D-backs GM Mike Hazen leaves door open for team to be buyers at trade deadline
As the MLB trade deadline approaches, Arizona Diamondbacks general manager Mike Hazen faces a tough decision on what the team will do.
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As the MLB trade deadline approaches, Arizona Diamondbacks general manager Mike Hazen faces a tough decision on what the team will do.
The Diamondbacks (50-50) enter play Monday 4.5 games back of the final Wild Card spot in the National League. The team has been playing well after the All-Star break, sweeping their first series of the second half against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Hazen joined MLB Network Radio on Sunday and said he is undecided on what direction the Diamondbacks will go at the deadline. He added that most of the calls he’s getting from other teams assume they will be sellers.
“I would love nothing more than to really help the sellers by choking out the supply because the Diamondbacks players aren’t available,” Hazen said.
Multiple D-backs players are set to be free agents after this season, including All-Star Eugenio Suarez, Josh Naylor, Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly.
Suarez, one of the top potential trade targets, has been one of the top hitters in MLB, slashing .254/.326/.585 with 33 home runs and 81 RBIs.
With the D-backs playing well out of the All-Star break, Hazen said the team is in a position where they could be buyers or sellers at the deadline.
“We are in a pretty precarious situation relative to where we are in the Wild Card race where you can look at one way or the other,” Hazen said. “It’s ultimately going to be my decision on what direction that ultimately takes us.”
The Diamondbacks are back in action Monday against the Houston Astros. First pitch is scheduled for 6:40 p.m. and can be head on the Arizona Sports app, 98.7 and arizonasports.com.
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Comments
9 Comments
Sell, sell, sell! I don't think we can expect to hand this trash bullpen 5-10 run leads 2 out of 3 games a series. And I don't trust anyone in that bullpen to hold a 1-2 run lead, let alone find 3 guys who can cover the 7th, 8th and 9th. It was a fun series against St. Louis, but lets be realists here, our bullpen is spare parts right now.
Sell some of these guys high and get some serious prospects who aren't that far from contributing in the majors. Suarez should get a good haul right now
I'd go 50/50 on this. I'd trade Gallen and Naylor for pitching, and prospects. I'd do everything I can to hold onto Merrill and Geno.
Gallen hasn't been great and Naylor while a solid hitter isn't great defensively. So imo we try to get better and sell.
I'd do what it takes to resign the two position players regardless. We remember what the loss of JD did. Gallen and Kelly, NOT worth the effort because we love TJ surgeries here and I have NEVER trusted signing FA pitchers to big contracts. Besides if we lose Gino and Nalor to FA do we really trust the minor league system yet? Or do we find "cheap" FA replacements? This team is NOT better without those two. Gallen and Kelly...Im not impressed either way unless Kelly remains practical in FA.