This week is important for the current Arizona Diamondbacks

This is the final week before the MLB All-Star Game.

The Arizona Diamondbacks (44-46) will spend it in southern California, with four games against the San Diego Padres and three versus the Los Angeles Angels.

The current roster is in win-or-be traded mode this week. Looking at the Wild Card standings, the D-backs are 4.5 games back of the final spot, with the Giants, Cardinals, and Reds ahaed of them vying for that spot. The Padres currently hold the final spot.

That doesn’t seem like a bad spot to be in near the all-star break. Especially considering this squad hasn’t won more than four consecutive games.

That doesn’t feel terrible when Corbin Burnes, Justin Martinez, A.J. Puk, and a slew of other pitchers are out for the season with elbow injuries.

That doesn’t feel awful when the only reliable high-leverage reliever is Shelby Miller, who is 10 for 15 in save opportunities.

Reasons to buy

With that said, if the D-backs win five of seven this week, this team has the opportunity to become buyers. In this scenario they’re likely within a game or two of the final spot.

If they are to buy, bullpen arms are the only upgrade to focus on. (Okay maybe a DH if there’s an opportunity to get more power). 

Even without a very good bullpen, this team has a realistic chance to win 85-88 games. That may notch a playoff spot, but it most likely would not. If the bullpen is fixed, 90 wins isn’t out of the realm of possibility, which puts this team on the cusp of the playoffs.

Unlike 2023, this bullpen can’t be patched with one trade (Paul Sewald traded to become the closer). This team needs at least two more high leverage arms, and possibly a few more inning-eater type arms.

There’s only a handful of teams that are for sure sellers. What would it take to get relievers from them? The D-backs farm system is depleted, so going all in would make that worse.

And one last note on this. If this team gets into the playoffs, anything can happen. Despite the flaws of this team, are they any worse than the 2023 team? If the squeak in the answer to that is probably not.

Reasons to sell

BUT, when you look at the landscape of the NL right now, another week of .500 ball or worse may force Mike Hazen into a selling mode. 

Since there are realistically nine teams playing for a NL playoff spot and seven in the AL, this is a sellers market.

And in a sellers market, a team loaded with talented expiring contracts, is in the best position.

Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly, Shelby Miller, Lourdes Gurriel Jr., Josh Naylor, Euguenio Suárez, and Randal Grichuk are all expiring deals that many playoff contenders would trade for.

Doing this would maybe give the 2027 D-backs a better chance at contending for a World Series. 2026 may be a wash since players like Corbin Burnes and Justin Martinez will be out for most of next season too.

Bottom line

This week will set the course for what Mike Hazen and crew will do at the trade deadline.

It’s also possible that Arizona trades away a few MLB players, while also adding some pieces in the bullpen.

It’s not an easy decision at all.

Side note – If I were Mike Hazen, I would be trying to offer Suárez a contract extension for two years. He fits the culture and nobody in the system has proven they can be the starting third baseman long-term. Also with the long-term injuries to both established and young pitchers, Merrill Kelly may be deserving of an extension too.