The Diamondbacks enter the unofficial second half of the season with a 47-50 record that has them buried by 11 games in the NL West and sitting 5.5 games out of the final NL Wild Card spot (with four teams to leapfrog to get there). General manager Mike Hazen said two weeks ago that he hopes the team puts him in a position to buy at the trade deadline. The team has gone 4-8 since he made those comments. FanGraphs gives the Diamondbacks just a 10.2% chance to make the postseason. Baseball Prospectus is ever so slightly more charitable at 11.3%. The D-backs open the second half with a three-game series against a 51-46 Cardinals team. They follow that with three against a last-place Pirates squad but then face a pair of first-place clubs — Tigers, Astros — in the final stretch leading to the trade deadline.
Suffice it to say, the outlook for 2025 isn’t great. Hazen spoke with Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic at this week’s All-Star festivities and acknowledged that the Snakes “are running out of time” and that they would “need to play pretty exceptional” baseball to get back into a buy position prior to the deadline. Hazen also conceded that he’s been fielding inquiries from clear buyers already but naturally wouldn’t commit one way or another when asked about his willingness to make a move well ahead of the July 31 deadline.
[Related: Arizona Diamondbacks Trade Deadline Outlook]
Arizona isn’t short on marketable assets, even if the goal is to hang onto players controlled beyond the current season. Corner infielders Eugenio Suárez and Josh Naylor would be two of the best bats on the market. Suárez was plunked on the hand in last night’s All-Star Game but remained in the contest. Postgame x-rays were negative. Randal Grichuk would be a nice role player for a team looking for a right-handed bat with a long track record versus lefties.
On the pitching side of things, Zac Gallen has struggled all season but has an excellent track record. He looked to be turning a corner with terrific starts on July 1 and 7 (combined 13 innings with one run on 10 hits and a 19-to-1 K/BB ratio) before being rocked for six runs in his final start prior to the break. Merrill Kelly (3.34 ERA in 116 frames) has been strong all season, though, as have relievers Jalen Beeks and Shelby Miller. Both Beeks and Miller are on the injured list — the latter due to a forearm strain on which he is ominously seeking a second opinion. If one or both returns in timely fashion, they’d be obvious trade targets for clubs seeking affordable bullpen help.
It’s at least possible the Diamondbacks will listen on more controllable players. They’re reportedly listened on their outfield depth. Corbin Carroll isn’t going anywhere, but each of Alek Thomas, Jake McCarthy, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Grichuk could hold varying levels of appeal.
If the D-backs do end up as a seller, which seems likely, Piecoro suggests they’ll prioritize adding pitching they can control beyond the current season. That’s only logical with Corbin Burnes facing a lengthy recovery from Tommy John surgery and both Kelly and Gallen hitting free agency at season’s end. Lefties Blake Walston and Tommy Henry also had UCL surgeries this season — Walston in March, Henry in June. Young righty Cristian Mena is on the 60-day IL due to a shoulder strain. The injury problems extend to the bullpen, where top relievers Justin Martinez and A.J. Puk had Tommy John surgery just last month.
Looking ahead to the Diamondbacks’ 2026 rotation mix, they’ll have Brandon Pfaadt, Eduardo Rodriguez and Ryne Nelson all locked into spots. The former two have struggled to ERAs north of 5.00 this season. Nelson has a 3.68 ERA in 78 1/3 innings. Other in-house options, like 24-year-old righty Yilber Diaz (one of their top prospects entering the season) and 27-year-old Bryce Jarvis, have had nightmare seasons in Triple-A. Diaz currently has an ERA north of 11.00.
Given the broad-reaching slate of injuries and departing free agents, it’s sensible to focus on pitching help to the extent possible. That doesn’t mean the D-backs will turn away offers that include enticing young hitters to take on lesser pitchers, but if two packages of comparable quality are offered up, the D-backs seem likely to favor one that skews toward the pitching side of things.
Of course, the D-backs needn’t focus entirely on rebuilding their staff in the next two weeks. They have nearly $75MM in salary set to come off the books via free agency and could save further money via trades in the next two weeks. Their arbitration class isn’t large, and one of their most notable arbitration salaries (Puk) could come off the books via non-tender. His UCL surgery was just last month, and 2026 is Puk’s final season of club control. There should be ample space — and need — to pursue help both in the rotation and the bullpen this offseason.
Yankees: Schlittler, Warren
Mariners: Evans, Hancock, Sloan
Cubs: Horton, Birdsell
Mariners would never trade Sloan and Cubs wouldn’t trade Horton.
