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
Even if it means they can’t get Suarez, the Yankees can’t turn loose Warren and/or Shlittler considering the many injuries to the rotation.
Dbacks would have to give one of Gallen/Kelly, Suarez, and Guriell to even have a shot at Horton.
Cubs also have Ben Brown and Jordan Wicks. Sure, they’ve had their struggles at the big league level, but are still young enough that they turn things around.
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
Me..who is the one complaining about moves Marbers have made or don’t make.
Let’s hope of they do we got that year from him again.
It’s gonna come down to cost..rental. His strikeouts and average is my issue. HR was great but what will long-term cost be.
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.
My only hesitation on agreeing 100% here is that Hazen’s worst trade returns (whether by actual value or fan perception) are the ones where he is selling. However, it has been a few years, so perhaps this season he can rewrite that part of his legacy.
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.
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!
Have you seen the Cubs’ 3B production? It’s nonexistent. Geno is obviously the top rental 3B on the market and it’s not close. He’d be a great upgrade for two months in Chicago.
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.
Gasser is out on a rehab assignment and should be back by August and September. Brewers would probably love to find a way into their to 5. It you have to give to get and they’ll have plenty of competition for the asset.
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
Gonna keep putting it out there until the deadline is over. Not hurtin’ nothin’. Except maybe your feelings.
Anyone can get traded if the other team likes the package. If you dont ask you dont know! There a package out there that can get you any player. Julio Rodriguez could get traded for the right package. I’m sure lots of people said Juan Soto would never be traded.
You dont know if you dont ask. The Tigers got Miguel Cabrera by asking. Of course there’s a cautionary tale there since the return to the Marlins turned into magic beans 😉
There was an article the other day listing a trade proposal for Skenes with the Tigers giving up Clark, McGonigle, Jobe, Keith and one more I forget because it blows my mind every time I think about it. Now that is a trade the Tigers would have to be on crack to make!
I’d love to see a crazy trade for an “untouchable” star this year. A.J. Preller…that’s your cue 😉
Delusional dreamers like Baby Blue don’t even read the article. Dbacks controllable players are NOT for sale. This isn’t a complete rebuild. Not happening.
Hazen might trade 1 or 2 expiring contracts, but this won’t be a fire sale. Naylor will be the first to go because there is enough depth at 1b to cover that trade. It’s not high quality depth, but it’s depth.
Anyone else traded will have to be for an eye popping overpay type return, or it just won’t happen. If you have an untouchable young pitcher and you want Gallen, Kelly or Suarez, you will either lose your untouchable or you won’t be trading with the Dbacks. It’s as simple as that. All you dreamers rationalizing that the Dbacks will take your bag of peanuts type trade to get one of those 3, are just delusional!
Speculation, Scottaz. The author isn’t the GM. It’s all speculation. Is Corbin being traded, highly unlikely. I get it. It’s also stupid to keep elite talent if you can’t surround him and Marte with the pieces to get over the hump. Since they’re behind 3 legit teams, it’s time to read the writing on the wall. Mediocrity is where GM’s go to die.
“It’s also stupid to keep elite talent if you can’t surround him and Marte with the pieces to get over the hump.”
Last I checked, Arizona is about the only “mid-market” team actually spending to surround their in-house talent with quality players to make a championship roster. Josh Naylor, Geno Suarez, Corbin Burnes. Injuries happen and next year there will be another 1B and ideally Lawlar for 3B. Your point applies to teams like Milwaukee and Seattle, not Arizona (currently)…
As to the larger point that Scottaz posted, I disagree. I think all expiring contracts except Gallen get traded with Kelly and Geno bringing back intriguing(ish) pieces and the others being underwhelming because deadline deals are usually disappointing until some random lottery ticket makes it big 4 years later. Gallen is the most likely to stay because the return won’t justify the loss of a QO pick. Personally, I’d go farther and include 2026 free agents as well since all the Kaplan TJS guys are unlikely to be back at full strength until April 2027. Maximize now and hope the core keeps you competitive enough until that 2027 window.
