The Diamondbacks have had a mercurial season, which puts them in a thorny spot. They started out hot and jumped to the top of the National League West, holding a four-game lead as recently as the middle of June. But they have been sliding since that time and now find themselves four games back of the Dodgers. They still hold a Wild Card spot, but barely, as the Phillies and Marlins are each just half a game back.
Just over a week ago, general manager Mike Hazen talked about how the club was hoping to be “aggressive, even ultra-aggressive” but might stop short of being “reckless.” Nonetheless, he added that he expected the club “to play Diamondback baseball for the next two weeks so we’ll be standing in the same spot or better” and remain in the aggressive column.
It’s possible that their recent string of mediocre play will cause the front office to lay off the gas pedal a bit at the deadline, with Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reporting that they might step back from the aggressive side of things. Another factor might be the market, as many teams are reportedly undecided about whether to buy or sell, putting a damper on trade talks. Hazen discussed that element with Bob Nightengale of USA Today but added that “I think giving this team an opportunity to play in a pennant chase if extremely important… I want to improve this team. I think this team has earned that over the last few months.”
The Diamondbacks are in need of pitching, something that Hazen admitted last month. That’s a sensible place to add given their top-heavy rotation. Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly give them an excellent front two but the group behind them is shakier. Brandon Pfaadt was one of the top pitching prospects in the league coming into the year but has an 8.81 ERA through his first seven starts. Tommy Henry has a 4.01 ERA but with uninspiring peripherals and a 5.14 FIP. Ryne Nelson‘s ERA is is 4.97. Their relievers, meanwhile, have a collective ERA of 4.45 that places them in the bottom eight in the league.
Rosenthal reiterates that target in his report, though how the club proceeds could still be determined in the days to come. The D’Backs aren’t the only club still trying to decide how to approach the deadline, with the Cubs and Yankees both among the clubs still trying to pick a lane with less than a week to go until the deadline.
Hazen will have the next few days to navigate that situation and weigh it against his desire to help the club compete. Arizona hasn’t finished above .500 since 2019 and hasn’t made the postseason since 2017. There’s surely plenty of appetite to put those droughts in the rear-view mirror, but he also doesn’t want to be “reckless” and do anything that significantly harms the club in future seasons. As he looks for pitching deals, he’ll have to balance his desire for upgrades against his concern about going too far. The deadline is on August 1.
Jack Flaherty is giving the Diamondbacks a first hand look of what he has to offer today. Just gave up 2 runs unfortunately as I was typing this.
I would do Flaherty for Fletcher or perhaps Barrosa. Cardinals need a lefty hitting center fielder which the Diamondbacks have a few of.
Flaherty is like Russ Ortiz. Lots of base runners. 1 additional hit every 3 in ings can score 2-3 extra runs per game. Stick with what you have with flaherty.
You think Flaherty couldn’t crack your top 4????
Come on dude. Stop saying stupid things it’s really getting old.
How’s your boy looking now?
He might be your boy soon knucklehead.
3 runs through 5 plus innings. Not bad not good.
Do you seriously think any GM in baseball would pull the trades you suggest to get a starting pitcher with a 4.43 ERA on the season? Stop deluding yourself.
I suggested trading Dominic freaking Fletcher dude.
You think he’s a future star or something?????
He’s more of a star now than flaherty has been in the last like 4 years
Dominic Fletcher is a star????
Cardinals are finishing up a 3 game series against the Diamondbacks at this exact moment. I haven’t seen him once. I think he’s at AAA right now. That’s how good he is…….
He’s MORE of a star than Jack flaherty has been in the past 4 years. Meaning both aren’t stars.
It’s okay, reading words is tough.
More of a star?
No he’s Dominic Fletcher. He’s just a dude. Not a star.
Flaherty has a career ERA of 3.57.
Name 4 Diamondbacks starters better than Flaherty. I will hang up and listen.
So you cherry picked numbers and it’s my fault when I CONVENIENTLY mentioned his CAREER stats?
Get a clue dude
Diamondbacks just lost 2 of 3 to the Caridnals. Flaherty got the win. Diamondbacks gave up 11 runs to a team that is playing for 2024. Nice job.
Dude they gave up 11 runs today. Flaherty got the win. That happened.
Cool!!!!
That’s one game. Are you going to cherry-pick stats again and say he’s undefeated?
You are still ignoring the “being bad for the last 4 years”. But that’s to be expected because he recently pitched ONE game!
Name 4 Diamondbacks starters better than Flaherty.
Haren, Webb, Greinke, your moms heavy hangers
I’m not doing that because you still refuse to address your homerism by ignoring flaherty has been dog dump for the last 4 years
Brandon Webb lol. Well he is probably available…….
Right now, I’d love to have him. We need help.
3 meals a day and I am not sure what to eat
Tacos. For all three.
Get ready for the casuals on ESPN to talk about how Arizona should trade all their draft assets to win now. If they’re lucky, maybe they can bring in Dalvin Cook on a bargain deal. Oh wait, that’s not how any of this works.
