The Diamondbacks are no stranger to dealing from their perennial outfield depth, and GM Mike Hazen tells Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic that his stock of center fielders is again drawing interest. Hazen wouldn’t rule out a trade eventually coming together. It doesn’t sound as though Arizona is actively shopping any of its outfield options but rather listening to fairly robust interest, given the lack of center field options in free agency and elsewhere on the trade market. Diamondbacks fans, in particular, will want to check out Piecoro’s piece for a full slate of quotes and insight from Hazen.
The Snakes have Corbin Carroll, Alek Thomas and Jake McCarthy lined up as their likely outfield heading into the 2025 season, with Lourdes Gurriel Jr. mixing into left field as well. There’ll likely be some rotation of that bunch through the outfield and DH spots throughout the season. (Gurriel, it should be noted, is not a center fielder and is not seemingly among the players most heavily inquired about at this time.)
Of the D-backs’ trio of center field-capable outfielders, only Thomas and McCarthy stand as feasible trade candidates. Carroll, the 2023 NL Rookie of the Year, had a slow start in 2024 but bounced back to form as the season went on, slashing .256/.348/.522 (136 wRC+) over his final 425 plate appearances. He signed an eight-year, $111MM extension after a brief but excellent 32-game cup of coffee late in the 2022 season. He’s a cornerstone player in Arizona. Other clubs have probably inquired all the same, but Carroll is staying put.
Thomas and McCarthy, however, are at least a bit more plausible as trade candidates. The former ranked as one of the game’s top prospects for years but has yet to solidify himself as a viable everyday player in the majors. He’s a plus defender and runner when healthy but has mustered only a .226/.271/.359 batting line in 916 trips to the plate in the majors.
Thomas, 24, doesn’t strike out at an alarming clip (19.3%) but also ranks third among 251 big league hitters (min. 900 plate appearances) with a 57.2% ground-ball rate dating back to 2022. That penchant for grounders has undercut what scouting reports tabbed as above-average raw power. Thomas did pop 18 homers between Double-A and Triple-A a couple seasons back, but he has only 20 homers in his 916 big league plate appearances. Without elevating the ball more regularly, he’s unlikely to hit for much power in the majors. That said, he did make plenty of hard contact this past season (91.6 mph average exit velocity, 48.6% hard-hit rate). Even if much of that happens on the ground, a player with Thomas’ speed should see a far better average on balls in play than both the .200 he posted in 2024 and the .260 he’s notched in his career. There’s plenty to like about Thomas, and there are surely teams in need of a center fielder who are hoping they can buy low.
McCarthy, 27, is another solid defender — perhaps not quite to the extent of a healthy Thomas — who turned in a sharp .285/.349/.400 batting line in 2024. He smacked eight homers, swiped 25 bags (in 31 tries) and showed very strong contact skills (15.8% strikeout rate). He doesn’t have much power but also doesn’t possess glaring platoon splits. McCarthy doesn’t walk as much as one would prefer from a prototypical leadoff hitter (6.3% in 2024, 7.1% career), but he makes enough contact and runs well enough to profile as a table-setter who can handle all three outfield spots.
Both Thomas and McCarthy have one minor league option remaining and are controllable for another four seasons, which only adds to their appeal for win-now and rebuilding clubs alike. The Royals, Phillies, Pirates, Reds, Mets and Yankees are just some of the teams that could be in the market for outfield help this winter (though some of those obviously depend on the outcome of more pressing free agent pursuits).
As notably, Hazen indicated that any trades from his big league roster would be made with an eye toward improving another area of the MLB squad. The D-backs could lose Christian Walker to free agency, for instance, leaving a potential void at first base. Hazen has already publicly indicated that he hopes to add another high-leverage reliever/closer, though Piecoro specifically calls out the fact that the D-backs aren’t likely to move multiple years of a controllable outfielder in a straight-up swap for a reliever.
Fans may speculate on the potential to effectively purchase someone like Thomas or McCarthy by taking on some or even all of the remaining $22.5MM on Jordan Montgomery’s contract. That seems overwhelmingly unlikely. Four years of either Thomas or McCarthy would surely be valued at more than the remaining $22.5MM on that contract, and even Montgomery himself would probably still command several million dollars on a bounceback deal in free agency. Taking on his contract probably amounts to somewhere in the vicinity of $15MM in underwater money, and that sum isn’t nearly enough to persuade a team to part with a controllable big league outfielder.
twozero6ix
Keep them all to have the velociraptor outfield, nothing getting between the gaps or shallow
cwsOverhaul
WSox would probably ask about hometown guy Alek Thomas as an inexpensive replacement if someone else first meets whatever asking price they have on Luis Robert.
