http://tinyurl.com/ahz3xk TOP TEN PROSPECTS 1. Jarrod Parker rhp 2. Gerardo Parra of 3. Daniel Schlereth lhp 4. Mark Hallberg ss/2b 5. Wade Miley lhp 6. Kevin Eichhorn rhp 7. Cesar Valdez rhp 8. Billy Buckner rhp 9. Collin Cowgill of 10. Reynaldo Navarro ss BEST TOOLS Best Hitter for Average Gerardo Parra Best Power Hitter Josh Whitesell Best Strike-Zone Discipline Mark Hallberg Fastest Baserunner Ollie Linton Best Athlete Tyrell Worthington Best Fastball Jarrod Parker Best Curveball Cesar Valdez Best Slider Jarrod Parker Best Changeup Cesar Valdez Best Control Trevor Harden Best Defensive Catcher Ryan Babineau Best Defensive Infielder Pedro Ciriaco Best Infield Arm Pedro Ciriaco Best Defensive Outfielder Gerardo Parra Best Outfield Arm Gerardo Parra =============================================================================== The Diamondbacks are moving into the next phase of their evolution. No longer longer young upstarts, they'll come to spring training with established players at most positions and the expectation of contending for the National League West title. Arizona brought lots of young talent through its farm system in recent years, culminating in a 90-win season, NL West title and Division Series victory in 2007. The front office then bolstered the big league team with the acquisition of veterans like Dan Haren—who came over before the 2008 season in a trade that sent six prospects to the Athletics—as well as Adam Dunn, Jon Rauch and David Eckstein, who were acquired during the year. The 2008 squad ultimately fell short of the playoffs, however, after spending most of the season in first place in the West. With the Rockies taking a big step back, Arizona spent all of May and June in first place, then battled with the Dodgers in the second half before relinquishing the division lead for good on Sept. 5. A mediocre offense was to blame, as the Diamondbacks finished fifth in the NL in runs allowed (706) but 10th in runs scored (720). At least they scored more runs than they allowed, after making the playoffs despite a -20 run differential in 2007. The Diamondbacks will depend on the continued improvement of young players like Stephen Drew and Justin Upton to remain in contention over the next few years. They'll have to, because the farm system is dramatically thinner in talent than just a few years ago, when Arizona sat at the top of our minor league talent rankings. That's the result of players like Drew and Upton moving quickly through the system to the big leagues, as well as the wholesale trading of prospects for big leaguers in the last couple of years. From last year's Top 30 list, eight of the top 17 prospects have been traded away. Off the 2007 list, 19 of the 30 players either have been traded or have graduated to the majors. The highest player from the 2007 Top 30 still in the farm system is outfielder Gerardo Parra, who since has moved from No. 14 to No. 2 in our rankings. Arizona also will rely on its young core because it doesn't have the money to plug holes Yankees-style. The Diamondbacks made news as one of the first professional sports franchises to announce layoffs during the economic recession, firing 31 people after the season ended. The baseball-operations budget reportedly will be around $75 million for 2009, a total that includes the major league payroll as well as the draft budget, among other things. Arizona was left to shop for stopgaps like Felipe Lopez and Scott Schoenweis over the winter. What flexibility the team did have resulted from Randy Johnson's $10 million salary coming off the books, as well as those of Juan Cruz, Orlando Hudson and Brandon Lyon, who together made about $11 million last season. Any help the Diamondbacks have coming soon will be on the pitching side, where their draft efforts have focused in the last two years. It wouldn't be shocking to see 2007 first-rounder Jarrod Parker or 2008 first-rounder Daniel Schlereth in the big leagues at some point this year. --

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