MLB Trade Deadline: D-Backs Not Dealing Starting Pitchers
The Arizona Diamondbacks have had a rough season as they sit in last place in the NL West at 38-53. This would make them sellers before the MLB trade deadline.
The D-Backs have received calls on both Patrick Corbin and Robby Ray but General Manager Dave Stewart said that neither of them are going anywhere before the deadline. Stewart sees these two as big pieces in the future starting rotation.
Instead of trading starters like Ray and Corbin, it looks like the team will look to move relievers. Last week, the Diamondbacks traded closer Brad Ziegler to the Boston Red Sox. Ziegler was performing well this season with the Diamondbacks as he had a 2.82 ERA while putting together 18 saves.
The team will also look to move Daniel Hudson who is having a mediocre season with the team out of the bullpen. Hudson, 29, has a 4.91 ERA in 33 innings on the mound. The team is looking to deal Hudson as discussions over a contract extension have come to a halt. Arizona has some assets in their bullpen but it has yet to be seen if they will make any deals before the deadline following their trade to move Brad Ziegler.
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The Diamondback starters this year have been awful with a cumulative ERA at 5.00, which puts them 25th in Major League Baseball. The only starter that has pitched well for the team this year is Zach Greinke.
The D-Backs signed Greinke to a 6 year, $206.5 million deal this past off-season. Although injured right now, Greinke is 10-3 with a 3.62 ERA this season, which is very good considering the horrendous start he had. After that, the team does not have one starting pitcher with an ERA less than 4.50. The move that the D-Backs should make is to put Randall Delgado back in the rotation. Delgado was once a prized pitching prospect for the Atlanta Braves. He was moved to the Diamondbacks in a trade that sent Justin Upton to the Braves in 2013.
Delgado currently serves as the teams long reliever and has a 4.27 ERA in 46.1 innings. Whether they move Delgado into the rotation, the Diamondbacks have a huge issue that needs to be fixed in the near future.
The bullpen has not been much better for the D-Backs. Their ERA from the bullpen this season is 4.58 which puts them 26th in baseball. The only player other than Daniel Hudson that is valuable in Randall Delgado. The Diamondbacks should consider trading Corbin and Ray to get some pieces for the future. Both Corbin and Ray have had awful seasons and they should trade them while there is still value. The Diamondbacks playoff chances are very slim so now they should look towards the future.