Christian Walker is Back! Which Player Options Should Arizona Diamondbacks Pick Up

what are we discussing on today's locked on Dbacks podcast is Zach Gallen and Christian Walker officially back after leading the Dbacks to a victory over the Texas [Music] Rangers you are locked on Diamondbacks your daily Arizona Diamondbacks podcast part of the locked on podcast Network your team every day welcome into the locked on Dbacks podcast P the locked on podcast Network your team every day you're listening to who the always charismatic host of this podcast Miller Thomas a multimedia journalist and graphic designer so please go check out my website Miller Thomas 24. my portfolio.com on there you can see all my latest work from my packages to my articles to my photos and my graphic design today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel now through September 22nd all FanDuel customers can bet $5 and get a three- week free trial of NFL Sunday Ticket from YouTube and YouTube TV visit fanduel.com to get started on today's lock down Dbacks podcast we're talking about Zack Gallen and Christian Walker are they back for the Dbacks after leading them to victory over the Texas Rangers I just realized for the YouTube audience if you look at the rundown I spelled the word and wrong I apologize to you guys then we'll also take a look at some of the contract options for the dbx players and whether or not the dback should pick up those options thank you for making a locked on dimeback to First listen every day I would not be able to do this podcast without you my loyal listeners sharing subscribing rev viewing doing all that so I could do this podcast for you thank you it's free it's available on all platforms so please continue to tell your friends and one of those platforms is YouTube please hit subscribe to locked on Diamondbacks on YouTube all right all right all right let's get into the lock down Dbacks podcast and let's talk about tonight's victory over the Texas Rangers the Dbacks have needed a victory over the Rangers because of course the Dbacks lost the World Series to the Rangers and then so far this year they have not played uh Texas too well you could say because Texas has been 0 and2 against the DXs this season so you think about the World Series you think about the regular season has been Domin a for the Texas Rangers so the Dbacks really needed a little confidence boost against Texas a little Revenge as well and they had to defend their home turf and that's what they were able to do Revenge maybe not as sweet as if you could do it again in the postseason get a world serers rematch but for right now considering the Rangers look like they're going to be on the outside looking in of the postseason and again this Victory is only going to help the Dbacks get even closer to security in their p seies in spot I wish we could get the rematch in the World Series but we'll take this for now this is the only Revenge the Dbacks could get Zack Allen of course pitched in the finale in the World Series had a no hitter going for a few Innings there but ultimately the Dbacks lost that game lost the World Series and we know he was a guy entering this game watch out because no Gallen he's a guy that gets up for these type of games he's got that dog in him as the kids like to say and he's a guy that likes the pressure does he always live up in the highest pressure moments I don't know that that could that's another question for another day right we've seen him struggle in some big postseason moments but we do at least I do believe he wants to be in those big moments I believe he likes those moments I don't know if he always thrives in those moments but I know he wants to be in the situations where you have to rely on your big game pitcher and he came through got a little bit of Revenge in this game and I thought it was one of the better Zack Gallen starts he is starting to look like himself once again which is such a positive sign for the Dbacks two of his last three starts has been phenomenal of course in his most recent start the pseudo no hitter six Innings no hits eight strikeouts and then in his start against Boston six Innings two hits no earn runs so two of his last three starts six Innings no earn runs and then his start tonight five innings no no earn runs two hits allowed and seven strikeouts and I thought his command just getting better he threw a lot of pitches in this one had some full counts but outside the first inning moved pretty quick maybe he threw a ton of pitches because he had a bunch of two strike counts but that's how you get to the seven strikeouts if you're Zack Allen yes he threw 94 pitches in five innings but I thought the command looked a lot better generated a lot of whiffs and Swings in this game 32 swings nine whiffs I thought this was a very good Zack Allen game and I think recently three of his last four starts now you could say that about gallon starting to track and Trend in the right direction as we get closer to the postseason we need his counterpart to do the same Merl Kelly he goes in game number two if he can put together another impressive outing as well now you got consecutive outings by your two Frontline starters as you get closer to the postseason that definitely raises the confidence of your fan base and everyone in that locker room so great job by Zack gallon tonight and one thing that also raises the confidence seeing your first baseman who's been a little rusty since coming off the injured list two run home run for him tonight after getting it started in the first inning we know the Dbacks like to strike first like to strike early and that's what they did Jo Peterson starts it off with a no doubter 400 15 foot Bomb by Jo Peterson 108.9 miles per hour off the bat of course a home run in all 30 ballparks and then you also got that Christian Walker home run right after him which was also a massive bomb that one was 104.5 miles per hour off the bat 374 feet only a home run in 26 of 30 ballparks if you could believe there Christian Walker Ry would not have been a home run in Fenway Park his second home