The Diamondbacks remain a sub-.500 baseball team with just days to go until the trade deadline. They’re ten games back of the Dodgers in the NL West and six games out of a playoff spot, leaving them with minimal hope of a miracle run back into postseason contention. As a result, they’ve turned their attention more fully towards selling with deals that shipped Josh Naylor to Seattle and Randal Grichuk to Kansas City in the past week. That sell-off only figures to get more substantial from here, and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic suggested over the weekend that after initially resisting the idea of trading both Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly in the coming days the pair could both be pitching for other teams in August if the club receives strong enough return packages for them.
As the team’s downward trajectory in the standings has continued, the value in keeping one of Gallen or Kelly around in the second half has diminished considerably due to the lack of a realistic path to the postseason. Still, either one would receive and reject a Qualifying Offer this winter if retained, allowing the Diamondbacks to recoup value in the form of draft pick compensation. Additionally, Rosenthal suggests that Arizona brass is concerned about the club’s pitching depth if it were to lose both Gallen and Kelly from the fold. Given that, the Diamondbacks would need to not only receive more than the value of the draft pick they could recoup over the winter to move their two starters, but also enough to make up for the additional strain on their rotation.
That the Diamondbacks would at least consider trading both Gallen and Kelly makes sense. After all, Fangraphs projects them for a meager 5.4% chance at the postseason entering today, and with a core of talent still in place to help bring the club back into contention for 2026 and beyond augmenting those years ought to be the club’s priority. It’s understandable, however, that Arizona is looking at its group of injured pitchers (including Corbin Burnes, A.J. Puk, and Justin Martinez) and the strain losing reliable arms like Gallen and Kelly would put on their remaining healthy arms with some trepidation. That’s why the club is already reportedly targeting young pitching this summer, and it stands to reason that if the Diamondbacks can land a big-league ready starting pitcher or two who can be reliably plugged into their rotation to eat innings down the stretch, that would go a long way to convincing them to part with their veteran rentals.
As noted by Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic, GM Mike Hazen acknowledged over the weekend that he was receiving “strong interest” in both of his rental starters. That’s hardly a shock, as both Kelly and Gallen have an argument as the best rental pitcher available. Kelly has pitched to a 3.22 ERA with solid peripherals this year that’s consistent with his status as a solid #2 starter, while Gallen is in the midst of a down season but has shown ace upside in the past with third-, fifth-, and ninth-place finishes in NL Cy Young voting over the years. Both pitchers offer solid enough track records of success in the postseason as well, something that other intriguing rentals like Dylan Cease and his 12.91 career ERA in the postseason cannot boast, though Kelly’s excellent 2.25 career ERA in the playoffs shines much brighter than the 4.54 figure of Gallen.
Interest in starting pitching in general is strong league wide this year, so it’s hardly a shock that Gallen and Kelly are no exception to that. The Blue Jays and Cubs are among the teams to have been directly connected to at least one of Kelly or Gallen at this point, but a number of other teams are known to be on the prowl for a starter. That includes the Yankees and Giants, both of whom appear to be prioritizing rotation help, although other clubs like the Padres, Tigers, Mets, Red Sox, and Astros all also expected to be at least somewhat involved in the rotation market. With so many teams looking for starters, it seems likely that the Diamondbacks will have plenty of intriguing offers for their pair of veteran hurlers that they can sort through in the coming days.
Merrill Kelly to the Cubs would make me so happy
Snakes on a plane – wasn’t that a movie?!
One of the greatest pieces of cinema ever made.
Gallen and Kelly should go to the Braves. They have no one left from their opening day starting rotation.
The Braves aren’t remotely good this year and are selling at the deadline? How does this make any sense?
As a reds fan, me too lol. Y’all need an ace !
Don’t fall asleep Yankees, and not acquire Gallen. Not a great year, but definitely a great pitcher.
Why would one expect him to be suddenly better? I don’t know why a team would give AZ something more than the value of a 2026 pick in the 30s. Just look at his last few games. He’s a rental. However, because his overall body of work is very good, it means he probably would not accept the qualifying offer, and AZ gets that draft pick, which could be a very good college pitcher not far from being MLB ready. I mean, if a team offers AZ a pitcher that is MLB ready that was or has been a highly regarded draft pick, I guess that is a more immediate fix. I’d prefer to scout and pick my favorite out of the available in that range, personally.