Sloan being untouchable is a stretch
You’re right, not for rentals. Would need to be players with multiple years of control, which the Snakes don’t have/aren’t offering. My bad.
No chance Cubs are trading Horton and likely not Birdsell for anything the D’backs have to offer. Now, maybe Wicks/Assad, controllable, young pitching with MLB experience plus sweeteners, but that’s probably only for a Suarez plus Kelly type deal.
If any team I could see it could be the Cubs, Mariners and Yankees possibly overpaying for any player or players. Mainly because the Cubs were not expected to be this good, and to almost not get to the World Series I would not think the Cub fans would be real happy if they did not make that one deal by not going all in, and the Brewers did. and got the player the Cubs wanted, and the Brewers went to the WS.
Oh I don’t disagree, but that would be for a starter with multiple years of control like Cabrera in MIA or Bubic, etc. Not for Gallen who’s had a handful of good starts and free agent. I could see it for a combo Suarez and Kelly, but again both free agents so they probably have to chose b/w Caissie or a young starting pitcher as the headliner not both IMO. Obviously would be other pieces, but not at that level.
I agree with ya, but you know when you are going for the ring, sometimes a GM says we have to pay the piper to get where want to be in November. It’s happened before.
Sell Birdsell for a Birdsong
Someone’s gotta sell the song
Now do Reds
That’s too much from the Mariners for a rental.
Only Hancock is worth a rental since Evans and Sloan/cjinje are around top 100
Dbags Naylor / geno
GOMs Hancock/ Logan Evansss’ss’s/Garver/Moore
Williamson bumps to utility
4 outlfield options Julio , Randy, Canzone, Raley
Tigers have Hamm and Melton.
Too bad it isn’t Melton, Provolone and Hamm… I’m hungry now, thanx Bummer!
Add some Paul Dejong mustard on a sesame seed Jim Bunning and lunch is served
Dbacks would have to give one of Gallen/Kelly, Suarez, and Guriell to even have a shot at Horton.
They could use a guy like Slade Cecconi
Not sure he would’ve developed there. Also cecconi’s HR issues are especially tough in the desert.
I think he’s in the right spot. Naylor should fetch them something interesting though.
Call Jerry DiPoto or Justin Hollander at 1-800-DOIT
I believe most teams want to go after great young, controllable pitchers.
Suarez and naylor are perfect fits for mariners and we have more than enough young pitching that we won’t use to give up
Suarez was not a perfect fit before. Low average and high strike out numbers. Why would be different this time?
Suarez’s first year was absolutely a perfect fit. He was a key member that helped Seattle get to the playoffs.
How can you call yourself a mariner fan and deem that Suarez was not a good fit
We wouldn’t have made the playoffs in 2022 without him good vibes only helped a lot
Just like last season trade deadline, it’s how bad you want pitching. I believe when it comes to it, one or more teams will overpay.
As for Suarez when you have 4 or 5 teams being talked about every day on where Suarez will end up, just too many rumors not for one of them to be true. The way the D’Back pitchers are dropping like flies I can see them going for nothing but pitching that is very controllable. Hazen will hold out for best offer.
Finally, a comment that makes sense.
Clarke Schmit!
Suarez will be so highly coveted that a bidding war could get them a decent overpay. Same with Kelly.
Not sure why any smart team would overbid for Suarez who is a rental, is below average defensively, strikes out too much, and is streaky. Yes he has big power and he’s been a run producer but he’s also 33yo and again a rental who has too many question marks. I don’t think he’s going to go to cubs or Yankees and be the huge changing force in the lineup especially when teams like the Yankees need more contact and less strikeout. I would look towards Arenado if I was Yankees or Cubs.
How can a rental have too many question marks? Suarez is currently only one of five players with 30+ HRs. Knocking him over his strikeouts is kind of silly with his overall productive bat. I would take Suarez and his lesser defense over a 34 y.o. Arenado and the many millions owed to him over two plus seasons. He also has NTC so doubt the Cards will move him at the TD.
Arenado is cooked. Sub 700 ops but cardinals fans still throat him in trade talks. His ops is the same as masyn winns and they still act like he’s a desirable piece for a contender.
It really shows how dumb cardinals fans are.
Edit:sorry his ops is actually lower than winn’s
That’s just how bad the Mariners and Yankees need a 3B though. He’s not the best in the league anymore but Arenado’s defense is still stop tier though.
