Draft preview: Arizona Diamondbacks outlook

Team-by-team outlooks

Unlike many organizations -- yo, Angels get your wings -- Arizona's top-notch farm system isn't impressive only on paper. They are producing future All-Stars on the field, too.

Carlos Quentin, Stephen Drew, Conor Jackson and Chris Young are four of the best young talents at their positions. Reigning NL Cy Young Brandon Webb is already there.

Toss in the veteran Randy Johnson in his return to the desert and you have yourself an outstanding mix of youthful exuberance and veteran savvy to compete in a wide-open NL West.

If you're one of those Fantasy owners that salivates at the prospect of players who haven't peaked, Arizona is one of the best places to look. Quentin and Drew have the potential to go from mid-to-late round steal to possible Fantasy MVP, providing the best bang for their buck from Draft Day to coronation day. Jackson will be an overlooked sophomore at a deep first base position, while Young is a preseason NL Rookie of the Year favorite as a speed-and-power outfielder.

Offensively, the D-Backs should be improved all-around, even if Eric Byrnes falls to match his surprising 2006 numbers. This should make Webb a candidate for 18-20 wins and Johnson an injury-risk sleeper, too.

All this potential has to come through at once, but the D-Backs are one organization that specializes in making good on their promise(s).

Spring position battles

Catcher -- Chris Snyder vs. Miguel Montero

Snyder was a lot like Montero is now -- a solid catcher prospect who can finally break through in the big leagues. But, like most catchers, his bat has come around slowly. We think his time is now. Montero might be the better player long term, but Snyder's defense, experience and potential to emerge as an offensive threat immediately make him our favorite heading into spring. Consider both of these good late-round sleepers with upside at the thin catcher position. If one of them runs away with the job outright, he could prove to be a steal even in smaller mixed leagues.

Starting pitchers No. 5 -- Juan Cruz vs. Edgar Gonzalez, Enrique Gonzalez, Micah Owings, Dustin Nippert and Dana Eveland

The trade for the Big Unit whittled the open jobs in their rotation to one and all of these guys are in the mix -- with no one a clear favorite at this point. Owings is the most intriguing, because he's a strong prospect, but he could use time in Triple-A to start the season. The Gonzalez's have good arms and the most experience, while Eveland and Nippert are mid-level prospects who have struggled translating minor-league success to the bigs. We like Cruz at the front of the list, but say consider him only in NL-only Fantasy leagues. Owings has the potential to surprise in mixed leagues in the second half -- especially if the D-Backs stay in the race like we think they can.

Closer -- Jose Valverde vs. Jorge Julio and Tony Pena

Valverde is the manager's choice coming into spring, but we have seen his ups and downs frustrate Fantasy owners to no end. Valverde is as potentially dominant as he is erratic. Julio is the probable stopgap closer, but Pena is the one the organization likes long term as a closer at this point. Consider the D-Backs closer a late-round sleeper in a standard mixed league on Draft Day, because of the shaky status. Pena is a sleeper in deeper NL-only and long-term keeper formats.

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