Bleacher Report: One potential trade the Diamondbacks should pursue
May 30, 2016, 11:24 AM | Updated: 4:20 pm
(AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
With the Arizona Diamondbacks sitting nine games back of the National League West Division-leading San Francisco Giants entering Monday’s round of games, it may be in their best interest to execute a trade to get back in the race.
There’s a few positions that the Diamondbacks should be looking to improve, but according to Bleacher Report’s list of one trade all 30 MLB teams should consider, landing a new middle reliever should be the route Arizona pursues.
Trade Chips: RP Brad Ziegler, RP Daniel Hudson, C Welington Castillo
Proposed Trade
To ARI: RP Fernando Salas
To LAA: OF Colin Bray
The relief corps currently ranks 24th in the majors with a 4.22 ERA, and their 166.1 innings of work rank second in the league.
A total of 16 different pitchers have made at least one relief appearance, so adding a proven late-inning arm like Fernando Salas could help provide some stability.
Salas led the Angels with 72 appearances last season and recorded 18 holds, and so far this season he’s posted a 2.01 ERA, 0.896 WHIP and 8.1 K/9 over 22 games.
The 30-year-old is earning just $2.4 million in his final year of arbitration, so the Diamondbacks should be able to fit him in the payroll despite their offseason spending.
The Diamondbacks rank fifth in the MLB with 239 runs scored, but are second-worst in the league with 263 runs scored against them. So, it’s easy to see where the team needs the most improvement, despite a depleted outfield and a considerable drop-off at shortstop.
If this trade would entice both teams, the Diamondbacks would be losing a career .284 hitting outfielder in the minor leagues.
Bray was drafted by Arizona in the sixth round of the 2013 June Amateur Draft from Faulkner State College.
The 23-year-old, switch-hitting prospect currently plays for the advance single-A Visalia Rawhide. This season, he is hitting .230, with a .308 on base percentage, to go along with one home run and 21 RBI in 48 games.