run would have been home run in 24 of the 30 ballparks again not a home run in uh in uh Fenway Park so some fun facts there Christian Walker hits two home runs we know him as a power Ry and neither one would have been a home run in Fenway Park that tells you about the Oppo power for Christian Walker great to see him get going great to see Jack Peterson and also Cory MCC Carroll had a great drive off the wall he is putting so much power right now into his swing the turnaround by Corbin Carol has been been really phenomenal to see over the last couple months and he has cruised in his way as we enter the postseason the speed feels like it's back for Carol seems like he's getting more aggressive on the base pass Tory setting him more than ever 27th steel of the season for him dback still needs to convert more runners in scoring position one for nine tonight but everyone in your lineup who is a starter got a hit except for ketto Marte paven Smith added on some insurance runs late so did Jose Herrera you got the guys on the margins to play a good game for you everyone contributed in this game and it ended up being a very good performance by the Dbacks overall they get a shut out of the Texas Rangers uh you get six runs by your offense in the bullpen Tor Tor lello did not mess around tonight GLE Thompson Puck Martinez they all shut it down pucking Martinez five strikeouts between those two absolutely shut down great job by the Dbacks they play a a near perfect game against the Texas Rangers and let's hope with Merl Kelly on the mound going to game two we can get a Repeat Performance and sweep those Texas Rangers now I want to talk about which players we should pick up the options on in segment number two but hey if you want to bet on the Dbacks beating the Texas Rangers in game number two then the place you want to go to wager is going to be FanDuel because you've heard us talk a lot about FanDuel America's number one sports book well we have something a little different for you now through September 22nd all FanDuel customers can bet $5 and get a three- week free trial of NFL Sunday Ticket from YouTube and YouTube TV then with a YouTube TV base plan you'll be able to watch every regular season Sunday afternoon out of Market game all you need is a Google account and a current form of payment and you can cancel anytime plus FanDuel still has my favorite little thing the same game parlay give me the Dbacks money line the over on Corbin Carrol total bases and at a Yano Suarez RBI when that three- leg hits it brings a big smile to my face you want big smile on your face just visit fanduel.com to download America's number one Sportsbook all right all right all right let's get back into the lock down Dbacks podcast and let's talk about players and options because we're getting close to the end of the season guys it's crazy to think about that we're almost here The Season's almost over I'm getting a little ansy right I talked about this the other day on the podcast is like being a long road trip 12 hours and you hit that last hour you just get a little antsy in the car that's how I'm feeling I want the postseason to come already one because I'm excited to see the Dbacks in the postseason and two because I wanted see the Dbacks in postseason because that NL Wild Card is getting dangerously close Dbacks thankfully get the dub today they're currently tied with the San Diego Padres who look like they're going to I believe beat the uh whoever they're playing today that they already didn't get the victory yeah they already beat the Mariners so Dbacks and Padres are neck and neck in the standings half game behind the Padre's right now the Mets creeping up on them so it's like I I want the postseason to come already because I don't want to live on the edge of my seat for the next three weeks I want the posting to be here already and I want the Dbacks to be playing in it and it's going to be close but let's actually stop talking about the rest of this regular season because I am way too anxious about it let's talk about next year's team a little bit and look at the contract statuses of some dudes under contract and the guys who have options to return to next season because there's four dback players who are option eligible I could be wrong because sometimes when I do these things I am wrong but I am on Spa track SPO track however you pronounce it I am looking at options for next season and we're going to go through who the dback should bring back courtesy of these options first guy we're going to talk about a Yano Suarez and it's crazy to think about because if you ask someone hey should the Dbacks pick up the $15 million Club option on AO Suarez on June 27th when he had a 212 average and like a 66 WRC plus that person me every Dbacks fan in the world would have told you do not pick up that option of Suarez if anything trade Suarez now make another team make that decision DFA Suarez it does not matter do not bring Suarez back he is not a major league player that's what we would have told you on June 27th but since that date Suarez has been arguably the best player in the National League not counting today's stats in his last 63 games Suarez 315 average 1012 Ops 172 WRC plus 20 home runs and 58 RBIs he has the highest OPS WRC plus tied for the most home runs and the most RBIs since July 1 he's quite literally been the best offensive player in the National League since June 27th that's how crazy this turnaround has been for a Yano and now when you look at his Club option I think it's emphatic yes Suarez is on track right now his turnaround has been so pronounced he's not just he hasn't just become the best player in the National League in the second half and like the MVP of the second half of the Season he's on track to have like one of his best seasons since like 2019 like at one point auo didn't look like a major leager now might have his best season since 2019 of the last five years like that's how crazy the turnaround has been for Suarez and considering the club option is $15 million that would make him tied for like the ninth highest third baseman