a month later.

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D-backls acquire Heilman from Cubs

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:23:11 +0000

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Cubs trade Heilman to Diamondbacks

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:12:45 +0000

Reliever Aaron Heilman has been acquired by the Arizona Diamondbacks from the Chicago Cubs for two minor league prospects. The 31-year-old former Mets right-hander was 4-4 with a 4.11 ERA in 70 appearances last season, striking out 65 and walking 34...

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Diamondbacks acquire RHP Aaron Heilman from Cubs

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:09:32 +0000

Reliever Aaron Heilman was acquired Friday by the Arizona Diamondbacks from the Chicago Cubs for two minor league prospects.

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Hope for Cubs Fans: Aaron Heilman Dealt to Arizona!

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:52:51 +0000

In a move that restores all hope to Chicago Cubs fans, GM Jim Hendry found someone dumber than himself and made a trade. The Cubs dealt Aaron "The Gas Can" Heilman to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday for minor leaguers Ryne White and Scott...who cares. Heilman's gone, people! Party! In a related story, the bag of balls that had been rumored to be dealt to Chicago for Heilman is relieved to be staying in Arizona for the winter. Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

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Chicago Cubs trade Aaron Heilman to Arizona Diamondbacks for prospects

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:51:22 +0000

Chicago Cubs trade Aaron Heilman to Arizona Diamondbacks for prospects.

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Diamondbacks get RHP Heilman in deal with Cubs

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:51:00 +0000

The Arizona Diamondbacks traded for Aaron Heilman from the Cubs on Thursday, the team announced, in exchange for a pair of minor leaguers.

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After 5 Years, Backman Gets a Second Chance

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 04:07:24 +0000

The new manager of the Brooklyn Cyclones had off-field problems that led to his firing by the Diamondbacks in 2004.

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Wally Backman starts over with Brooklyn farm team

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 23:53:20 +0000

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Jackson's Fortune of MLB Return Rises in the Dominican Republic

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 23:53:03 +0000

When we last looked in on Conor Jackson, he had just begun playing winter league baseball in the Dominican Republic. With the season now in full swing in Santo Domingo, I thought it might be interesting to see how things are going for the lost Diamondback. Playing for the Leones del Escogido, Jackson has now appeared in 23 games. When we first looked in, Jackson had started out on a torrid pace, feasting on Latin American pitching. Having gone through Valley Fever, the biggest question was whether Jackson would have the stamina to maintain his energy level for an extended time. Jackson has now appeared in 23 games accumulating 73 at-bats. In those at-bats, he has gotten 31 hits, the most on the team. Jackson has six doubles and two home runs. He has scored 16 runs and also has 16 RBIs in that time. Jackson continues to exhibit good plate discipline with an on-base percentage of .561. Besides having good at-bats, Jackson has also found success on the base paths, stealing nine ...

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Nats nuggets: bench coach, Guzman, Flores, et al.

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:46:34 +0000

Just got done speaking to Nationals GM Mike Rizzo and meeting the majority of his new front-office hires -- the amassing of which Rizzo called "the most important part of our offseason." Suffice it to say there is a lot of optimism around the organization these days. The bulk of the new guys had been to Arizona this fall to see the team's prospects in the Arizona Fall League. (Jay Robertson, the newly hired special assistant to Rizzo, said this about Stephen Strasburg: "I told a scout from another organization, 'He's two grades better than anyone you've ever seen.'") Here is a short-and-sweet summary of some news that came out of this afternoon: *The Nationals have hired former Seattle Mariners manager John McLaren as Jim Riggleman's bench coach. (This was told to me by a source outside the organization and confirmed by a source within the organization.) This will be

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Backman named Brooklyn Cyclones manager (AP)

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:59:49 +0000

Wally Backman wants another chance to manage in the majors. The former Mets second baseman, fired after four days with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2004, was introduced Tuesday as manager of the Brooklyn Cyclones, New York's Class-A farm team in the New York-Penn League. It is Backman's first job with a major league organization since the Diamondbacks hired him as manager five years ago.

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Mo finishes Phils, says he's far from finished

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:30:51 +0000

Eight years to the day the Yankees' most recent dynasty died with Mariano Rivera on the mound in Arizona, the greatest closer in postseason history sealed the first title of what they hope will be their next run of multiple championships.

