Who is the D-backs’ second best player?

For most of the last decade, the best player on the Arizona Diamondbacks has been obvious: Paul Goldschmidt. He was the face of the franchise throughout most of the 2010s, making six consecutive All-Star game appearances from 2013 through 2018.

After an 82-win season in 2018 with Goldy on the roster, questions swirled in the desert about whether or not the D-backs even had a shot at making the playoffs after their best player left via trade to the St. Louis Cardinals. Second baseman turned center fielder Ketel Marte answered those questions very quickly, slashing .329/.389/.592 with 32 homers, 92 RBIs and 10 stolen bases.

The D-backs have found their next Goldy. Marte, even if he still has a lot to prove, is the next face of the franchise. The big question now is who comes after Marte as the next best player on the club. There are five clear candidates: David Peralta, Starling Marte, Madison Bumgarner, Robbie Ray and Eduardo Escobar.

David Peralta

Peralta might be the most far-fetched option on this list, but he is certainly worthy of a mention. Peralta only posted 1.7 fWAR last season, but he was sidelined by a shoulder injury that only allowed him to play 99 games. Peralta is only one season removed from his 2018 Silver Slugger campaign in which he posted 3.9 fWAR with 30 homers and a 131 wRC+.

Also, despite his injury-shortened 2019 season, Peralta stayed on the field long enough to net his first Gold Glove award in left field. Peralta’s ability on both sides of the ball puts him on this list, even if his injury history is sketchy.

That brings us to another outfielder, who unlike Snakes veteran Peralta, is new to the Sedona red.

Starling Marte

Recent acquisition Starling Marte figures to take a majority of the at bats in center field this season. He’s not quite good enough to dethrone Ketel as best player on the roster, but he is quite good. Marte posted 3.0 fWAR last season with a career-high 23 homers and 82 RBIs. He also swiped 25 bags, which marked his seventh consecutive season with 20 or more stolen bases.

Marte took home Gold Glove awards in 2015 and 2016, and is still well-regarded defensively. His –9 defensive runs saved from last season is concerning, but most analysts side with the eye test, which pegs him as more than adequate in center.

No player on this list has more career fWAR than Marte, except for a fellow newcomer.

Madison Bumgarner

Bumgarner has logged 31.3 fWAR over his 11-year MLB career, and is by far the most accomplished Major League Baseball player on this list. Bumgarner’s track record alone gives him a compelling case for second best Diamondback, but there are more than a few red flags as Bumgarner enters his age-30 season.

Despite maintaining his ace reputation in his home ballpark last year, Bumgarner posted a concerning 5.29 ERA away from the pitcher-friendly Oracle Park. With Bumgarner’s move to Arizona, projection systems like STEAMER have Bumgarner pegged for a 4.51 ERA in 2020. That feels pessimistic, but it’s enough to cause some hesitation.

That brings us to another member of the starting rotation, whose ace potential cannot be forgotten.

Robbie Ray

Ray’s lofty ceiling became a reality back in 2017, when the addition of a loopy curveball to his arsenal spurred him to a 2.89 ERA and 1.15 WHIP. Ray has since taken a step back due to lack of command and an unprecedented dip in velocity.

Last year’s 4.34 ERA was adequate, but his potential has always been much greater. The 2017 version of Ray would easily run away with the title of second best player on the roster, but unfortunately, he’s been nothing more than mid-rotation starter for most of his career.

That brings us to our final candidate, who unlike Ray, has only improved as his career has gone on.

Eduardo Escobar

Escobar’s 3.7 fWAR last season is the best of any candidate here, and his 35 homers and 118 RBIs are also tops on this list. That’s a good starting point. Escobar is a rare player who has actually gotten better after the age of 30, and his excellent 2019 campaign is backed by a similar 3.6 fWAR year the season prior.

Escobar is not perfect, though. After posting a 127 wRC+ in the first half in 2019, Escobar scuffled in the second half to the tune of a 86 wRC+ and a .280 on-base percentage.

So, let’s return to the question we started with: who is the D-backs’ second best player? It really depends on what you value most. If you value recent performance, Escobar is your man. If you value long-term track record, you’re probably choosing between Bumgarner and Starling Marte. If you value ceiling, it’s Robbie Ray. If you value a balance of all of these things, it’s Peralta.

The beauty of the 2020 Diamondbacks is that there really is no clear answer. This might be the most balanced roster their front office has churned out since the “Anybody, Anytime” glory days of 2007.