Maybe a sign and trade with the 76ers for Harden.
Possibly, but depends on if they can flip Maxey for Dame.
Are you saying they shouldn’t make a trade?
I suggested Flaherty for Fletcher. That isn’t exactly selling the farm. Quit being dramatic.
PS who the heck cares what ESPN says about baseball anyways???
Cards have no need for another OF lol
Have you seen Walker play defense?
Yes they most certainly do
No they need to move their infielders back to the infield. They have plenty of solid outfielders. Biggest mistaken they made was putting their financial eggs in the Arenado basket, forcing out of position not just Walker but Gorman too. That money — every penny — shoulda gone toward pitching. Huge mistake, great as Arenado is (or, increasingly, was).
They don’t have plenty of outfielders. It’s ONeill, Carlson, Nootbaar and a bunch of guys who have no business playing defense. ONeill has injury issues and Carlson isn’t all that good.
Arenado is as stud. Gormans development was hurt a bit by the move but he’s playing better and better at 2b. Walker I believe sucks no matter what place he plays defensively.
You are one of these long time Cubbie fans I know that. Don’t act like you are being objective here.
When’s that Brian Robert’s trade gonna happen? Still waiting…..
Why is it every single time when someone’s opinion on the cardinals differs from yours, you assume they’re a fan of some other team?
Here’s the reality, they’re numerous posters on here who comment on more than just their favourite team. Many of whom don’t have a dog in the fight. If several people on your posts, which I see many people do on multiple occasions per day, tell you that you’re wrong, you’re probably wrong. Because they aren’t bias, and it’s probably th general consensus around the game.
It makes no sense to me whatsoever regardless of which team I’m a fan of, to suggest trade for someone, and then try to talk down the value of the guy I’d like to see my team trade for. It’s asinine. I see you do this on the daily.
First of all no gm is going to read it or care what you think in the slightest because your player evaluations come out of thin aired alternative universe. Secondly even if they did, they wouldn’t suddenly drop the players value because you say they suck and aren’t that good after you attempting to trade for them.
You remind me of my 6 year old nephew who pouts when someone tells him no.
Cards wouldn’t do that trade. If it’s one thing they have plenty of, it’s outfielders.
That’s not true they don’t have plenty of outfielders.
The best time to try to win is right now
Any GM/PBO/CBO/Whatever that thinks otherwise should be fired
Congrats, you’re perpetually the rockies.
touche!
The D’backs haven’t looked real all year, but if they added another top-3 starter, who knows? Tough spot.
They looked pretty good out the gate but your Dodgers, I assume you’re a Dodger fan, have brought them back to earth. Especially if Friedman makes some acquisitions himself.
They kind of brought themselves back to earth by not having a rotation after Kelly and Gallen. A long season tends to neutralize the impact of luck, both good and bad. Adding a starter might get them back in it. Will be interesting to see if they go for it.
Needs:
Closer: Barlow would be fine, Bednar would be better if available
starter: Stroman on a rental deal
Without having to trade lawlar, druw Jones, pfaadt, could deal from a list of fletcher, canzone, Ivan Melendez, Bliss, Barroso, Rojas, pavin smith, Carson Kelly
Probably costing one of those three to get Bednar.
Trade simulator says Pfaadt for Bednar is about right.
But would Pittsburgh take a page out of Colorado’s play book by holding on to a player and letting him rot away, instead of using him as leverage to actually make the team better on areas that are far more important? Based on their asking price for Bednar, so far, I’m thinking the answer is… yes.
First of all I don’t think the Rockies have a play book.
Also Bodnar has lots of team control left. No reason to think they have made a mistake by keeping him around.
Pit has a legitimate chance of being good while Bednar is still under control…the same can not be said about basically any rockies player, any year.
No they don’t. What part of their team and organization gives you that impression?
Their current MLB roster + MiLB rosters + Bednar’s duration of control and also playing in the NLC.
Bednar isn’t a FA until after the 2025 season. Bucs may trade him, but not for a turkey like Pfaadt.
Do you people know baseball at all?
Call the Tigers and get both in a package. Lorenzen and Erod are available for starters. Cisnero and Shreve are cheap rentals but they have Lange and Foley for a much higher price. Canzone is a good start. Bliss and Barrosa are interesting too
Lange and Foley should not be traded. With the amount of control they have, they would be the headliner, and the rental starter would be the secondary. Tigers bullpen is mediocre with them. They shouldn’t want to start over building a pen.
Lange and Foley are not the only two contributors to the bullpen. Holton was brought in off the waiver wire and arguably has had a better season than both. Everyone can be had for the right price. Even Juan Soto, the best player in the league, got traded last year. Hard to replace the best player in the league but not as hard to replace a bullpen arm. For the right price the Tigers should consider it.
I see all the non-Dback fans are trying to trade the best (and untouchable) prospects away for garbage in return. Give it a rest!
Suggest a deal that makes sense. Go ahead then others can criticize you.
You got nothing. That’s what I thought.
Where do you see this?
I haven’t seen a single person suggesting a Jones or lawler trade for anything. Maybe on that Ohtani article which was a waste of time.
