The Diamondbacks signed Doug Davis to a three year, 22 million dollar deal yesterday, also known as Jason Marquis money.
Let's compare Davis over the last three years to a mystery pitcher
Davis: 633.3 IP, 4.04 ERA, 533 K, 274 BB, 59 HR
Mystery Guy: 662.3 IP, 4.05 ERA, 485 K, 269 BB, 81 HR
And mystery guy is...Barry Zito. While this isn't an entirely fair comparison,Davis was pretty bad last year with a disturbing increase in his walk rate, over the last three years Davis has been just as effective of an innings eater as Zito. Look at the pitchers that signed for less per year this offseason than Davis:
Orlando Hernandez
Jason Marquis
Wade Miller
Mark Mulder
John Thomson
Kip Wells
Woody Williams
A collection of guys coming off serious injuries, or pitchers that aren't any good. I can safely say I'd rather have Davis than any of those pitchers.
I didn't really fear the Diamondbacks until they acquired a rotation, but it looks like that the pieces in place. With Brandon Webb, Randy Johnson, Davis, and Livan Hernandez in the rotation, only one of about five young pitchers, including Dana Eveland, Micah Owings and Edgar Gonzalez have to step up for the Diamondbacks to have a very solid rotation.
With Davis locked up, the Diamondbacks looks like they have a solid rotation at least until 2009. I thought that this year was going to be a race between the Padres and the Dodgers, but I think it's time to put the Diamondbacks in that conversation.
In other news:
Blue Notes has an interview with Ned Colletti. It's pretty much just the vague answers you would expect, but it certainly is an interview.