The Diamondbacks are still stuck in that awkward middle ground every front office dreads this time of year. They’re not buried, but they’re not exactly charging either.
And with the Trade Deadline set for Aug. 3, Arizona’s next few weeks could decide whether GM Mike Hazen adds to the roster or starts moving pieces out.
Hazen made clear earlier this month that his preference is to push for a run, not retreat from one.
"What I want to do and what I'm gonna do may not work in concert with each other," Hazen said earlier this month. "I want this team to make a deep run in the pennant race and into the playoffs, and we're going to need to add players to do that.
I say this every year, I don't really feel like I'm going to make that decision. I feel like that decision is going to get handed to me one way or another from the guys down there [in the clubhouse]."
That’s the tension hanging over Arizona right now. Last season, the club came out of the break with a slightly worse record and the same sense of urgency, only for everything to unravel.
The Diamondbacks won their first three games of the second half, then dropped nine of the next 10. Hazen ended up dealing Josh Naylor, Eugenio Suárez, Randal Grichuk and Merrill Kelly.
Nobody in that clubhouse wants a repeat of that kind of slide, and Corbin Carroll said the group is very aware of the line between urgency and forcing the issue.
"I think it's the balance of moving with urgency and just having urgency, but at the same time not trying to force [things]," All-Star outfielder Corbin Carroll said. "I think when you're in that space in this game, it's a bad one to be in. So I would say that's kind of the balance that I feel like we've got to juggle right now."
The Diamondbacks have been one of the more difficult teams to pin down. They built a nice cushion by going 11-2 over a 13-game stretch against the Rockies and Giants, but their work against winning clubs has been a different story. Arizona is 19-31 against teams above .500, and Carroll didn’t sugarcoat where that leaves them.
"I think kind of scuffling would be the word I would use," Carroll said before the Dodgers series. "I think that we're just not playing the way that we need to play if we want to be in a position where we're gonna do something with this season.
I think that's reflected in a number of ways, but at the end of the day, if you look outside of what we did versus the Giants and the Rockies, I think our record kind of does reflect what we've done to this point. I think it's frustrating for everyone in here, because we know there's a lot more than that in this room, and we just need to play better, and it starts with me."
If Arizona decides to buy, first base looks like the obvious place to attack. The position has been a problem since Ildemaro Vargas’ strong April cooled off.
Pavin Smith dealt with injuries, struggled after returning and was designated for assignment. Free-agent addition Carlos Santana barely played before getting hurt, and he was also DFA'd.
For now, Vargas and Tim Tawa are sharing the job, and the Diamondbacks are searching for any kind of offense there.
If the club goes the other direction, it doesn’t have a deep pile of obvious rental pieces. Michael Soroka stands out as the most interesting name.
The right-hander signed a one-year deal in the offseason and was excellent before getting hurt. He’s expected back soon, and if he shows he’s healthy, he could draw real interest from a contender.
If Arizona buys instead, it could use some of its prospect depth, particularly in the outfield where the organization has room.
The second half also hinges on Zac Gallen. Arizona was thrilled to bring him back just after Spring Training began, but he hasn’t been able to string together complete outings and is now on the injured list with right elbow inflammation. With Corbin Burnes and Ryne Nelson sidelined until September, getting Gallen healthy and back to his old form is a major need for the rotation.
The schedule won’t make this any easier. Arizona comes out of the break with three-game series against the Cardinals and A's at home, then heads to St.
Louis for one game before three-game sets at the Nationals, Pirates and Guardians leading into the Deadline. Those games will go a long way toward deciding whether the Diamondbacks are buyers, sellers or still stuck in between.
In Other News...
Corbin Carroll And Eduardo Rodriguez Put The Diamondbacks On Center Stage
Corbin Carroll and Eduardo Rodriguez will give the Diamondbacks a rare national spotlight at the All-Star Game, with both players representing a club that has spent the season trying to reinforce its place among the games better teams. For Carroll, the stage offers a chance to see how his swing holds up against elite pitching and maybe carry some confidence back into the second half, while Rodriguez gets the kind of showcase every pitcher wants, with top hitters waiting on the other side.
The real intrigue for Arizona is not just that two of its key players made the trip, but how they are used once the game starts to unfold. Carrolls at-bats will be watched for signs of rhythm and momentum, and Rodriguezs outing will draw attention based on when he enters and what kind of traffic, if any, he has to navigate. For a franchise still trying to turn progress into something more lasting, even a midsummer exhibition can feel like a small statement. [Read more 🡒]
Mike Hazens First Round Record Looks Better Than Some Fans Think
Mike Hazens first-round track record in Arizona looks a little different when it is measured beyond the usual instant-gratification debate. Since he took over as general manager, most of the clubs first-rounders have reached the majors in short order, and the overall group has been close enough to the industry norm that the picture is not nearly as bleak as some fans might assume. The bigger question is not just who got there, but who has actually moved the needle once they arrived.
Corbin Carroll has already separated himself from the rest of the class, while Drey Jameson and Bryce Jarvis are the only other Hazen first-rounders who have produced positive value so far. Even so, there is still some unfinished business in the group, with Ryan Waldschmidt, Jordan Lawlar and Tommy Troy all carrying the kind of remaining upside that could change the final accounting if they turn into real contributors. [Read more 🡒]