La Russa on D-backs’ quiet trade deadline: ‘The ones they liked, we liked’
Aug 1, 2016, 8:47 PM
Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Shelby Miller delivers against the Colorado Rockies in the first inning of a baseball game Saturday, June 25, 2016, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
(AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Shipping two veteran relievers away netted the Arizona Diamondbacks three prospects, but it didn’t lead to any climactic action at the MLB trade deadline on Monday afternoon.
Once Arizona traded Brad Ziegler to Boston and Tyler Clippard was dealt to the Yankees, the D-backs closed the books on making any moves — despite the team tumbling down the standings and on the day after one of its worst losses of the year, a 14-3 defeat to the Dodgers.
That’s not to say D-backs Chief Baseball Officer Tony La Russa wasn’t busy fielding calls Monday morning.
“The (teams) that feel like they’re in contention do most of the casting of the lines,” La Russa told media at the Diamondbacks’ game against the Nationals. “There was a lot of people who contacted us with some interest, a lot of interest. The problem was that everybody they had a lot of interest (in) was everybody we want to keep. Wasn’t anything that was close to making sense based on how we evaluate our club.”
The most surprising players still in Diamondbacks uniforms include reliever Daniel Hudson, who could become a useful power arm on his last year of his contract, and starting pitcher Shelby Miller, a once-promising player who could be had on a discount since his demotion to the minors.
“All our pitching was asked about, ’cause they’re all very attractive,” La Russa said Monday. “They all have talent and they all have a lot of upside. There wasn’t anything there … the ones they liked, we liked.”
Heading into Monday, the Diamondbacks maintained they weren’t going to move Miller or fellow struggling starter Patrick Corbin.
As for position players, they still feel comfortable and hopeful a core that begins with Paul Goldschmidt, A.J. Pollock and Jake Lamb can become a dangerous team in the future.
For the rest of the season, La Russa said remaining competitive is still key.
But it’ll be a balancing act as the Diamondbacks attempt to reassemble a bullpen that has been blown up, among other things.
“At this point, you try to make the most of the adversity,” La Russa said. “Adversity is the opportunity to learn a lot.”
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