The Arizona Diamondbacks might need to shed a few prospects to bolster the major-league roster.
The Aug. 3 Major League Baseball Trade Deadline is a little over a week away, and all 30 teams will be identifying what kind of moves will be the most beneficial for their individual situations moving forward.
Among those teams are the Arizona Diamondbacks, who have been playing very good baseball to begin the second half of the season, posting a 5-2 record in that span and scoring 25 runs while notching 33 hits in their last two games.
Despite a recent burst of success, the Diamondbacks are still just hovering in winning territory with a 54-49 record. Heading into Friday’s slate of games, Arizona is third in the National League Wild Card hunt.
Recently, general manager Mike Hazen emphasized the Diamondbacks’ interest in participating at the deadline as buyers, but he also highlighted how a healthier roster will provide a clearer picture of how good the team can be.
Currently, Arizona has 14 players on its Injured List, though Ketel Marte’s designation is expected to end on Friday after he dealt with back stiffness.
If the Diamondbacks end up buying at the Deadline, who will they be willing to part with, and who is off limits?
Retain vs. trade
Recently, ESPN MLB insider Kiley McDaniel constructed deadline outlooks for all 30 teams as it pertains to their prospects. The teams were placed into three categories: Teams who are likely to deal prospects, teams that can go either way and teams likely to acquire prospects.
In the "likely to deal prospects" category, the Diamondbacks were first on the list. In McDaniel’s view, there is only one untouchable player, and that is shortstop Kayson Cunningham.
Cunningham was Arizona’s 2025 first-round draft pick, and he is 90th on MLB’s top-100 list, while second in the Diamondbacks’ organization. While the 20-year-old may be untouchable, he might be the only one with that designation.
McDaniel believes that any other prospect in Arizona’s system can be up for grabs. Some players who might be donning a new jersey soon are infielders J.D. Dix (No. 4 in org.), Demetrio Cristantes (No. 1 ), Jansel Luis (No. 7) and LuJames Groover (No. 6).
Of the aforementioned bunch, only Groover has made his MLB debut. While the Diamondbacks’ offense has been humming recently, it could use some additional bats.
There are several teams who have the ready-made talent Arizona might desire, but it will likely cost up-and-coming talent. Hazen and the Diamondbacks will need to make a choice, and they will need to make it fast.
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