next year I'm definitely bringing Suarez back he can replicate what he did this year I don't care if it's a terrible first half and then a great second half I don't care if it's this full season but just a little bit more stable whatever auo has to do if we get this production again next year I'll definitely take it this is all I wanted for auo this is actually even better than I wanted a 250 average and almost 800 Ops 26 home runs uh over 90 RBI like this is a fantastic Suarez season and if we could get anything close to this next year I definitely want to bring him back on that $15 million price tag how about a little Randall gritch this one's actually a mutual option for $7 million and for me I'm saying Hell yeah bring back Randall gritch at that price tag actually it's only $6 million for Randall gritch the only issue for me is I don't know if Rand gritch wants to come back I'm sure he likes the team he likes the clubhouse he likes the organization I just feel like Rich thinks he's probably better than the opportunity he's given and he could probably command a little bit more money potentially 6 million might be in his ballpark but regardless he can at least probably get a better role out there where he's playing more than just half the season because gritch is someone that I don't think has been hurt at all this year and he's probably only going to play like around a 100 games maybe gritch thinks he could play around like 130 140 games instead of like around the5 to 110 games is going to play with the Dbacks this season gritch has been so good for the Dbacks this year he's been a solid Corner outfielder you look at the clutch stats for Rand gritch this year that's where he's really really impress me at least a 290 average and 943 Ops with runners in scoring position he's been absolutely clutch I think he's been an underrated part of this team because it's easy to look at Christian Walker defense power kto Marte MVP the whole season Corbin Carrol reigning Rookie of the Year who had the struggles and now has turned it around even a guy like a yeno Suarez has has you know a lot of a claim and there was a lot of expectations you know when he was acquired by the Dbacks cuz they really needed a third baseman then he had his struggles and now he's had his turnaround so it's like all these guys have had different narratives and different claim to the microphone for people to talk about them but Randall gritch has flown under the radar and has had just like a really good season all year I mean over a 800 Ops like a 275 average like it's been a really really good strong season from Rand gritch and I hope the Dbacks can bring him back I mean I think a $6 million price tag is almost criminal for the production that Randle gritch has provided to Arizona this season I mean I would almost hope that the Dbacks could say let's decline that and actually give you a little raise gritc because we actually value so much we think you're worth a little bit more than that I'm actually not upset at all the Dbacks were like here's two million more dollars that's to make it a $8 million deal R gritch I would not be mad at all at that I love what the Dbacks have done with this double DH I think has been so strong this season they've been able to play both of those guys a ton I mean 93 games I'm sure gritch would like to play more Kevin Newman has appeared in more games this season than or Randall gritch so maybe that's like one of the reasons why he's like I can't come back because I'm just not getting as much opportunity as I deserve but the pinch hitting he's been clutch runers in corner position he's been clutch he's been a great Club out guy he's been a solid defensive Outfield as well I love Randall gritch and I hope the Dbacks can come to an agreement where we bring him back because I think he's been great as a defensive player as a corner outfielder as an offensive player and as a DH for the Dbacks this season and speaking of dhes the Dbacks other half also has an option which we'll discuss in segment number three but hey if you're looking to buy tickets to an upcoming dback game then the place you want to go of course is going to be game time because game time is the best place for last minute ticket deals save money on tickets for sports concerts comedy theater and more they have this Allin pricing feature when you toggle it on it shows you the total cost up front with no surprise fees at checkout get a panoramic view from your seat before you buy and your purchase is covered with the most flexible customer service policy in the ticketing industry take the guests workor out of buying MLB tickets with Game Time download the game time app create an account and use code locked on MLB for $20 off your first purchase terms apply again create an account and redeem code locked on MLB for $20 off download game time today what time is it game time all right all right all right let's get back into the locked on diamond B podcast let's talk about some other player options the next guy I want to talk about is the other half of the DH jock Peterson and the Dbacks again definitely need to bring jock back right now I mean the way I view this Dbacks team assuming it doesn't collapse even if it does collapse like I want to bring this team back next season I think this team on paper is like as close to perfect as you can get I mean the offense is deep the offense is nice the pitching I think has great depth in the rotation as well the bullpen has great depth I just think at times the bullpen hasn't been good enough the rotation hasn't lived up to its potential it's been in and out with health and injuries so I think there's been to a lot of factors as to why the Dbacks might you know if they don't make it to the postseason I think there's a lot of factors there uh despite their team being super talented if you guys are on the YouTube video you can see my cat just jumped onto my lap so hopefully he's a good boy for the rest of the podcast but this this dback team I I'm at the point where I'm just like bring it back next season I mean maybe make an upgrade in the