MVN: Most Valuable Network

This series is predicated on educated guesses, past history of the team/general manager, rumors that have been out there for a while, and actions that I feel could be taken. This exercise is me playing GM to inspire conversation and a new way of approaching things. Moves that I complete as previous GMs of teams will carry over here. Trades only include principal, significant players.

The Arizona Diamondbacks began 2008 scorching hot before their young players and the acquisition of Manny Ramirez by the Los Angeles Dodgers caused them to miss the playoffs.

No one's discounting this team out, not with talent the likes of Stephen Drew, Chris Young, Justin Upton and the two-headed pitching monster of Brandon Webb and Dan Haren.

That said, the D-Backs suffered from power enough that they acquired Adam Dunn for Micah Owings and other pieces from the Cincinnati Reds to try to inject some life into their system. In this outlook, Adam Dunn is off the table, as the San Francisco Giants swept in to sign him. So, what do the Diamondbacks have up their sleeves?

Arizona Diamondbacks resign SP Randy Johnson.

First order of business. Johnson has proved that he's still got it and should be a good investment on a one-year deal. There are concerns that Johnson may mentally check out after he gets 300 wins (he is five away) but I can't imagine that he'd be able to, or even want to, switch off the intensity that got him to 295 wins in the first place.

Arizona Diamondbacks sign 2B Juan Uribe.

Uribe has been in and out of Ozzie Guillen's doghouse for a good while now, and while he's currently in their good graces, it wouldn't surprise me the least to see Uribe leave, especially if he's handed the second base job, as he is in this scenario. He can provide some pop and has a good glove. He may not be able to get on base consistently, but with the second base market as is, the D-Backs can't afford to be choosy.

Arizona Diamondbacks acquire Mark Teahen, C John Buck and RP Robinson Tejeda from the Kansas City Royals for C Miguel Montero.

Also going to Arizona in this deal would be a good prospect, but we won't concern ourselves with who that will be. At the major league level, Buck replaces Montero backing up Snyder and also provides some punch. Tejeda, formerly a hot-to-trot Texas Ranger prospect, has shown signs of picking it up in Kansas City and the team can bring him in to try to replace Brandon Lyon.

Teahen would be a jack of all trades in Arizona. He wouldn't have a settled starting spot but with his ability to play the corner infield and outfield, through resting starters, attrition and injuries, he would see plenty of at-bats.

These moves should be all the Diamondbacks should make. It seems like a quiet year, one where it may appear they got worse by losing Adam Dunn and Brandon Lyon, but the big reason behind being quiet is that you have to depend on your young players to pull you through. In addition, the Montero trade brings the club depth in the bench and a full year of Max Scherzer is always a good thing.

You can't really avoid competing in the NL West, so ... look for them to try to win the division title in 2009.