As the trade deadline draws nearer, teams are going to start shifting into the buyer or seller categories. The Giants are reportedly leaning towards the sell side. Their division rivals in Arizona are leaning the other way. “I’m planning on buying,” general manager Mike Hazen tells the Wolf & Luke show.
It’s not really a shocking position for Hazen to take. Even struggling teams usually delay the decision to sell as long as possible. For the Snakes, their hopes of contending are still very much alive. They are 38-36, putting them 9.5 back of the Dodgers in the West division but just half a game back of a Wild Card spot in a crowded National League race. The deadline isn’t until August 3rd, so there’s still time for things to change, but they are firmly in it now.
Hazen didn’t provide any details about what his targets might be but it’s already known that the club is looking for another lefty bat. Since that reporting, the club did sign Max Kepler, but he’s a big unknown after a couple of down seasons and a PED suspension. Even if he comes back from that suspension and returns to form, he wouldn’t be eligible to play in the postseason as part of that suspension.
There are many lefty bats who could theoretically be available in the coming weeks, depending on which teams end up selling ahead of the deadline. Luis Arraez, Jarren Duran, Trevor Larnach, Kody Clemens, Lars Nootbaar, Brett Baty, Jung Hoo Lee, Alec Burleson, Mickey Moniak, Nathaniel Lowe and JJ Bleday are just a few names who could speculatively be available. Some of those situations would be complicated for Arizona by the fact that they are playing within the division, while some of those clubs might play too well to sell at all.
CJ Abrams is another theoretical trade candidate but the Diamondbacks wouldn’t be a great fit for him unless they wanted to move him to the outfield. He is a natural shortstop but he’s not a great defender there and might end up moved to second or third. The Snakes have Geraldo Perdomo at short, Ketel Marte at second and Nolan Arenado at third.
On the pitching side, Hazen has suggested he’ll likely be more focused on the bullpen than the rotation. The starting group isn’t in amazing shape. Michael Soroka is having a great year but has a long injury track record. Nine more innings pitched and this will be his highest tally in a season since 2019. Eduardo Rodríguez is keeping runs off the board but with a lot of good luck. His 4.78 SIERA is almost double his 2.45 ERA. Ryne Nelson, Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly all have earned run averages of 4.97 or higher.
Despite the struggles, the Diamondbacks have committed a lot of resources to that group and may have trouble moving on from anywhere in there. Hazen has expressed hope that Brandon Pfaadt, recently optioned to get stretched out, could help the depth.
The bullpen is middle of the pack this year, with a collective 4.01 ERA, 15th in the majors. The club was hoping to get A.J. Puk and Justin Martínez back from last year’s surgeries but they are still waiting on that. Puk, working his way back from internal brace surgery, got an MRI related to shoulder discomfort last week. Martínez still has an uncertain timeline after undergoing Tommy John surgery in June of last year.
There are dozens of relief arms who could theoretically be available in the coming weeks, depending on the performances of various teams and individuals. Similar to Arizona’s deadline approach as a whole, a lot is still up in the air, but it’s notable that Hazen has gone on the record as hoping to do some buying.
Photo courtesy of Rob Schumacher, Imagn Images
