D-Backs GM: Pitchers like Walker aren't available often
Arizona's new general manager didn't waste any time making a splash this offseason.
Fresh off his lateral jump from the Boston Red Sox GM role to the same position with the Diamondbacks, Mike Hazen pulled off MLB's first blockbuster of the winter on Wednesday, acquiring Taijuan Walker and Ketel Marte in exchange for Jean Segura, Mitch Haniger, and Zac Curtis.
The headliner is Walker, a former first-round pick who becomes a free agent in 2021.
"Young, controllable pitching is hard to find and adding Taijuan to the rotation gives us significant depth in that area," Hazen told FOX Sports Arizona. "He's not one of the guys you're able to acquire all the time.
"He has power stuff and we've seen that. He's a big guy. He's a prototypical starting pitcher that you want in your starting rotation."
After breaking ground in 2013, Walker has been less than stellar over his last two seasons, going 19-19 with a 4.41 ERA over 304 innings pitched.
Arizona also brought in Marte, who will slot in instantly as the team's best-hitting shortstop or second baseman, depending on where he plays.
"In Ketel, we believe we have acquired a talented switch-hitting shortstop to join a very solid core of young middle infielders," Hazen said.
The downside was giving up Segura, who's coming off a career-best season in which he hit .319 with 41 doubles, 20 homers, and 33 stolen bases.
"To get the calibre of players we wanted, we knew we had to give up something in return," Hazen said of Segura.