Blackpink in the area
There is a large number of lefty hitting center fielders around the league and in the upper minors. I wouldn’t say there is a shortage of center fielders it’s more a shortage of right handed hitting center fielders.
Alek Thomas seems like a good trade candidate to me. He’s a good defender but the offense hasn’t come along like they hoped. He could keep the seat warm for a team like the White Sox and perhaps increase his trade value even as his team control decreases.
ThatsIT?
If mlb really wants to make changes to the game that would actually help, stop letting teams soak the ground right before home plate that way guys with ground ball rates with speed aren’t auto outs when they hit a ground ball straight into the ground. More hitters will try to make contact.
GMoney28
Ain’t nobody trading for that midget ground ball machine in AleKK Thomas lol
FemboySportsFan!
@Gm
You seem fun at parties.
los_leebos
Looking at Alek Thomas’s under-the-hood batting numbers, I think some launch-angle devoted FOs and coaching staffs are salivating at the potential. Excellent hard hit and exit velo rates, early minors power, decent K rate. Elite defense and baserunning, prospect pedigree. Basically one issue that can be easily and immedaitely corrected is keeping him from being a well above average regular, possibly all-star. I think a lot of FOs see a more athletic 2015 J Turner/D Murphy in the making.
MysteryWhiteBoy13
Lourdes Gurriel with Moreno added as a sweetener to get Varsho. Sounds good to me, the Jays can throw in Kirk
FemboySportsFan!
@Mystery
4.6 WAR combined for gurriel and moreno this season
daulton himself had a 5.0 WAR
as a jays fan I would rather have varsho.
jdgoat
Moreno was injured for quite a bit, but it still wouldn’t make sense for either team to do that trade again.
FemboySportsFan!
I agree
I remember being in my room sick near Christmas and seeing the trade happen, and being a little mad lol.
but varsho is honestly a pretty good player.
Rexhudler86
@blackpink. They lost grichuk, and pederson. Seems like they would want to hold on to them. As far as attaching one of them with Montgomery sounds like a overkill. They could move Monty. He might be better than the mid tier pitchers with picks attached.
cwsOverhaul
Montgomery holding out messed with his routine. He should be good again. Bet a lot of clubs would like him straight up on performance this year over paying 2-3yrs on FAs like Pivetta, Severino, etc
Rexhudler86
@cwsoverhaul. Since 2021. He’s had a sub 4 era. Pitches around 170 innings. He would be like Martinez essentially, and seems like the owner wants him gone. Probably just need to take on the contract and give them the broken soda machine
Wagner>Cobb
He’s a leading candidate for comeback for comeback player of the year. Kendrick has him pissed off too, so he could have a good year like when he leveled up after NY traded him.
This one belongs to the Reds
I could see the Reds looking at a couple.
sufferforsnakes
I would never trade McCarthy. Way too much value.
Thomas? Yes, if the deal was good enough.
Rexhudler86
@sufferforsnakes. Especially trading them to get rid of Montgomery. Pivetta,manaea, serverino will have a tough time in free agency. Montgomery is about the same age, and doesn’t have a pick attached. The contract will be easy to move.
Harrison Butker's Mount Rushmore Worthy Speech
So used washing machine, used dryer, some baseballs, hotdogs, bag of chips, boxes of cracker jacks, and a partridge in a pear tree wouldnt do it for a 0.0 WAR player?
sufferforsnakes
Depends. What brand of washer/dryer are we talking about?
Harrison Butker's Mount Rushmore Worthy Speech
Samsung or LG
sufferforsnakes
LG just might get the deal done, as long as the chips aren’t store brand.
Wagner>Cobb
If they flip one of them, adding a RH outfield bat would be sensible.
dajuba
Kristian Robinson seemed overlooked by Steve in this article, he probably could be traded for.
Blackpink in the area
Robinson had a sub 700 OPS at AA last year. Not sure why someone would want him.
