The Diamondbacks are setting themselves up to be a contender when 2016 comes around.
Very quietly, they have already been turning heads this season, going 63-66 coming into today. Many expected them to be much worse, considering they were the worst team in baseball last year. But in all reality, the Diamondbacks have a great young core, including two of the National League's best players, Paul Goldschmidt and A.J. Pollock, who rank second and fourth in the NL in fWAR, respectively. Overall, all eight of the Diamondbacks' starters are under the age of 30. So why are the Diamondbacks all of a sudden possible contenders in 2016? Even with Goldschmidt and Pollock, Arizona has some really nice pieces that could continue to develop as they begin to enter their primes. Outfielder David Peralta (.872 OPS) has been a breakout candidate this year. Cuban signee Yasmany Tomas (.739 OPS) continues to develop into a solid Major League hitter. And rookie shortstop Jake Lamb (.736 OPS) has been above average both offensively and defensively. With all their offense comes their pitching. The return of Patrick Corbin from Tommy John surgery is a welcome sight. Add top prospect Archie Bradley to the mix and a possible mid-to-top free agent signing and the Diamondbacks have one of the more formidable rotations in the National League. Many questioned the Diamondbacks thinking when they attempted to acquire Aroldis Chapman at the trade deadline. However, Chapman is signed through next season, and if Arizona thinks they can contend, he would be a great supplement to an already above-average bullpen. If the Diamondbacks did get him and went ahead and re-signed him, that'd be an even greater and more worthwhile addition. Obviously, they think they can contend. So, in 2016, watch out for the Arizona Diamondbacks. They have the talent to be a contender and very well may be. --Devan Fink
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