SnakeBytes: Moving on edition

Team news (more)

• [KOTV.com] Broken Arrow's Archie Bradley Eyes Diamondbacks Roster - "This year I kind of feel like I have everything down. I knew what to do this offseason, I knew how to train, I knew how to prepare, and I just really feel like I'm ready going into this season... As big of strides as I made this season, there's still a lot of things I need to go into spring training and fix. "I feel like if I can throw a changeup and consistently throw strikes with it, then I'll give myself a good chance to pitch in the big leagues."
• [Prescott Daily Courier] Diamondbacks Foundation offers gift of ballfield: Hopes to help community heal - A likely under-reported story. "In the midst of widespread grief over the loss of 19 Granite Mountain Hotshots, the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation approached Prescott with a plan: To build a baseball field that could help the community heal."
• [Instagram] Cody Ross is taking batting practice - Good to see
• [SI] Winter Report Card: Arizona Diamondbacks - Final grade, D+. "The Diamondbacks have the talent to contend, but the combination of its uneven distribution and the continued trend of selling low when dealing from strength — one that includes the July 31 trade of Ian Kennedy to the Padres as well as the aforementioned moves — continues to erode their chances in the name of remaking the culture."
• [dbacks.com] Tony Womack savors camaraderie at D-backs annual Fantasy Camp - "I miss the camaraderie of the boys, hanging out in the clubhouse having fun," Womack said. "I play golf for the competitive edge, so I don't miss playing, because I played my time and your body and age catch up with you. Golf is my competitive side, but I just miss being around the boys."

Team news (or less)

• [NY Daily] Baseball stadiums to have mandatory metal detection security by 2015 - "Entering a big league ballpark will be a bit like going through an airport by 2015. Major League Baseball has told its 30 teams they must implement security screening for fans by then, either with hand-held metal detection or walk-through magnetometers." Oh, joy...
  
• [MLB.com] 2014 Prospect Watch - Archie Bradley is #5 in their new top 100, and the top pitching prospect in all baseball. Interesting burst down in the 70's, which includes Arizona's Chris Owings, Braden Shipley... and Trevor Bauer, now #73. How the mighty are fallen...
• [LA Times] Kemp advised by agent to not rush back for opening day - Matt Kemp is aiming to return from his off-season ankle and shoulder operations to play in the two-game opening set against the Diamondbacks. But Kemp's agent is advising him against pushing himself: "His biggest issue with injuries has been trying to get back too soon," Dave Stewart said. "I’m urging him to make sure he’s totally healthy." Late September. That works for me.
• Congratulations to our DL'd starter!

  @DHuddy41 can finally lock up my wine!! Baby Hudson coming in July! pic.twitter.com/bi9dG7wZ73

  — Sara Hudson (@MrsSaraHudson41) January 24, 2014

Team news (not at all)

• [EW.com] Todd Field looks back on the 'Battered Bastards' - The Portland Mavericks baseball team were more than just mavericks. They were outlaws. In 1973, Hollywood actor Bing Russell roared into Oregon and established the Mavericks as an independent minor league team, meaning he had to recruit players [from] a scrap heap that included a fair share of burn-outs, head-cases, and outright degenerates. "Guys were gambling in the back of the bus, there was drugs, there were women everywhere," says Oscar-nominated director (and then team batboy!) Todd Field (Little Children). "These guys were pirates." A documentary on the team premiered at Sundance this week.
• [News Democrat] Baseball needs to get rid of opt out contracts "Today teams are less often able to make these sorts of shrewd deals that allow them to keep their homegrown products because the players want an opt out in their contract that guarantees they'll never have to trade maximizing their earning power in exchange for security when they're young... I get the sense that owners are more willing to pass out mega deals with opt outs in them because they figure the odds are the player will cancel the deal midway through the contract and he'll be someone else's financial problem."
• [CBSSports.com] Kenta Maeda: The next big NPB export now that Tanaka has signed? - "Maeda will likely profile as a mid-rotation guy in MLB -- not a certifiable ace like Yu Darvish and not a strong no. 2 like Tanaka. That, however, is not a stinging indictment. As hurlers like Ricky Nolasco and Matt Garza have proved this winter, there's lots of money to be made as a three or four guy. Adding to Maeda's appeal is that, as noted, he'll be just 26 years of age should he hit the U.S. market next offseason."
• [Timesonline.com] If MLB won't change structure, Pirates should do Nutting - "Only the small-market fans get cheated, and they’re easily fooled. One playoff berth in 21 years is mere scraps from the big table, but it got Pittsburgh absolutely unhinged last year. The NFL, NBA and NHL all use salary caps. More teams are constantly competitive. More fluctuations occur from year to year. Good management is rewarded. Do you think the Yankees have made the playoffs 17 times in the last 19 seasons because they possess superior baseball knowledge?"