Diamondbacks pitching prospect Archie Bradley is healthy and pitching in the Arizona Fall League, but the results still aren’t there yet following his regular season bout with an elbow injury. The right-hander has a 6.60 ERA with an 11/8 K/BB ratio in 15 innings for the Salt River Rafters. This comes after he posted a 4.45 ERA in 82 innings in the minor leagues.
If new D-Backs GM Dave Stewart had his way, he told MLB Network Radio, “I would probably have him start the season back in the minor leagues and get more seasoning.”
Addressing bolstering the starting rotation without Bradley, Stewart added, “I would probably say we have a better opportunity to look at a [Kenta] Maeda vs. a [Max] Scherzer or a [Jon] Lester or even a [James] Shields.”
The D-Backs aren’t exactly hurting for live arms, as they have plenty of competition for the starting rotation, but they lack elite talent. Of starters to make at least 15 starts last season, Josh Collmenter was the only pitcher to finish with an ERA below 4.00.