ESPN: Arizona Diamondbacks in ‘movers and shakers’ category as trade deadline approaches

Major League Baseball’s non-waiver trade deadline is just more than three weeks away, meaning now is about the time teams are starting to decide if they will be buyers, sellers, or something in between.

Hovering around the .500 mark at 41-42 entering play Wednesday, the Arizona Diamondbacks could really go any number of directions.

On one hand, they’re just five games back of the N.L. West-leading Dodgers, and are the same number of games behind the Chicago Cubs for the second Wild Card spot.

On the other hand, this is a team that finished with the worst record in baseball last season, and while they’re certainly competitive, it may not be prudent to “go for it” just yet.

Having made a salary-shedding deal a few weeks ago in sending Bronson Arroyo and Touki Toussaint to the Atlanta Braves for infielder Phil Gosselin, the D-backs, according to ESPN’s Jim Bowden, are hoping to add more to their roster.

In an Insider piece previewing the trade deadline, Bowden includes the D-backs in the “movers and shakers” group of teams.

8. Arizona Diamondbacks: The Diamondbacks are still in the NL West race, with rookie manager Chip Hale doing a phenomenal job there. Most of us expected them to be sellers at this point, but instead they’re clear buyers and are in the hunt for almost any starting pitcher available.

Some of the top pitchers rumored to be available are Cincinnati’s Johnny Cueto, the Chicago White Sox’s Chris Sale and Jeff Samardzija and Philadelphia’s Cole Hamels, though all will likely require a big-time package of prospects. Would the D-backs be willing to part with some of their better youngsters if it meant landing a proven ace? What if said ace is set to become a free agent in the very near future?

Deadline day is July 31, so there is still a little bit of time to find out.