bullpen you know maybe do something with Jordan Montgomery of course but right now I think on paper this is as good of a dback team as you could build and right now it's like I'm gonna say let's try to run it back because I feel the same way about Jack Peterson I mean so many these players are having borderline career Seasons with the Dbacks or some of the best Seasons that they've had in a long time I mean even a guy like Rand gritch I mean the numbers he's putting up this season are better than the numbers he's put up like the last few years when you look at his average in Ops like this is the the best Randle gritch season since like 2018 and one of his best seasons in his career a Yano like I just said might be his best season in the last five years and now jock Peterson you look at his stats this might be the best the best season of jock Peterson's career I mean he's not going to hit a career high in home runs but he has a career high in Ops right now and the numbers are insane and his averages a career high as well like this might be the best season of jock Peterson's career he's getting close to you know he might finish second most RBI in his career for a single season as well so jock Peterson's another guy it's like how do you not bring him back when you look at all these guys having fantastic seasons for your ball Club the gritch the Suarez now Peterson it's like if every guy's going to have one of their best seasons of the last few years their great locker room presences feels like Everyone likes them they get along with everyone how could you not bring them back jock Peterson's the same way like when he's pimping home runs flipping that bat doing I'm him I'm that guy like who doesn't love jock Peterson and just wait till we get to jober the Dbacks make it to the playoffs and we get to October baseball and we get to see jock Peterson A Little Jock toer especially if it's Dbacks vers LA and we get some big home runs from Jock It's going to be going crazy in Arizona it's going to be going insane in La I can't wait for the playoffs jock Peterson is a guy that the Dbacks have to bring back again just like Rand gritch you look at the numbers for Jo Peterson he is the clutchest player on this Dbacks team leads the team with Ops with Runners and scoring position at 1143 he has the one of the highest averages as well 329 average a Runners at scoring position like he's been absolutely insane in those clutch situations and the Dbacks absolutely have to bring him back next season uh and also price tag $14 million again it's a mutual option like a Randle gritch and so does jock Peterson think he can get more than that actually think that's a perfect price tag for him a DH who only platoons who doesn't play defense at all I think $4 million for what he provides is the perfect price tag for him I'm hoping both parties can agree to that number for next season then how about this guy Merl Kelly is on the list he has a club option I don't see any way that the Dbacks don't pick this up right Merl Kelly was a diamond in the rough discovered by the Dbacks and I have to admit when Merl Kelly first started pitching with Arizona I was not really in on him the sky from overseas from Korea first year in the major leagues he was 30 years old as a rookie led the national league and losses if you remember as a rookie in 2019 with 14 a 442 ER he had a pretty high whip it wasn't like he was a big strikeout artist that threw like 96 97 I was like what's so special about Merill Kelly I was like he he looks like an Innings eater number four pitcher for your ball Club especially a mediocre ball club like Arizona at the time and since then definitely I've come around on Maro Kelly he has been a true Frontline starter I think he's one of the most underrated pitchers in the sport Dbacks don't get to the World Series without him last year they don't win their lone World Series game without Merill Kelly last season he is the definition of a dog 225 ER in the postseason last year six ear runs in 24 Innings pitch we all love Marl Kelly he has been on and off the injured list or really just on the injured list for most of this season and he's finally healthy right now we're praying he has a good start tomorrow as he starts to build momentum as we get closer to the postseason but he's a guy once we get to the playoffs I have no worries about him struggling or you know faulting under pressure and not being ready I think once those lights are bright once we're in that playoff setting I think Merl Kelly is going to die dominate his opponent so I'm not worried about him at all of course I want to see a good outing from him in the against the Texas Rangers game number two and from him moving forward but once we're actually in the postseason I'm not worried about Mero Kelly struggling any longer once the playoff start so the Dbacks have to bring him back and again $7 million Club option there's no way the Dbacks say no to that I mean that is dirt cheap for a guy who has been your number two starter for like the last three seasons insane that Mero Kelly is on that kind of price tag so the Dbacks are definitely bringing back and then a guy that has a player option the Dbacks don't get to decide this one I think Dbacks fans would all hope I I think Dbacks fans are all hoping he declines it Jordan Montgomery $25 million player option he has been horrendous he has been Madison Bum Garner bad this season I think all Dbacks fans are actually saying hey Monty you know what we know you beat us in the World Series you have been good the last three years but you've been so bad this season you've left a bad taste in our mouth for complaining about how hot our stadium is please decline the option and move on with yourself I think that's what dbac nation is saying so I I hope that happens as well because the Jordan Montgomery experience has not been that fun in Arizona this season now that's it for this edition of the lockdown Dbacks podcast come back tomorrow for more Dbacks news C Insight thank you for making lockdown Dbacks your first list every day and say goodbye to my kitty deuces