Hall stresses patience with D-backs’ impending deadline decision
Jul 11, 2019, 10:44 AM | Updated: 11:17 am
(AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
With the All-Star break ending, the Arizona Diamondbacks have 20 days from Thursday to decide whether they’re going to be buyers or sellers at the trade deadline.
But according to team president and CEO Derrick Hall, there’s a chance they do neither.
The lack of August waiver trades, a former rule that allowed teams to make trades past July 31 if players involved cleared waivers, could push big moves up a couple of days. Those are days that the D-backs may need to make their decision.
“You’re going to hit a point where it’s too late to do anything,” Hall said on 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station’s Doug & Wolf.
Hall acted as if he was comfortable with that.
“And that’s okay too,” he said.
Upcoming series pitting the D-backs against some of their top playoff competitors, which includes this weekend’s Cardinals series and next weekend’s Brewers matchup, could force them to run out of time as well.
“It’s a tough stretch right now that could really define where we should be or need to be going into the trade deadline,” Hall said.
Hall said the grittiness of the team could force them to make moves though.
“This team has shown time and time again that it’s willing to fight and willing to battle,” he said.
Other teams, specifically division rivals, could put pressure on as well.
“I think if you were to talk to Colorado they would tell you, ‘Oh we’re in this thing. We’re probably going to be buyers,'” Hall said. “I think the Padres would feel the same way. You’d have to scratch your head and say, ‘Well then, why wouldn’t we believe that we’re in this?'”
But patience is still radiating.
“Especially right now, we have to wait and see,” Hall said.