Roster decisions on table as losses mount
When he spoke with reporters midway through last week, General Manager Mike Hazen seemed to be searching for the appropriate action in response to his team’s performance, particularly on offense. He noted the unusual nature of the season, but he also admitted how the Diamondbacks have been plagued by some of the same problems for years. He did not sound like he would be afraid to act.
And so, as the Diamondbacks’ skid extended to 10 losses in 11 games on Sunday, it was perhaps little surprise to see rumors begin to surface as Monday afternoon’s trade deadline approached.
Center fielder Starling Marte, closer
Archie Bradley, left fielder David Peralta and left-hander Robbie Ray were named as players the Diamondbacks would be willing to move, according to multiple reports.
A source indicated the Diamondbacks had made clear to rival clubs earlier this month that they would listen on nearly everyone on their roster. Second baseman Ketel Marte, right-hander Zac Gallen and first baseman Christian Walker were said to be among those whom the Diamondbacks were not to willing to move.
With Sunday’s 4-1 loss to the San Francisco Giants dropping the Diamondbacks to 14-21, closer Archie Bradley was asked if he could blame the front office for deciding it was time for changes. His answer: Not at all.
“Obviously, I’m going to advocate for sticking together,” Bradley said. “I love being a Diamondback. I love playing here. I love the guys we have in this locker room. But at some point we have to play better baseball.”
Outside of a two-week stretch earlier this month, the Diamondbacks have not played good baseball. The sheer number of issues on their roster – in their lineup, rotation and bullpen – is stunning considering the height of their expectations entering the year.
The Diamondbacks pushed no insignificant amount of resources toward this season. They entered the year with a payroll near $120 million (which is less, in actuality, due to the shortened season). They gave up prospects to land Starling Marte in a January trade.
A step back this year could allow the Diamondbacks to redirect some of those resources toward future seasons. Dealing one or more of their position players could allow them to open up opportunities for younger players, including Daulton Varsho and Andy Young. And it could allow them to reshape a lineup that has suffered for years from the kind of weeks-long offensive blackout in which they currently are stuck.
Hazen, who was not available for comment Sunday, last week said there was a part of him that wants to chalk up much of what has happened so far this season to the unusual nature of the year: the small sample size, the 60game schedule, the pressure he believes his players have put on them
selves due to the short calendar.
But he also has seen this kind of offensive performance play out before – and he has said that even though a short season might not present the best environment for evaluation purposes, it is the one in which he and the rest of baseball’s general managers find themselves.
“This run-scoring environment has been a challenge for us in some segments,” Hazen said. “You know, May 2018. September 2018. There were stretches last year when we went through it for extended periods. I think that’s one of the separator things that we as an organization need to figure out.”
The club has long-term prospect coverage at nearly every position on the roster, meaning there might be few limitations on which players Hazen could look to move.
In losing on Sunday, the Diamondbacks were three-hit for the second consecutive day – and the third time in the past eight days – by the Giants. Right-hander Taylor Clarke threw well for five innings. The bullpen coughed up three runs late, with Bradley unable to escape a two-on, one-out jam he inherited in the eighth inning.
The day served as another example of why Bradley said he would not be surprised to see the front office act before Monday’s 1 p.m. deadline.
“There’s a season for next year, there’s seasons down the road and those guys up front have a job to do and
that’s to put the best players on the field,” Bradley said. “If that’s shipping some guys out or adding some guys, that’s up to them. Definitely can see it. We haven’t played the way we wanted to. We’re still searching to find what it is we’re doing wrong.”