MLB Network insider sees more positive than negative for D-backs

While the Arizona Diamondbacks seem to be having a mediocre season, spending most of it looming around the .500 mark, one prominent baseball analyst believes the team is having a positive year.

Baseball insider Ken Rosenthal recently said on MLB Network’s The Rundown that he’s impressed by the D-backs despite multiple roster shakeups.

“It’s worth noting what they’ve subtracted,” he said. “(A.J.) Pollock and (Patrick) Corbin as free agents at the end of last season, (Paul) Goldschmidt traded at the end of last season and (Zack) Greinke traded at the deadline. Now, they did bring in Zac Gallen and Mike Leake at the deadline, but I’d say the subtractions weigh more than the additions.

“What they’ve been saying all year long is, ‘We intend to compete.’ They’ve been a team that has kind of hovered around .500, but that series they won over the Dodgers winning three of four was extremely impressive.”

As of Saturday, the D-backs bolster a 74-67 record, finally breaking away from that typical .500 record fans are used to seeing this year. The team also stands 2.5 games out of the second Wild Card spot.

While there’s no clear-cut suitor to run away with the Wild Card, Rosenthal thinks the D-backs have just as good of a chance as any other team in the run.

“Could they win a Wild Card? They’re in as good of a position as any of the other teams we’re talking about,” Rosenthal said. “I’m really impressed with what they’ve done off the field and on the field with (Eduardo) Escobar and (Ketel) Marte and just the way they’ve kept at it. It’s been one of the better stories of the season.”

Rosenthal also sees the D-backs’ season as a successful setup for the future. Their haul of young prospects started in the year’s draft, selecting four players in just the first round alone. They also brought in an impressive number of guys from both the Greinke and Goldschmidt deals.

“They have demonstrated you do not have to tear all the way down to retool your team. They have not done that, in fact they refuse to do that, they’re front office is pretty adamantly opposed to that plan,” Rosenthal explained. “They brought in prospects from the Greinke and Goldschmidt trade and the Goldschmidt trade has yielded dividends just this season with Luke Weaver and Carson Kelly. Going forward, they’re in a great spot.”

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