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Backman named Brooklyn Cyclones manager (AP)

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:10:44 +0000

Wally Backman was hired Monday as manager of the New York Mets' Brooklyn Cyclones farm team in the New York-Penn League. A member of the Mets' 1986 World Series championship team, Backman was hired to manage the Arizona Diamondbacks in November 2004. He was fired four days later after The New York Times reported he had been arrested twice and had financial problems.

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Josh Hamilton says back is improved

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 05:53:58 +0000

Sporting News staff reports Rangers OF Josh Hamilton told the Dallas Morning News the back injury that plagued him at the end of the season has improved and a series of tests show that no nerves are being pinched. With that good news, Hamilton says he has been cleared to begin offseason workouts Monday. Unlike last year, however, those workouts will be in Dallas under the guidance of Rangers strength and conditioning coach Jose Vazquez. Last winter Hamilton chose to train in Arizona leading up to the season. Hamilton said he wants to work with Vazquez, who knows the injuries he suffered in a disappointing and injury-marred season and can put him on a better regimen.

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Backman to manage Brooklyn Cyclones

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 07:22:56 +0000

Wally Backman is expected to be named manager of the Brooklyn Cyclones early next week. The fiery Backman, 50, had been hired to manage the Diamondbacks in November of 2004, but Arizona officials backed out four days later, after prior off-the-field incidents came to light.

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Mets Will Hire Backman to Manage Brooklyn Cyclones

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 05:27:30 +0000

After five years in exile, Wally Backman is making a return to a Major League Baseball affiliate with the Mets, the club that originally drafted him.

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Diamondbacks Fill Coaching Vacancies with Familiar Faces

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 21:05:05 +0000

Since the season ended, the Arizona Diamondbacks have been searching for two candidates that would fill the coaching vacancies on the Major League Baseball staff. Diamondbacks manager AJ Hinch suggested he hoped to fill these spots by the first week in November. While Nov. 11 is not technically the first week of the month it is fairly close. The Diamondbacks announced today that they had filled these positions and agreed to a 2010 contract with bullpen coach Glenn Sherlock who has been a coach with the organization since the inaugural season in 1998. Both of the candidates chosen have a long history with Hinch and one is a familiar face to Diamondbacks fans. Former Arizona third baseman Matt Williams has been hired to be the first base coach. He will also be responsible for working with the infielders. Since retiring, Williams has held several positions with the Diamondbacks. He has been a special assistant to CEO/President Derrick Hall carrying out several duties in the community ...

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Naples serious player in wooing Cubs

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 21:00:00 +0000

Two Florida businessmen didn't think it was possible that the Cubs might relocate their Spring Training site from Arizona to here until they looked the team's new owners, the Ricketts family, in the eyes.

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D-backs hire Matt Williams and Porter as coaches

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 20:02:21 +0000

PHOENIX (AP) -- Former Arizona slugger Matt Williams is joining the Diamondbacks as first base coach.

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Matt Williams added to Arizona Diamondbacks staff as first base coach

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 19:43:01 +0000

Former Arizona slugger Matt Williams is joining the Diamondbacks as first base coach.

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Ex-3B Williams joins Diamondbacks' staff (AP)

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 19:20:41 +0000

Former Arizona slugger Matt Williams is joining the Diamondbacks as first base coach. A five-time All-Star third baseman, the 43-year-old Williams will make his big league coaching debut. He played for the club from 1998-2003 and recently completed his fifth season as a team broadcaster. Bo Porter will also join manager A.J.

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Brewers, Mariners may bid on Doug Davis; Milwaukee may let Jason Kendall walk

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 07:40:51 +0000

Sporting News staff reports Free-agent left-hander Doug Davis has at least two teams pursuing in him--the Milwaukee Brewers and the Seattle Mariners, acording to reports by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and FoxSports.com. Milwaukee tried to acquire Davis from the Arizona Diamondbacks during the season. Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik knows Davis from their days together with the Brewers. Davis pitched for the club from 2003 to 2006. The Journal-Sentinel also reported that the Brewers may let catcher Jason Kendall leave as a free agent. Kendall made $5 million in 2009, and GM Doug Melvin appears reluctant to commit that much money to the position when he needs to shore up the pitching staff. Melvin indicated prospects Angel Salome and Jonathan Lucroy could be ready to make the jump to the majors next season. "We do have two good, young catchers," Melvin told the newspaper.

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