Diamondbacks’ Ken Kendrick still deciding whether to be trade deadline buyers or sellers

Diamondbacks owner and managing partner Ken Kendrick said he wants to wait to see how competitive the team is before deciding whether to invest in them around the trade deadline.

An abysmal stretch in May saw the Diamondbacks lose nine out of 10 to fall four games under .500, but after starting the month of June 9-4, the Diamondbacks (36-35) find themselves 3.5 games outside of a Wild Card spot and currently trail the Los Angeles Dodgers by 6.5 games in the division.

With this season’s streakiness and unpredictability, Kendrick said how the next month plays out will dictate what the team does around the July 31 deadline.

“But will we invest in this team? If the facts and circumstances suggest investing gives us a legitimate chance to be in the postseason, then we’re going to do that,” Kendrick told Arizona Sports’ Burns & Gambo on Monday.

The Diamondbacks’ $195,475,535 payroll on opening day not only ranked top 10 in the majors, per the Associated Press, but it was the highest payroll in the team’s history.

But despite the lofty spending during the offseason, which included signing Cy Young winner Corbin Burnes to a six-year, $210 million contract, season-ending injuries to Burnes and Justin Martinez, have left the Diamondbacks in a difficult position.

“If you really look at the talent, I believe that you could say even now with the injuries that we have, the talent base is as talented group on paper from their past performances as the team that went to the World Series (in 2023).

“Some may argue with me. That was a band of brothers who did it. This band of brothers may be also able to do it. So I think we just have to let the next month play out.”

Kendrick also noted the timing of Sunday’s Rafael Devers trade was an “unusual” occurrence and said, “right now, there aren’t any imminent deals that are out there.”

“We wouldn’t be likely doing an event of significance, I wouldn’t think in the next month,” Kendrick said. “Then within the last two weeks of July, it’s where all the teams get more and more serious.”

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