SI writer: D-backs don’t need to make a big splash at trade deadline

The D-backs made a big splash last week with the addition of outfielder J.D. Martinez.

The move showed how highly the front office thinks of this year’s team and their expectations to make some noise in October.

But lately, the team that seemed to have one of the best lineups and rotations in baseball has been sliding.

They’ve lost 11 of their last 17 and Martinez, who they gave up three prospects for, injured his hand in his second at-bat and has yet to play a full game.

The Snakes still have a bit of a cushion regarding a wild-card spot, and Jonah Keri of Sports Illustrated believes the D-backs can pretty much stand pat at the trade deadline.

The addition of the power-hitting outfielder [Martinez] has fortified an already dangerous middle of Arizona’s lineup. The rotation is the most improved in baseball. And the bullpen received a big boost from young righty Archie Bradley and unheralded lefty Andrew Chafin.

So as wild as it sounds, a team that lost 93 games last season may not need much more than a tweak or two to round out the roster for the home stretch. The Diamondbacks enter the week with a 4 1/2-game lead in the wild-card race, so maybe they’ll want to grab one more bullpen arm as insurance against a Fernando Rodney meltdown or consider a bopper for the bench. Other than that, the rest of the league better not sleep on a very good Diamondbacks team, one that could do serious damage in October.

Another bullpen arm would be nice, but it would merely be insurance for a pen whose 3.49 ERA ranks sixth in MLB.

They have helped guide the D-backs to a 56-42 record, but as of late, have not had the run support to close out a victory

As Martinez returns, he bolsters a lineup that has recently had trouble getting a timely hit and looks to get back on track.