Trade Deadline Outlook: Arizona Diamondbacks

Since their World Series appearance in 2023, the Diamondbacks have been hovering in a borderline contender zone. They had a strong season in 2024, as their win total of 89 was actually a five-game improvement over the year prior, but just missed the playoffs. Last year, an awful July pushed them into sell mode, with Josh Naylor, Eugenio Suárez, Merrill Kelly and others shipped out.

They re-signed Kelly, among other moves, as they looked to rebound in 2026. It’s been an up-and-down season but they’ve gone 9-2 in their past 11 games and currently hold the final Wild Card spot in the National League. It’s a really crowded race, with the five clubs behind the Snakes all within four games. Still, general manager Mike Hazen has said he would like to buy at this year’s deadline. Unless they really go ice cold before August 3, they’ll likely be looking to add.

Record: 54-49 (40.3% playoff odds, per FanGraphs)

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Buy Mode

Potential needs: First base, outfield, designated hitter (with a preference for left-handed hitters); pitching

Lineup

The Diamondbacks have a top-heavy position player group, with five solid regulars and then a number of holes. Corbin Carroll, Gabriel Moreno, Geraldo Perdomo, Nolan Arenado and Ketel Marte have each been worth 1.9 wins above replacement, per the calculations of FanGraphs. Beyond that quintet, the club has received almost no meaningful contributions from its position players.

The D-backs have strong options at third base, shortstop, second base, right field and behind the plate, but that leaves holes at first base, center field, left field and in the designated hitter spot. Players like Pavin Smith, Carlos Santana, Lourdes Gurriel Jr., José Fernández, Adrian Del Castillo, Alek Thomas, Jorge Barrosa, Tommy Troy, Tim Tawa, Max Kepler and others have had big chunks of playing time without doing much. Some of them are no longer on the roster.