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Originally Posted by Slackker
If I was them, I would like the deal if it was JUST Vazquez and the cash. RJ isn't getting and younger. What's he got left? One good year, one above average year, and one "damn I should have retired" year? This will improve the DBacks financially, as well as the nearly barren minor leagues, and it'll make their major league club younger.
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While I agree with your sentiment on the trade, I do take issue with some of the specifics. Going into the offseason, Arizona had only three players (RJ, Luis Gonzalez and Brandon Webb) making over 600K on their roster. They are an extremely young team, even with the additions of Ortiz, Glaus, Counsell and Clayton. Also, as of March 2004, Arizona had the 13th ranked minor league system in the league:
http://www.baseballamerica.com/today...trankings.html
This is before Arizona made numerous deals for prospects at the end of the season and their draft. So, Arizona has a very healthy minor league system with some good prospects. If you add in guys like Duncan and Navarro, they will get close to the top 10.