MLB Rumors: Arizona Diamondbacks open to trade for their shortstops

The Arizona Diamondbacks have two young players competing for their starting shortstop position. The only problem is, neither of them is particularly good at this point.

Both are quite young, with Didi Gregorius being 24 years old and Chris Owings a spry 22 years old. Whoever loses the position battle might be more likely to land in Triple-A for further development. Nick Piecoro of USA Today Sports also reports that the team might be open to trading one of their young shortstops:

"But we should also keep in mind a third outcome – that the Diamondbacks end the competition by making a trade at some point during spring training.‘It’s been pretty quiet of late,’ General manager Kevin Towers said of the trade market. ‘With Stephen Drew still out there right now, I haven’t had much trade discussions.'”"

Speaking of Drew, you wonder if the potential availability of these two guys in a trade is holding up the market for Drew. There are teams who need a shortstop, after all, whether they be a team who obviously needs one (the New York Mets), a team who kinda needs one (the Boston Red Sox) or a team who needs one but is in denial because it’s awkward (the New York Yankees).

As for what the Diamondbacks would want in return, well…it’s something very specific. As Towers puts it:

"Our biggest needs in our system are catching. If it’s the right, top-notch catching prospect. Someone we could have right behind Miggy. More of an upper-level guy. Maybe a top, upper-end starter. We have a lot of bullpen depth, infielders. Maybe an outfielder, but probably more catching and Double-A, Triple-A type starter.”"

OK then.