ESPN’s Schoenfield: D-backs need to trade OF David Peralta at deadline
Jul 5, 2022, 7:05 PM
David Peralta #6 of the Arizona Diamondbacks watches the flight of the ball after hitting a fifth inning grand slam home run against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on July 3, 2022 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
(Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
While the Arizona Diamondbacks continue to navigate through the grind of a 162-game regular season schedule, they will face a number of decisions in the next month with the MLB trade deadline on Aug. 2.
Currently with a 36-44 record and sitting fourth in the competitive NL West, the D-backs could be a seller at the deadline.
Veterans on the roster that could generate interest from contenders could be LHP Madison Bumgarner, OF David Peralta, slugger Christian Walker and arms in the bullpen highlighted by Joe Mantiply.
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Of those, ESPN senior writer David Schoenfield thinks the one move the D-backs must make at the deadline is trading away Peralta.
The 34-year-old outfielder is having a productive 2022, batting .251 to go with 11 home runs and 35 RBIs.
A left-handed bat with pop, Peralta could draw a lot of interest from teams looking to bolster their lineup. Thanks to the new designated hitter rule, Peralta could generate even more buzz, something Schoenfield mentions.
He has been in trade rumors for a couple of years now and is finally in the last year of his deal. He can still help a team on offense as a platoon bat and left fielder or DH.
Being in the last year of his contract could give the D-backs even more incentive to move on from Peralta, who has spent the last nine seasons in Arizona and is No. 9 on the franchise’s list in career home runs (108).
The D-backs have seen a resurgence in the outfield this season thanks to rookie Alek Thomas, who is batting .251 in 50 games after being called up to the majors.
Arizona’s top prospect in the organization also patrols the outfield in Corbin Carroll.
Carroll has gotten the attention of many, batting .313 for Double-A Amarillo.
With Peralta on the final year of his contract and the future of the D-backs outfield looking to be in solid hands, the veteran left-handed slugger could be on the move this summer.