@murphy8- Really, you wouldn’t rather have Zac Gallen instead? I know Kelly has had a better year. Let’s Go Cubies!!!
99Captain: I agree. I always enjoy a good square team.
@avenger65- as always a great sense of humor, my friend. It’s hip to be square!
Between the two rentals, Kelly has been so much better, and the Cubs wouldn’t bring either back after the season, so yes I will Take Kelly
@murphy8- the most important question will Kyle Tucker resign with the Cubs? What do you think, & how much? Thnx
I’m not as confident as MLBTR that Kelly is gonna reject a QO. Don’t see him demanding 23 mil over multiple seasons w a losss picked tied to him
What does the latter have to do with rejecting a QO? QO offers are for one year, and generally speaking if you can attract more than that amount of money somewhere else, even if over multiple years, that’s a better deal. As good as he’s pitching this year he’d reject that offer in a microsecond.
The latter is mentioned as it is a variable on if a team’s value on signing said player because there are significant penalties, especially for large market and lux tax violators. It does not mean he can’t get a better deal on the open market, but at his age, Big whiffa was making a decent observation. He said he’s not as confident as MLBTR is putting it, that it would be a done deal.
Normally a guy doesn’t need to get $23M over multiple seasons to reject the QO. 3/$54M, 0r 4/$60M is less than the $23M AAV, but still preferred since there’s more security in the longer deals. Even 2/$40M would be better.
That said I tend to agree that he might not reject the QO since he’ll be 37 next season. Does Kelly merit an offer of 3, or 4 years that would extend to his age 4o or 41 season? If he felt he could get 2/$40M he might reject it though.
I heard early this morning that the Tigers are ready for Suarez, Gallen, Kelly and possibly another player to walk into the Tigers clubhouse sometime during the three-game series with the D’Backs..
Yeah, I heard it’ll only take Colt Keith for all three
Did you hear this from a reputable source, and hear what the corresponding moves might be?
I heard this on the morning show of a AZ sports radio show, but I took this as what happen how Gricuck was traded to the Royals during the D’Back/Pirate game Saturday night when he was traded during the 5th inning.
Well book it then. We all know sports talk radio is the most reliable source of info there is.
I like Keith a lot, but he lacks the power to play first or third. Not sure how he fits in Arizona
McGonigle and Clark for Kelly and Suarez and Gallen
Kelly, Gallen, Gurriell, Suarez should all be traded for sure. Then this offseason the manager needs to go and they should consider trading Marte.
I think there is a 20% percentage chance Marte could be dealt by Thursday’s deadline from what I’m hearing on AZ local sports radio station.
There would be riots outside the stadium demanding they sell the team if they traded Ketel.
I think you may be surprised. His lack of caring is starting to wear on a lot of us.
Just saying the president of the team said in an interview recently talking about Marte being an untouchable that they would have to consider a trade if they were overwhelmed in the return. They would not want to do it but again if they were overwhelmed by the return, they would have to consider it. He also said they have teams calling on everyone including Marte, and when a team asked what it would take in a trade, and we tell them. Well let’s just say they ask about someone else, so there is a chance.
Im not saying there isn’t a chance he gets traded, just saying the fan base would have fits about it. It would have to be a Soto type return but even then I’m still not sure it would be enough, only because he’s signed for awhile and the return probably won’t be measurable for 2-4 seasons.
We all know how the Mookie Betts trade turned out. Luckily for the Red Sox they have enough budget to dig themselves out of a hole that size. The Dbacks don’t have that luxury unfortunately.
Totally agree it would have to be a return that really moves this team forward in a big way. But at 32 and a history of injuries how much more does Marte have to give to the D’Backs. I don’t see the front office just trading Marte to trade him.
It will not be a Soto type return.
Why not? Soto at the time had 1 1/2 years left on his contract when the Padres traded for him.
Ketel is signed through his 38 year old season. He has been MVP caliber for 2-3 seasons at this point and should absolutely bring in 2-3 top 50 prospects. Makes no sense why he wouldn’t net a HUGE return for Dbacks.
I still say they don’t trade him. He means too much for the organization and the fans.
