Arizona forced to make tough roster decisions
It is “moving month,” as Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo likes to say.
Essentially, it means the kid gloves come off in August as playoff-hopeful teams jockey for position in the standings. For the Diamondbacks, no feelings can be spared as the team prepares for a vital stretch of games, which started Monday with a three-game series against the Philadelphia Phillies, one of the teams in front of the Diamondbacks in the wild-card race.
It is do-or-die time for the Diamondbacks, who entered play Monday just 2 1/2 games out of a wild-card spot.
The urgency was likely a factor in the team finally reaching a boiling point with right-hander Zack Godley, who was designated for assignment prior to Monday’s game. Right-hander Taylor Clarke was optioned to Triple-A Reno, while left-hander Robby Scott and right-hander Kevin Ginkel were brought to Arizona.
“We had some tough conversations last night,” Lovullo said, “and DFA’ing Zack Godley was not as easy decision for anybody in this organization. He’s pitched extremely well for over 300 innings since I’ve been here, but it just wasn’t working in the role he was in.
“It’s about consistency and this is a tough game.”
As far as Godley is concerned, the Diamondbacks have seven days to either release him or place him on waivers. Godley cannot be traded because the deadline passed on Wednesday. Lovullo said his gut feeling is that Godley would be claimed if placed on waivers.
It has been a rocky season for Godley, who was removed from the Diamondbacks rotation in late June and was inconsistent out of the bullpen as well. Godley has a 6.39 ERA this season.
After taking two out of three from the Nationals over the weekend — another team in front of the Diamondbacks in the wild-card race — there is a feeling within the team that a playoff berth is still very much in play.
“We’ve been trying everything we can to get him some consistency,” Lovullo said. “Especially in this time of year where we’re grinding things out — we feel like we’re going in a really good direction — we needed that consistency. To sit him in my office and explain to him that we were DFA’ing him was a tough conversation, but he took it as well as you would hope.”
Clarke was also an unlucky casualty of “moving month,” the recipient of a one-way trip to Reno after pitching well in Sunday’s 7-5 win over Washington. Although Clarke is 2-0 with a 2.65 ERA in his past three starts, spots in the rotation are scarce with right-handers Mike Leake and Zac Gallen making their team debuts Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively. “He’s on a great run right now and I think it was his third really good outing in a row,” Lovullo said of Clarke. “When you send out somebody like that, it means we’re trending in a very positive direction and that we’ve got depth. When you have to have tough conversations and tough send-outs, it means we are thick.”
Lovullo said Clarke will stay stretched out in Reno and could be called upon as a utility starter or as a bullpen arm as needed.
Scott, a left-hander, was recalled at least in part due to some potent lefthanded hitters due to face the Diamondbacks in the coming series, including Bryce Harper (Phillies), Cody Bellinger (Dodgers) and Charlie Blackmon (Rockies).
“We know that we have some quality left-handed hitters coming over the next couple series,” Lovullo said.
Ginkel, 25, had his contract selected to the 40-man roster on Monday and arrived at Chase Field on Monday for his first stint in the big leagues. The University of Arizona alum has posted an impressive 1.62 ERA in 16 2/3 innings in Triple-A this season.