Time to Sell? What the D-backs Could Look Like at the Deadline

The Arizona Diamondbacks suffered their worst series loss of the year over the weekend against the Miami Marlins. In the Marlins’ sweep of Arizona, we were reminded of the issues that have plagued the team all year long.

Having failed to capitalize on a soft part of their schedule, the D-backs are 42-43 and now face the possibility of selling at the deadline. It’s still too early for general manager Mike Hazen to make that call, as there are 20 games to go before he has to commit, but the current trajectory is not promising.

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To change their season’s trajectory in such a short time, the D-backs would need to win at least 13 of their next 20 games. It’s not going to be easy, as their next four series are against the Giants, Royals, Padres, Angels, Cardinals, and Astros. Five of those six teams are within two games of a playoff spot.

It’s probably unrealistic to assume that they’ll navigate a tougher part of their schedule, but crazier things have happened before.

What Would Selling Look Like for the Diamondbacks?

Clearly, the Diamondbacks would be punting on the rest of the 2025 season. That means all their impending free agents could be made available at the deadline. I don’t expect them to dangle controllable pieces until after the season unless they get a deal they can’t refuse.

That means they’ll listen to offers for Josh Naylor, Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly, Eugenio Suárez, Shelby Miller, and Jalen Beeks. Naylor is the only free agent that I’d project to receive the qualifying offer if he’s not dealt at the deadline, so the D-backs can demand a stronger return to part with him.

The other players mentioned will not net a strong return back. However, Hazen could be willing to pull the deal on a trade if he can get prospects who could become a factor as early as 2026.

The D-backs will have to be careful with how much they deal from the roster, especially concerning their rotation. They don’t have enough healthy arms in the organization that they can trade more than one starter and still be able to field a starting rotation. If there are too many pieces missing from a roster, it makes it a tougher evaluation as to where they stand for next season.

Could Arizona Buy on Pitching Talent for 2026?

Another possible route Hazen could take at the deadline is to address organizational pitching depth with controllable players while still selling rental players. Examples of such deals include solidifying the closer role by trading for David Bednar or acquiring young starting pitching for prospects.

Hazen will have to put together a pitching staff that’s been decimated by injuries, and the kind that takes a year-plus to recover from. If he can add more pitching depth to the organization that’s more major league ready than Bryce Jarvis, Dylan Ray, Yu-Min Lin, and Spencer Giesting, that’s a trade worth exploring.

Jordan Lawlar is their best trade chip in terms of flipping a prospect for a controllable starter. Hazen is no stranger to such a deal, as he traded Jazz Chisholm Jr. to the Marlins for Gallen in 2019. I would argue that this season meets similar conditions.

Even though the 2025 season is turning into a lost cause, it’s unlikely Hazen is going to punt 2026. With manager Torey Lovullo in the final year of his contract, it would behoove him to field a roster devoid of pitching depth. That’s the type of outcome that should lead to his own dismissal if he cannot address the pitching issues. However, that’s a different story to cover once the season is over.

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