The reigning National League champions have had a rough time defending their title. So far the Diamondbacks are 51-50, and this has been the story for the majority of the season. Winning a couple of games here and there, looking like things are back on track. Then, they’ll drop a few games and it seemed like it’s going to be yet another lost season. This has caused them to stumble in the standings, with them being nine games out of the NL West. They’re also a game out of the final Wild-Card spot, with two teams ahead of them.
This has caused everyone to question what the Diamondbacks’ plan is going to be going into the deadline. Will they be buyers, trying to return to how things were last year when they got hot late into the season and rode it to a pennant? Or do they punt on this season and look toward the future when it comes to contending?
Why the Diamondbacks Should Be Buyers
Before the two-game skid, the Diamondbacks have been one of the hottest teams in baseball. They had won six of the last seven games. Overall in July, they are 10-7 with several wins coming against teams like the Dodgers, Padres, and Braves. All teams are currently in a playoff spot. The schedule is also about to get a lot easier with six games coming up against the Pirates and the Nationals. If the Diamondbacks can go 4-2 against these two, they’ll be in a much better position for a Wild Card spot.
If the Diamondbacks were to be buyers, they would look to upgrade several positions on the club. The first one is out in the bullpen. The D-backs have been trying to fix their bullpen issues with in-house options, with 14 different pitchers being in the pen at some point this season. However, none of them have an ERA under three. In fact, only five of them have an ERA under four. If the Diamondbacks want to make a serious run at the postseason, they need reliable arms. The other position is a bat. Now the offense hasn’t been bad this season, with the Diamondbacks ranking in the top ten in most offensive categories. However, it wouldn’t hurt to have a talented bat that can come off the bench and be a platoon guy.
Why They Should Be Sellers
If the skid continues it could make the Diamondbacks front office lose faith in the roster and look towards next seasons as the year to compete. Especially if these losses come to teams like the Nationals and Pirates. These are the last few easy games before the schedule gets tough with teams like the Guardians and Phillies set to faceoff against the D-Backs. Teams could jump them ahead of the playoff standings if they underperform. If the Diamondbacks are buried in the standings, it might make the front office look to unload some expiring contracts and add young players to the core.
There are a few players that would generate interest on the open market. The main one is Christian Walker. In a market that has seen some of the big-name offense pieces get removed, or marked as not being traded, a player of Walker’s ability could get a big return. So far, he’s slashed .261/.342/.486 for a .828 OPS with 22 home runs and 68 RBIs. He would quickly become one of the best bats on the market. Another player who could land a nice return is Paul Sewald. Relievers are always a hot commodity on the trade market, especially one with Sewald’s talent. He has an ERA of 3.09 with 23 strikeouts to four walks and a 0.857 WHIP. That type of reliever can land a nice return.
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