ESPN’s Doolittle: D-backs ‘could go either way’ at trade deadline

On a list of projected buyers and sellers at the 2022 MLB trade deadline, ESPN baseball analyst Bradford Doolittle did not know where several teams should fall.

The Arizona Diamondbacks were in that ambiguous bunch of squads that could go either way this summer.

The D-backs are building toward the future with the No. 4 ranked farm system entering the season on MLB.com.

They, however, have been more competitive than many predicted coming into the year. Arizona enters its Saturday matchup against the Minnesota Twins with a 31-35 record, 6.5 games back of a playoff spot.

Arizona has lost 12 of 15 to the Padres and Dodgers. If not for that, we might be looking at Arizona as a fringe wild-card contender, but of course, it’s a problem when you can’t beat the two best teams in your own division. With the pitching looking much better this season under the tutelage of famed coach Brent Strom, Arizona can start to look for chances to add for 2023.

Doolittle stated that if the D-backs were to sell, they have several veterans on one-year deals who could draw interest. He listed pitchers Zach Davies, Ian Kennedy and Mark Melancon as options.

MLB Network analyst Jon Heyman reported in a piece for the New York Post this week that Arizona would listen offers for outfielder David Peralta, Davies and pitcher Madison Bumgarner, while noting the D-backs will not entertain a deal involving ace Zac Gallen.

Heyman wrote that a general manager told him Bumgarner’s contract could be a roadblock, although, the 32-year-old has had a resurgent season. His ERA is 3.45 through 14 starts and is signed through 2024.

ESPN’s average simulation wins projects Arizona will finish 72-90, a 20-game improvement from last year but still out of contention.

Other teams Doolittle listed in Arizona’s category include the Los Angeles Angels, Texas Rangers, Cleveland Guardians and Cincinnati Reds.

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