Dbacks Acquire White

At first blush, the winter glare from high profile Diamondbacks' transactions may have blinded fans to the club's boldest move of all - the acquisition of White. In addition to reliable Dan Haren, Arizona inked steady Caucasians Chris Burke and Chad Qualls, filling spots vacated by portly, undisciplined Livan Hernandez, wild-eyed Latino man-child Jose Valverde, and disgruntled American black man, Tony Clark.

In December, troublesome Alberto Callaspo was swapped for portly, disciplined Billy Buckner, and Hispanic headcase Carlos Quentin was dumped for athletic, enigmatic Vernon C. Carter, who was appropriately shipped to, where else, Oakland - in consideration for creme de la creme, Dan Haren.

All this, a year after Arizona jettisoned 'agitator' Miguel Batista (16-11 193IP $6M) and uncoachable Claudio Vargas (11-6 134 IP $2.5M), in favor of crafty Doug Davis (13-12 192IP $5.5M) and determined, extremely hard working Randy Johnson (4-3 57IP $9.1M).

Fair or not, seventeen pallid players now inhabit Arizona's 25 man roster, making it nearly as free from pigment as it is from salary.  There are zero Hispanics in the starting lineup, nor a single Asian on the 40-man extended. The rotation - Webb, Haren, Johnson, Davis and Owings - is as white as JT Snow, as is the entire starting infield, save the astonishingly black Orlando Hudson. Hudson, generally regarded as the best position player on the team, is not expected to renew with Phoenix, the nation's whitest (71%) major city.

A deal packaging talented but lackadaisical Justin Upton and articulate Chris Young, in exchange for gritty Enos Slaughter and clubhouse leader Cap Anson, could not be confirmed.