Marte and Soto aren’t a good comp. Marte is 8 years older than Soto when he was traded. Marte has a career 121 OPS+. Soto’s career OPS+ is 160. Marte’s best season is the current one. His OPS+ is 160. Soto has had 3 seasons better than that with a 217, a 179, and a 175. The return for Marte would be good, but nowhere near Soto’s.
I do agree they shouldn’t trade him. There’s still enough young talent on that team to be competitive in the near future.
How about a trade for Emmanuel Clase, or Jordan Romano?
Does he know???
He doesn’t know
Florida
I’ll “bet” you can get Clase cheap, yeah, I’d bet on that.
After the PED suspension, and this morning’s news, isn’t that No-Trade Cla(u)se?
Is their 26 plan going to be Corbin Carroll and his baseball playing friends?
What do you mean? Both of them are on expiring contracts and free agents this offseason. They won’t be on the team next year anyway.
Not just them but all of the names they have been throwing out there.
Suarez is also a free agent at the end of the year. Same with Naylor.
Arizona was going to be facing a lot of roster turnover no matter how they approached the deadline.
All of the names being thrown out there are contract year guys. Naylor and Grichuk that are already gone were one year left guys. Gallen, Kelly, and Suarez are free agents this year as well. The only names I’ve see being thrown out there that aren’t are Gurriel and Marte. Any trade for Marte they would be getting back a current good MLB contributor.
All the young guys are under control for several years.
Totally agree DG the D’Backs were not going to resign all these FA”s, they were going to have to reset this roster for 26, and with no Burnes, Martinez coming back fully until 2027, 2026 will have to be a retool and rebuild year.
Team needs a new manager desperately I think everyone sees that and I will say it again Marte is wearing thin on a lot of people.
Asking for a day off last year in the final week during the stretch run to the playoffs. He then instead of returning to Arizona after the all star game when his house was robbed to handle that situation he flew home to the DR for a couple days on vacation and then cane back to Arizona. He then proceeds to takes the first three game back to handle the house issue when the season is going on.
Maybe I am crazy but if I was his teammate that would drive me insane. .500 ball club that the first 7-10 games out of the break will determine weather or not several of his teammates are traded and the organization waves the white flag or if they go on a little run and Hazen can buy a small piece or two and try to make the playoffs. His priority is himself and not the team. Sets a bad example when the best player shows that.
Also the most inspired baseball the dbacks played all year were the 3 games he was away says something.
Could not have said it better.
More than likely he would not have been mentally into the games if he forced himself to be there. His thoughts and focus would have been elsewhere. It’s very likely the same outcome would have occurred either way.
Bro what are you talking about? His house was robbed on July 15th. He managed to hit a 2 run double in the first inning of the all start game on July 16th just fine. From there he managed to go on vacation to the DR on the 17th and 18th just fine. But his head wouldn’t have been in the regular season games his teammates needed him for so they don’t get traded away from their families for the next 3 months. Lol okay man I figured he would have been a grown up and handled the situation on his 2 off days and showed up for his teammates like most other serious pro athletes would have but what do I know.
How dare he take a mental health break after he was harassed on the field about his dead mother and had his house broken into, which the team/league should be protecting. Tell me you don’t care about the humans that play for your team without telling me you don’t care about the humans that play for your team.
Yea, good call, bud. Here’s your dunce cap 🙄
Please note, real masculine manly men don’t cry or take days off work. That goes against everything this country stands for. Thank you for your attention to this matter.
If he needed a mental health break why did he play in the all star game lol? You maybe have a point about a mental health break except he was on a break. He had 3 days to take mental health break and recover and what did he choose to do? He chose to play in a baseball game that has no relevance to him or his team. This has nothing to do with needing days off it’s about him choosing to play in the exhibition game and then use real games as his break. He obviously wasn’t that mentally cut up about it because he played the day after it happened. Also for context he requested the Sunday before the break off too. So playing 3 innings in the all star game matters so much that he needed a rest day before he went. Y’all are so soft if you’re actually defending this.
First, who the hell are you to decide when he needs mental health help? He and the team made the determination that the request was warranted and the team gave him the time off. You think you know better than they do?
