Arizona Diamondbacks stay patient as trade market heats up

La Russa alluded to it in the article linked earlier: “…they take your best kids, and we like our young players.”

Apparently that thought process wasn’t used in the Miller trade. In addition to Inciarte, the Diamondbacks sent 2015 No. 1 overall pick Dansby Swanson and pitcher Aaron Blair to the Braves. Both are top-100 prospects—Swanson is No. 6 overall according to MLB.com and Blair is No. 51—and mailing them to Atlanta left the Diamondbacks with just one prospect in the top 100.

Another reason to stay put has to do with their screwy season: There are some positives among the madness.

For example, Greinke is starting to turn things around, throwing seven and nine shutout innings over his last two starts. Miller is set to begin his rehab assignment today, during which he’ll try to rediscover himself. Also, the bullpen has been somewhat reliable. They don’t strike out a lot of hitters (7.90 entering Wednesday, 23rd in the majors), but they also don’t give up many home runs (0.77) and are middle of the road in FIP (14th at 4.04).

The Diamondbacks also can handle the lumber a little bit. Other than shortstop Nick Ahmed, all of the everyday hitters are close to league average and the team is ninth in the majors with a .325 weighted on-base average.

Next: Where they could improve