A Different Perspective On Trade Deadline Moves For Arizona Diamondbacks

The Arizona Diamondbacks have a record of 50-51 at the start of play July 22.

The Dbacks likely are chasing at least four or more teams for the final Wild Card spot in the National League.

As a result of the current standings, the Diamondbacks find themselves with monumental decisions to make before, or at the Major League Baseball trade deadline, July 30, at 6PM EST.

The Diamondbacks probably have the most sought after players in this year’s trade market.

Generally speaking, MLB teams look to get a return from players on expiring contracts.

Media outlets consistently believe the Dbacks will trade most, or even all of their impactful players on expiring contracts.

This old scout disagrees. More on that later.

The Dbacks have four consequential players in the final year before they reach free agency.

Those players include:

Eugenio Suarez-3B-Age 34-$15M current salary

36 home runs, 86 RBIs, 2025 All Star

Josh Naylor-1B-Age 28-$10.9M

11 homers, 58 RBIs

Merrill Kelly-RHP-Age 36-$7M

9-5, 3.32 ERA, 21 starts

Zac Gallen-RHP-Age 29-$13.5M

7-11, 5.58 ERA, 21 starts

Without question, If made available, each of those players can fetch prospects that may add tremendous depth and length to the Dbacks organization.

Or, the Dbacks could trade for veteran players.

There could be several contending suitors in hot pursuit of each of the four. For example:

Eugenio Suarez

Yankees, Cubs, Mariners, Red Sox, Brewers

Each team above might pay dearly for a game-changing power threat like Suarez. He is the hottest hitter in baseball, having hit two home runs in consecutive games, and has six multi-home run games.

Josh Naylor

Red Sox, Yankees, Mariners.

Naylor works tremendously hard at his craft. He takes extra batting practice every day. He constantly works on improving his fielding.

An aggressive hitter, Naylor can get extremely hot, and carry a team with drives to the gap or bombs over the fence.

Each of the three teams above would be a great fit for Josh Naylor.

Merrill Kelly

Yankees, Cubs, Red Sox, Astros, Brewers, Blue Jays

A very inexpensive (by comparison to others) and very capable, dependable starting pitcher, Kelly has an assortment of pitches in his repertoire that keep hitters off balance.

When Kelly gets in a groove, he not only gives his team a chance to win, but he goes deeply into games, helping save the bullpen.

A constant cramping problem from his past seems to have been resolved.

Zac Gallen

Yankees, Red Sox, Brewers, Cubs, Astros, Blue Jays

Gallen is puzzling. He can be very good. He can be very meh!

Gallen’s inconsistency can give a manager heartburn.

No longer an ace in this old scout’s view, he’s still an option in a contender’s starting rotation.

When Gallen nibbles at the corners, he loses command and starts getting his pitch count too high. He begins to walk hitters. Or yield home runs.

The return for Gallen might not be as high as fans believe.

Which Player(s) Do The Dbacks Trade?

Several factors have to be considered.

-The Dbacks have played this year with an unprecedented amount of injuries. It is likely many of those injured players could be back at some point next season.

– The Dbacks have just received a tremendous boost from the Arizona Legislature that allows them to spend tax dollars received from team generated revenue for the renovation of Chase Field. In essence, money they would have to spend on renovations, can be used for other needs-such as payroll.

– If the Dbacks deplete their roster of fan favorites like Suarez and Naylor, the fan base could react by not buying tickets, merchandise, and concessions. That cuts the amount of revenue the Dbacks receive from the tax legislation.

– If they trade their best players, where do they find replacements for 2026, and beyond?

Yes, they will likely get prospects in return. But prospects are prospects. Unproven. Untested. The difference between Triple-A and Major League Baseball is as wide as the Grand Canyon.

-The $22.5M salary for pitcher Jordan Montgomery is coming off the books.

This Old Scout’s Prediction:

The Dbacks need to field a competitive, exciting team to earn sales tax revenue from ticket sales, merchandise, and concessions.

They have been plagued by injuries, which could be a non-issue next season. If they keep their team in place, they could clearly move up in the standings.

The Dbacks have an exciting team, with a terrific manager in Torey Lovullo.

This writer’s prediction? The Dbacks will trade only Zac Gallen. The return may be shockingly low.

The Dbacks offense needs Suarez and Naylor.

The Dbacks pitching staff needs Merrill Kelly.

The Dbacks can look for another starter. Possibly one comes back in a Gallen trade.