Second, it may just be “an exhibition game” to you, but fans spend their hard earned time and money to show up and watch them play. It’s a fun day for the sport and one that MLB puts pressure on players to play in, to grow the game. Marte was voted in and felt like it was the right thing to do to play.
Third, it wasn’t that “he obviously wasn’t that mentally cut up about it because he played the day after…” His house was broken into during the All Star game. Like, while he was getting 2 RBI hit off the best pitcher in the world in the first inning, some criminals were breaking into his home.
Fourth, it’s not soft to ask for help with your health. Opinions like that are why people, particularly men, have avoided seeking help. People like you make it worse because your ill informed and have no concept of what mental health actually is and why it’s as important as a player’s physical health.
It sure does. Maybe that’s why things are so bad right now.
You know who else pays hard earned money? The dbacks fans and dbacks season ticket holders. And they are also the only ones that would care at all if he did have a mental health crisis and had to be away from the team. You know who wouldn’t care the fans for other teams or the rich people that can afford to go to the all star game which according to yahoo sports the average ticket price is $1,100. Yeah 98% that went to that game would have had any care in the world if he played in the game or not. Every team and fan from every team would want their players to sit out the all star game if they needed to then sit out 4 straight games that actually matter.
His house was broken into and then after it he went on vacation to the DR for two days before coming home. I’m sorry that I expect at 32 year old man to instead of going on vacation go home and deal with the burglary of his house like any normal man with responsibilities would have to.
It’s not soft to ask for help you are right but it is soft to request off days the last week of the season when your team is fighting for a playoff spot which is what he did last year in the Giants series. A game his team lost and if they had won would have made the playoffs. It is soft when your team is fighting to stay in the playoff hunt so your teammates don’t get traded away form their wives and kids to ask for rest day before the all star break to pre pare for the all star game. Those things are definitely soft.
I had this whole long response written out, then I realized…you’re an idiot. So, I won’t waste my time, especially when after your faux anger is proved wrong (you said “he played in the all star game after his house was broken into” which is factually incorrect) you simply ignore that and move on to the next ridiculous thing that comes out of your brain.
Have the life you truly deserve, bud.
I’m not saying anybody is lying but I myself have not found any verification so far that Marte went to DR on vacation for two days. Even if that part is legit I can see it as taking a breather with his family (I assume he has kids & a wife) who are likely shaken up and on edge from their home being ransacked by hoodlums. But on top of everything else, if your season hinges on needing to win those three games or else, well you know the team is in pretty bad shape (and likely wouldn’t have made a difference anyways.) Look I’m sorry the Dbacks didn’t make it in, if it wasn’t for the horrible pitching injuries you guys would be right in it. No question.
@Ignorant Son-of-a-b You are a better person than I am for spelling it out for him like he needs his hand held.
You also have the life you deserve (which is to say have a good one!).
i want kelly on the yankees so i can pretend the schitt’s creek mayor is dealing
Rumors are the name of the game at this time of year. Even if they’re made up/
Open?? Aren’t they both gonna walk at the end of the season? Seems like you have to trade them unless you’re looking to extend, which I don’t see.
So, both will end up in Toronto… Toronto’s going to win the WS with pitching and defense. Look out $1 Trillion dollar Dodgers!
Suarez and Gallen to Seattle for: Hancock, Williamson. They can pick 2 of the 25-50 tanks. Maybe more not 100% sure of the value. They get a 4-5 pitcher a starting 3rd bm both MLB ready.
I’d politely decline if I were the Dbacks. I’m not sure Hancock is much more than a #5 or mid relief pitcher. Not sure they want or need a player of Williamson’s quality.
.596 OPS in 270 AB in majors, .750 OPS in minors career. Not much of a bat there.
So few aces, so many prospects/suspects.
Arizona started the year as one of the most interesting teams to watch. Now they are the most interesting team at the deadline.
Didn’t think they’d be in this position but I’m very curious to see how it plays out.
Another Zac from Arizona to Houston.
One thing these articles never mention when they discuss teams giving a QO to players is that small market teams struggle to afford them, when the player accepts the offer. And give Kelly’s age and Gallen’s down season either could accept or even both. If both accepted the QO the D-Backs would be screwed
Gallen will take the $23 million. All his numbers are career worst across the board. Zac would sit until mid-March and then sign a one year deal for $8 million.