I agree with you. No one is giving up an “untouchable pitcher” for Kelly, Fallen or Suarez. Arizona should get nice pieces for them but there is no Chase Burns or Bubba Chandler coming back their way. If Arizona wants young pitching, and they badly need it, then why not shop Carroll for a haul from a yeam like Seattle or Cincinnatti who have a ton of wicked young pitchers and bats to replace him.
@Motor. There’s no logic in selling Carroll. He’s a face of the franchise, controlled on a team friendly deal and the single biggest success story of the last decade for the team. Even if they got 2 MLB rotation quality pitchers for him, they’ve diluted their lineup to a point that it would be a wash at best. To say nothing of the fact that there isn’t a team with the pieces to make a Carroll deal happen. Even the Soto return would be light considering his contract.
Someone like Gurriel or one of the intriguing bullpen arms with some control fits your idea (not the return, but the overarching concept). But players like Perdomo, Carroll and Marte are all under control beyond the new 2027 target.
There is always logic to trading someone in the right deal. You wouldn’t take Gore, Abrams, Wood and Hassell for Carroll? Really? Thst is what the Soto deal was and it was a haul? I like Carroll but he is not Soto. The heart says no but the head says yes to that deal. Do ibthink they will trade him? He’ll no…unless someone makes an offer they can’t resist. Let’s sat Cincy offers Lowder,Burns, Stewart and Collier or Petty. You dont think a GM would at least consider that?
@Motor. Carroll is controlled through 2031 at less than $14M/yr until 2029. It then doubles to remain under $30M per year. So no, I would not take the 2025 equivalent of Gore, Wood, Abrams and Hassell. That was for 2.5 years of a premium player who made half of Carroll’s remaining guaranteed money in two seasons. I’d much rather have 85% of Soto for 3 times as long at a significantly reduced rate. Prospects are great and certainly have their place for any team and in deals. But the odds of hitting huge on multiple prospects in a single deal make me prefer the established superstar. Maybe in 2028/9 I’d be more willing to listen on a Soto-esque deal for Carroll.
Everyone is stunned by the incredible string of major injuries to the Dbacks pitching staff this year, but just because those injuries sidetracked the Dbacks’ aspirations to compete deep into the playoffs in 2025, doesn’t mean the Dbacks must tear the whole team down and start a complete rebuild.
That is the mistaken premise most posters come from when they dream about scavenging talent from this team. The most ludicrous scavenge comments involve players like Carroll, Marte, Perdomo and Burns who are under long term contracts, and aren’t going anywhere.
Spencer made a good point above when he said any trade for Gallen must include a better return than the QO process. Same goes for Suarez. And Kelly probably can’t get a huge, long term deal in FA because of his age, so I still maintain that the most likely scenario is that the Dbacks resign him. That leaves only Naylor as a logical trade candidate. For the other 3, a trade will only happen for any one of them if the return is substantial. And since there are multiple suitors for all of them, I think Hazen will wait for bidding wars to drive up the return, and if a bidding war doesn’t happen, then Hazen will just keep them.
I like your thought process, but I don’t see the team following it. Suarez and Kelly can net mediocre-good prospects even without a bidding war, so that’s probably better than watching them dry up the 2026 free agent money by accepting QOs (which seems likely for both since Suarez would have a down market with it attached and Kelly would nearly double his net worth by accepting and still have a good change at a multi year free agent deal after). Naylor will reject the offer and see little issue in his market for the decision, so that’s some math to decide on for Hazen. And Gallen is a toss up but likely accepts a QO right now. The team is probably willing to pay that since it’s basically just reallocating the Montgomery money for an extra year in a low risk, huge reward move.
As an ardent Diamondbacks fan, I’m bracing for a month that ends with some disappointment. That’s ok. It’s true to form for what we’ve been given this whole year. Potential that doesn’t click. Maybe 2026 will be better, but my eye is on 2027.
Pittsburgh has young pitching, who does DBacks trade? Young good hitters?
So the DBacks are Matthew McConaughey, targeting the young ones? Awright, awright alright