Arizona Diamondbacks: 3 players to put on trade block
It is inevitable that the Arizona Diamondbacks will be sellers at the trade deadline. With a 20-44 record entering Saturday, and their current status as being dead last in the NL West, it is just a matter of time before players become available.
The question of when that happens is all the more pertinent. General manager Mike Hazen has other, more important things to worry about, as his wife is battling brain cancer. As he is currently on a leave of absence to take care of his family, assistant general manager Amiel Sawdaye will be taking over for the foreseeable future.
Arizona Diamondbacks have several intriguing trade candidates
Sawdaye has been viewed as a GM of the future, so this will be a great test. While the Diamondbacks have not had success in the standings, they do have several intriguing pieces that could be of interest to contending teams. While none of these players may immediately make any playoff hopeful an immediate favorite, they are still nice pieces that can make a difference.
Let’s take a look at three players that the Arizona Diamondbacks should have on the trade block.
Asdrubal Cabrera
Asdrubal Cabrera may not be an All Star any longer, but he is still a solid player who can fill a variety of roles on a contending team.
While he began his career as a shortstop, those days are behind him. He has typically appeared at third base this season, although he has spent time at first as well. Cabrera has also been a solid option at second even if he has not appeared at the position since 2019.
A solid contributor with the bat, Cabrera is in the midst of one of his better seasons at the plate. He has produced a .264/.365/.432 batting line in his 148 plate appearances entering Saturday, hitting four homers and nine doubles. His 118 OPS+ would be the highest mark of any of his full seasons in the majors since he was an All Star in 2011.
With his solid offense and ability to slot in several different positions in the infield, Asdrubal Cabrera could be a surprisingly hot commodity at the trade deadline. The Arizona Diamondbacks could have a better trade chip than one would have expected.
Eduardo Escobar
While Asdrubal Cabrera may be more of a bench option, the Arizona Diamondbacks do have a player that could slot into a contending team’s lineup in Eduardo Escobar.
Another player on an expiring contract, it makes sense for Escobar to be on the block. His ability to play multiple positions and power bat will be sought after at the deadline, especially as teams look to patch a variety of holes on their rosters. Unlike some of the other bigger names that could come available, Escobar could be a relative bargain in terms of asking price.
That does not mean he is any less useful of a player. Escobar has hit over 20 homers in a season three times, including a career best 35 homers in 2019, and is on pace to do so again this year. Thus far, he has produced a respectable .240/.288/.463 batting line in his 264 plate appearances, hitting 15 homers and eight doubles.
Escobar has also been valuable to the Diamondbacks with his defensive versaility. He has split his time between second and third this season, showing solid defense at both positions. Escobar also has a great deal of experience at short, making him a potential option for teams with a need there as well.
Eduardo Escobar is another player who may not excite a fan base, but he is a valuable piece nonetheless. The Arizona Diamondbacks may have several teams interested in his services.
Joakim Soria
Joakim Soria was expected to be the Arizona Diamondbacks closer this year. While that has not been the case, he could still be an interesting option for teams in search of bullpen help.
This season has not been to Soria’s usual standards. He has posted a 4.50 ERA and a 1.429 WHiP over his 14 innings, issuing five walks while striking out 13 batters. His FIP of 5.15 does not show that this number will improve much in the coming weeks.
However, Soria is a veteran reliever who has proven that he can still get the opposition out. He may not have the velocity he once had, but he knows how to pitch. Putting him on team with postseason expectations may get him back on track.
Soria also has plenty of postseason experience. He has been a part of three trade deadline deals already over the course of his career, helping bring those teams to the postseason. His ability to pitch in multiple roles in the bullpen, either as a setup man or a closer, will make him even more intriguing.
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The Arizona Diamondbacks are not going anywhere this season. However, they have some players that will be of interest at the trade deadline.