Part 3/8:
In the aftermath of their inaugural season, which ended in expected defeat, the Diamondbacks saw an infusion of talent in 1999, thanks in part to Johnson's signing. The team not only finished with an impressive 100 wins, but they also made significant acquisitions, including a high-profile four-year deal with veteran pitcher Todd Stottlemyre for $32 million.
Despite an encouraging start, Stottlemyre's tenure was plagued by injuries and underperformance, culminating in a disappointing 4.77 ERA over four seasons, resulting in an abysmal return on investment of merely 1.3 Wins Above Replacement (WAR). This initial failure set a precedent that would haunt the franchise in its efforts to secure reliable starting pitching.