Arizona Diamondbacks won’t move Mark Trumbo

Mark Trumbo found himself on the move this time last year, traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks from the Los Angeles Angels in a move that many considered surprising at the time. A year later Trumbo’s name has started to creep into rumblings about the trade market, but it looks like he won’t be going anywhere. GM Dave Stewart spoke with members of the media on Friday, including FOX Sports Arizona’s Jack Magruder, and made it clear that the team will not move Trumbo this winter.

The team will, instead, continue looking to add to their lineup – specifically for a left-handed power hitter who could slot inbetween Trumbo and Paul Goldschmidt.

Much of speculation about Trumbo’s potential availability began after the D’backs signed Yasmany Tomas to a lucrative contract. Tomas’ signing carries with it a handful of questions, most notable of which centers on where he fits best defensively. Teams reportedly developed a number of concerns about his abilities in the field, leading some to not even make an offer. Ultimately Tomas ended up signing for significantly less than he’d initially been projected.

The expectation is that Tomas will likely play left field for Arizona, where Trumbo had been expected to start. Trumbo has the flexibility of also being able to play first base, but with Goldschmidt back healthy there appears little chance of that being a regular option. Trumbo may see some spot starts at first, giving Goldschmidt the occasional day off, but that’s about all that can be counted on.

Without the DH being an option, that leaves Trumbo heading to right field – where he’s appeared in just 65 games over his 528 game career.

A fractured foot kept Trumbo out of the lineup for a good portion of the 2014 season, limiting him to just 362 plate appearances on the year. He hit .235/.293/.415 with 14 home runs – but seven of them came in the first three weeks of April before the injury. He’s a .247/.298/.460 hitter for his career, but he’s averaged 28 doubles and 32 home runs a year. Trumbo will be 29 in January and still has two more years of arbitration eligibility remaining.

Holding onto Trumbo could potentially mean that the D’backs will look to move another outfielder, likely David Peralta, in their search for pitching. FOX Sports’ Jon Morosi noted Friday afternoon that the Cincinnati Reds had shown some interest in Arizona’s outfielders, specifically mentioning Peralta’s name. Peralta turned 27 in August and enjoyed a surprisingly strong rookie campaign, batting .286/.320/.450 in 348 plate appearances. He alone likely wouldn’t be enough to pry away one of the Reds four potentially available starters, but he could front a package of players that would get a deal done.