3.8.2006: The White Sox dealt RHP Jeff Bajenaru to Arizona for SS-S Alex Cintron.

Alex Cintron possesses a generally unremarkable skill set. While he exercises acceptable plate discipline, his plate patience could use improvement and he lacks offensive speed. However, the 27-year-old has demonstrated intriguing power potential, which U.S. Cellular Field should further nurture. Cintron missed his window to establish himself as Arizona's franchise shortstop, falling into a reserve roll while the Diamondbacks used their last two first round picks to draft top shortstop prospects Stephen Drew and Justin Upton. Although he also will slide into a reserve role with the White Sox, the change of scenery should be beneficial as Arizona mishandled Cintron almost every step of the way, including underselling him in this deal. At least by dealing Cintron, the Diamondbacks clear an infield slot for IF-R Andy Green, the 2005 Pacific Coast League MVP.

Chicago signed Jeff Bajenaru as a non-drafted free agent out of the University of Okalahoma in 2000. The reliever worked his way through the minors, missing the 2002 season due to injury and making his major league debut in September of 2004. Bajenaru spent most of the 2005 season at AAA Charlotte in the International League, where he compiled an 83:29 K:BB with 45 H and 4 HR allowed in 70.1 IP for a 1.41 ERA. He rejoined the major league team following the conclusion of the AAA season, but his accumulated appearances amounted to an inadequate sample size for analysis. The 27-year-old possesses impressive dominance, however barring improved control, he likely will not spend substantial stints in the Diamondbacks' pen.

2.28.2006: Arizona traded RHP Jason Bulger to the Angels for 2B-S Alberto Callaspo.

The Angels signed Alberto Callaspo as a non-drafted free agent out of Venezuela in 2001. After spending that season with their Dominican Summer League team, he moved to Provo in the Rookie-level Pioneer League in 2002. He advanced to A Cedar Rapids in the Midwest League for the 2003 season before jumping to the Texas League with AA Arkansas the following year when Anaheim decided to deploy both Callaspo and former double play partner Erick Aybar at shortstop in 2004. Callaspo returned to AA Arkansas for the first half of 2005 but advanced mid-season to AAA Salt Lake in the Pacific Coast League, where he hit .316 with a .345 OBP and .448 SLG on 67 H, 21 2B, 2 3B, and 1 HR with a 10:13 BB:K and 2/7 SB% in 212 AB. The 22-year-old possesses solid plate discipline, but despite showing some speed, he's demonstrated neither a proficiency at running the bases nor substantial power.

Arizona drafted Jason Bulger out of Valdosta State University with the 22nd overall pick of the first round of the 2001 draft. From 2002 through 2004 he worked his way from A South Bend in the Midwest League through A+ Lancaster in the California League to AA El Paso in the Texas League, moving from the rotation to the pen in 2004. Bulger opened the 2005 season at AAA Tucson in the PCL, where he compiled a 55:27 K:BB with 50 H including 3 HR allowed in 56 IP for a 3.54 ERA. Unless the 27-year-old suddenly improves his control, the Angels likely will not grant him an extended major league tryout.

Anaheim gained as little in this trade as the Diamondbacks acquired in the Cintron deal. I am not wild about Callaspo, but he at least seems capable of contributing in a reserve role at some point and still possesses the potential of youth.

12.27.2005: Toronto sent RHP Miguel Batista and 2B-S Orlando Hudson to Arizona for 3B-R Troy Glaus and SS-R Sergio Santos.

Following the crush of December trades, I have not previously found time to discuss Arizona's biggest transaction of the winter.

The Blue Jays' signing of B.J. Ryan to a five-year, $47M contract made Batista superfluous as a closer and the team likewise lacked a rotation opening. Returning to Arizona, Batista gives the Diamondbacks starting depth as a middle-of-the-rotation innings eater, pushing one of the club's borderline starters down to the minors for further development until injury creates a major league opening. Batista neither dominates his opponents nor possesses stellar control, so in order to remain effective the 35-year-old will need to reverse the deterioration of his once excellent ground-fly ratio, since Chase Field is as unforgiving to flyball pitchers as Rogers Centre.

Orlando Hudson possesses solid plate discipline and patience complemented by moderate power and baserunning skills. Hindered by a series of injuries, he demonstrated little growth over the past few years, which leaves open the possibility of a breakout season should he manage to remain healthy for a full year. Moving away from the artificial surface in Toronto should aid his efforts to avoid injury. Hudson, the reigning AL Gold Glove at second base, also provides the Diamondbacks with superb defensive skills, easing the burden of the pitching staff.

Arizona drafted Sergio Santos out of high school with the 27th overall pick in the first round of the 2002 draft. He spent the remainder of that season with Missoula in the Rookie-level Pioneer League and then split 2003 between A+ Lancaster and AA El Paso, where he played a full year in 2004. Santos opened 2005 with AAA Tucson, where he hit .239 with a .288 OBP and .367 SLG on 117 H, 21 2B, 3 3B, and 12 HR with a 34:108 BB:K and 2/4 SB% in 490 AB. While he possesses solid power potential, the 22-year-old needs to further develop his plate discipline if he hopes to hold a steady major league job. He should spend the majority of 2006 with the Blue Jays' AAA affiliate in Syracuse.

In Troy Glaus, Toronto acquires a player with solid plate patience and excellent pure power. Despite suffering from a nagging knee injury, Glaus managed to remain in the lineup for most of last season. While I worry about the 29-year-old's durability on the artificial surface of Rogers Centre, he should offset a portion of the added stress by spending some time DHing.

Moving Glaus allows the Diamondbacks to grow younger, shifting left-handed hitter Chad Tracy to third base while right-handed hitting rookie Conor Jackson takes over first. Additionally, Arizona shed the entirety of the $32.75M due Glaus over the next three years while the Blue Jays granted the fragile slugger an $11.25M player option for 2009. Unfortunately for Toronto, although Glaus enhances their offense this trade does not balance well with the existing structure of the big league roster. The deal leaves the Blue Jays heavy on cornermen and light on defense. Consequently, while the teams may have exchanged comparable quantities of talent, the Diamondbacks enhanced their organization while Toronto merely altered the location of their holes.