Rsox
Druw Jones is around the corner and could force his way into the conversation with a good spring. D’backs will need to add a RH hitter that could potentially play some OF and 1B, especially if they lose Walker and go with Smith at 1B
dajuba
I would think calls are being fielded for him as well, another player Steve missed
Blackpink in the area
The logjam for the Diamondbacks is for left handed hitting big league outfielders who can play center not prospects. Jones is exciting but he’s not close to big league ready.
dajuba
Jorge Barrosa as well
vtadave
Jones just had a 28% K% in Low-A. He could “force his way” to High-A with a nice spring, but that’s it.
bighiggy
Would the snakes trade Mccarthy and Montgomery for helsley and fermin?
Wagner>Cobb
I don’t know that StL makes that trade unless AZ takes on most of Montgomery’s salary.
bighiggy
Helsleys due almost 10mil in arbitration, and Montgomery could be flipped at the deadline. Was thinking it would be like the cards buying Mccarthy and whatever monty brings back at the deadline(assuming he turns it around) for 12 mil. Cards get a hitting center fielder( with years of control) , and rotation depth. Snakes save 12 mil( helping to afford a first baseman), get an outstanding reliever and a utility infielder. Could work for both teams.
Wagner>Cobb
McCarthy would definitely look good in StL. The only thing is Monty blocks other young starters from getting a shot. If you trade Fedde this winter though, it makes sense. Mikolas is obviously untradeable. Matz probably is too. Having Gray and a resurgent Monty fronting the staff in this weak division could see them sneak in the playoffs tbh.
scottaz
bighiggy and Wagner Cobb
Read/reread the article and you have your answer… HE!! NO!
johncoltrane
Did caroll have sophomore slump? Power speed avg , everything went down. Slight uptick 2nd half but 1st half was miserable
highheat
I was struggling and pressing to make adjustments after reaggravating his shoulder injury last season; he was trying to find a way to consistently get to power without reinjury.
It seems in the second half that he was able to do that, but next season will determine how sticky the gains are.
johncoltrane
Still only 24 y old
But alot of elite talent underwhelmed last yr- carroll, acuna, julio, tatis. Its hard to be consistently among the best
MLB Top 100 Commenter
A question for me is which of their surplus of influencers and outfielders can play first base. If they are outbid for Christian Walker, and sign someone like Goldie to a one year deal, they need another guy who can also play 1B. Or maybe they sign Goldie and Josh Bell both dirt cheap. Hope they are able to keep Walker.
Blackpink in the area
Pavin Smith plays 1b he’s a good fit with a righty hitting 1b like Goldschmidt or Walker.
MLB Top 100 Commenter
I agree, Pavin Smith is probably the best on-house option if Walker is not re-signed
desertdawg
DBacks want to keep payroll about the same from last season. Can’t really see them signing Goldschmidt unless they strikeout from another first baseman, at 37 Goldie best year are behind him. I was looking for to try and get Nadler from Cleveland, there is Torkelson (Det), Bellinger (CHIC). There is always the free agent market, don’t see them signing Santana (37) type. Can’t really see Smith as a in house replacement for Walker. Every day that goes by the chance of resigning Walker go less. I heard the Yankees are the favorite to sign Walker at 3yrs 66million.
Jplane
Gurriel won’t be “mixing in” to the Dbacks’ outfield mix …. he was an NL Gold Glove finalist for left field. While certainly not a centerfielder, Gurriel has improved significantly in LF since arriving from Toronto. Maybe you meant Pavin Smith for Gurriel? Smith is actually in the mix for increased duty in the OF, 1B and DH.
scottaz
The Dbacks have DH covered internally. FO says Ketel Marte (SH) will get increased time at DH. Jordan Lawler (RHH) will get some time at DH, along with spelling Marte at 2b, spelling Perdomo at SS and spelling Eugenio Suarez at 3b. That will give Lawler plenty of AtBats and playing time. And Pavin Smith (LHH) will get time at DH, along with starts at 1b and OF.
scottaz
So, the only question is who will play 1b?
Unless the Dbacks offer Christian Walker 4-years/$70M ($20M/$20M/$15M/$15M), which they can afford to do, I can see the Dbacks signing Goldy or Santana to platoon at 1b with Pavin Smith (LHH) batting against RH pitching.