Dbacks should be in the market for controllable starter. The problem. Orioles and reds are looking there too. The Dylan Ceases of the world don’t get traded very often and when they do it’s for so much you usually don’t want your team making the trade anyway.
Kristian Robinson has fallen off most people’s radar, but he’s getting acclimated after a couple of years off. As a RH hitting OF with big upside, he may allow the Dbacks to get aggressive with one of their many LH OFs. Alternatively, Robinson may draw some interest himself.
I don’t think trading Robinson right now is a good idea. His value is probably not high after a couple years off, but he could skyrocket in the next year or so. Better to hold onto him for now and see if he develops into a regular for them or a future trade chip with more value
Trades proposed here by Cards fans all fall into the category of “reckless” and “desperate “. Hazen is neither.
Dude your rotation is Gallen, Kelly and pray for rain. And it doesn’t rain a lot in Arizona.
Some teams are going to make moves to win at the deadline. And some won’t.
Just took the lead 4-3 Cardinals. If you can’t beat the Cardinals who can you beat?
Cards fan
What is it you don’t understand about the value of rentals?
My team goes and gets rentals at the deadline nearly every year for the last 15 years. I understand it quite well.
Alright here are my trades:
Dbacks get Hicks and Cardinals get Fletcher and Tyler Gilbert.
Dbacks get Bednar and Mitch Keller and Pirates get Pfaddt, De Los Santos, Thomas, Alexander, and Vukovitch.
Dbacks get Bobby Dalbec (to play 3rd) and Redsox get Davies, Barrosa,
Dbacks get Cease and White Sox get Pfaadt, Walston, De los Santos, and Diaz.
Trade #1 No
Trade #2 reckless and desperate—No
Trade #3. Who the he!! Is Bobby Dalbec? And why do you keep trying to trade him?
Trade $4 He!! NO!
Scott you don’t have an original thought in your brain you just criticize others who do.
Diamondbacks losing. Flaherty is in line for the win. Enjoy it.
Just like my wife, doesn’t put input into what we want to eat or watch on tv but will always say no to my ideas. Thanks Scott!
Dude, time for your meds.
Diamondbacks, Reds and Marlins will follow in the Pirates footsteps and have losing records by the end of the season.
I agree. Once the legit contenders make moves and those teams don’t it will deflate their spirits and they will fall apart.
Cardinals have sucked all year but I am still not sure they will sell. That division is winnable and once you get in the playoffs you never know.
I wouldn’t lump the reds in there. They have been winning with a bunch of nobody’s in the rotation. They have pitching help coming off the DL and a pretty modest schedule the rest of the way. The only team they can’t beat is Milwaukee and they are done with them finally.
And nobody tails off like Pittsburg.
The Diamondbacks….
They have a choice.
Let 2 of.the best pitchers in baseball go.to the Dodgers….or….
They can quit dreaming about.the future and make.a deal with Detroit….
and actually try to win a World Series…instead of cow toeing to the Dodgers….like they always do…..
Do you want Lawler or Jones…or…a WS ring? That is the question, Bill.
Dude you are as bad as the Diamondback fans. Jones and Lawlar? For who exactly Skubal???
I thought the rumor was Lorenzen for Thomas?
Do we want Lawlar or Jones? Dude, are you on drugs? Of course we do. Ain’t nothing available worth giving either one away for.
Have fun watching the Dodgers…..again, this year.
It’s not gonna take Lawlar or Jones I am sure those guys are off limits
I suggested Flaherty for Fletcher earlier today. That’s a deal that I think makes sense for both teams. Maybe you get Stratton or Hicks too.
I’d probably do that one.
I’m just wondering if Giolito will be a D-Back, Ray, or Giant.
Well since the All-Star break the D’Backs have the highest ERA 9.43. They need more clutch hitters, pressure on they were 2-16 with runners in scoring position today, this team is not playoff caliper at least not yet they still have many holes to fill. I can see at least 8 on this team.
Thirdbase, Catcher, Centerfielder, 2 Starting pitchers, 2 set-up and a closer.
Dbags should sell and leave the division fight to the Giants and doggers
The Giants are smoke & mirrors, and fading fast which is what happens when you have 6 or 7 first year call ups and zero stars in the lineup on any given day. I don’t understand how any opposing team could possibly be intimidated by that lineup.
Actually, if you look at the standings, it’s the Dbags who have fallen behind the Giants…
Dbacks could use a SP to slot in behind Gallen and Kelly and two backend RP to push the Dbacks current backend guys to the 5-7 innings. They have major league ready talent to trade – Fletcher, Canzone, Smith, Rojas, Barrosa, etc – which I’m guessing/hoping may be enough to get some rentals. I’m not sure if Hazen’s looking to give up the talent necessary to acquire anyone that can be controlled for a year or two.
AZ needs 2RP and one starter to compete.
Meanwhile belongs at the start of the sentence, you can’t just throw it in the middle and put commas around it.
Meanwhile needs to come at the start of the sentence. It can’t be in the middle.