MLB Rumors: Arizona Diamondbacks to have a fire sale at trade deadline?
By Hayden Kane
Anybody but Paul Goldschmidt. That is how the Arizona Diamondbacks are approaching trade discussions as next month’s July 31st deadline slowly approaches.
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During a season when more teams see themselves as buyers than sellers, the National League West might have multiple teams that are looking to tear things down and start over. Those two teams, the Diamondbacks and the San Diego Padres, have seen changes in leadership mid-season. The Diamondbacks hired Tony La Russa to run their franchise, while the Padres just announced on Sunday that general manager Josh Byrnes had been relieved of his duties.
Both teams might sell aggressively at the deadline, though the future of the Padres is still unclear as of yet. As for the Diamondbacks, Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe writes that they will be active at next month’s deadline, willing to trade anybody but Goldschmidt:
"“We’re meeting on it,” said Diamondbacks chief baseball officer Tony La Russa. “Figures we are sellers, not buyers.”La Russa has familiarized himself with the Arizona farm system. He certainly knows the major league roster and has seen what everyone else has — an underperforming team that was decimated by injuries right off the bat, including to No. 1 starter Patrick Corbin.La Russa is working with GM Kevin Towers and the rest of the staff on a plan for the future. But it sure looks as if teams can inquire about everyone except first baseman Paul Goldschmidt."
Out with grit, in with talent? If I were La Russa that might be how I presented the future plans, especially since Martin Prado, the center piece of the “grit over talent” trade that involved Justin Upton, is among the guys available.
Given his stature in the game, it makes sense that La Russa wants to put his own stamp on things in Arizona. That might start with a flurry of activity next month at the trade deadline.