You target Suarez because he’s the best option available at the deadline. His last ~162 game stat line is peak of his career. All your negatives are accurate, but don’t compare to the way he’s playing right now, in 2025. I don’t know what team ends up with him, but the return will be impressive because he’s the best bat available, and he plays good defense at a premium position of need for contenders.
No team wants the rest of Arenado’s contract and St Louis isn’t going to pay it down most likely. Pushing more teams into the Suarez bidding war. In Arenado you would be extravagantly overpaying for a name, whereas in Suarez you’re overpaying for a legit bat that could be the World Series MVP.
Spencer
THIS!
Shelby Miller was having a great season, was a prime candidtate for a trade that couldd have brought back a good prospect.
Is Gabby expected back? Not a guy I’d trade due to his ability to control the running game and not mention his plus bat. But with del Castillo and mcann as back up, the return for Gabby could net something pretty good.
Del Castillo is a negative on the run game, has no arm for behind the plate, his plus is the bat. I could honesty see Del Castillo as a DH, maybe switching to being a PT first base man.
They need to find a way to deal both McCarthy and Thomas so they will stop playing them and finally move on. McCarthy finished last year looking like he figured it out, but just a mirage. What was once thought to be one of the best crops of OF prospects in the league didn’t really pan out. Carrol is a beast, but the rest fell flat. Druw Jones is not looking good in A+ and is already 21, Waldschmidt looks like he may be a positionless and as far as Caldwell, can you really get lucky with tow tiny guys? Bit no matter how you feel about them, it’s time to clear the deck to find out what you got. Waldschmidt isn’t walking as much yet in AA but otherwise hasn’t struggled. Turning 23 in October, it’s time to bring him up for the end of the year and for next year.
The Brewers have a rotation in AAA that compares better than some MLB teams. I see Eugenio Suárez in a Crew uni comes 8/1. With him batting 4th in our line up, not only will we make it out of the first round, we could take the train all the way to the World Series.
That makes a lot of sense. The way balls fly out of American Family Field, Suarez would mash there. I just hope the announcers don’t call him Gino.
Something centered around Suarez Afro Gasser?
I think Gasser is still rehabbing from TJ surgery. Myers, Patrick, Rodriguez, Henderson, are available. Cooper Pratt is having an off year but still has plenty of potential. Him and a pitcher would be a good start to a package they can’t refuse.
They can have Dane Dunning and Luke Jackson from Texas.
I don’t think the Cubs match up with the D-backs. They surely wouldn’t trade Birdsell or Wiggins or Horton, and I doubt the D-backs would be interested in those confirmed mediocrities, Wicks and Assad, who probably are available.
Bryan Balser and Henry Cruz for E. Suarez straight up
Who the heck are those guys???
Padres need an outfielder not Suarez. They could use both McCarthy and Grichuk.
Too light of a package.
3 war and 146 OPS+ will cost more than that.
Plus only place Padres have to put him is DH which they need a LF more than a DH.
Sheets can move back to DH but Padres should be targeting Red Sox OFs
I’m still intrigued by the idea of the padres getting Abreu or Rafaela, taking Yoshidas contract which frees up 18.6 mill in 26 and 18.6 mill in 27 for the Red Sox, and next year putting Sheets at 1B, Yoshida at DH, and Abreu or Rafaela in LF.
Neither one of those guys is a Padre.
I assume he means Humberto Cruz and and Balzer. Which likely gets outbid because it doesn’t provide the Dbacks with any pitcher close to the MLB.
Sorry, was in a bar drinking, but I meant Henry Baez and Balzer. Braden Nett? Hate to part with Mayfield or Bateman. Bergert?
Let’s not forget the Mariners traded Suarez to the Diamondbacks. I doubt they trade for him back.
You must not pay attention to the idiocy that is the Mariners organization.
Dbacks should put up a trade to NY offering Suarez and Kelly for Schlittler, Spencer Jones, and Karr.
Better be a special week from them because gm should be looking to sell. Lots of expiring contracts that need to be moved. Buying would be a huge mistake unless they get to a game or 2 out and then kinda have to I guess.
Trade Corbin Carroll to Seattle for a hefty pick of their touted farm system. Just trading rental pieces for mid to low tier players isn’t going to help this club compete with three teams ahead of them. I get the last thing you want to do is trade Corbin, but living in mediocrity won’t help. Sneaking into the playoffs then getting lucky to get to the playoffs two seasons ago is a double edged sword. Don’t count on that strategy. Retool and plan for greatness 2-4 years from now. Seattle has the top prospects for it.
Baby
You posted the same thing a couple days ago.
Same response: Dream on