D-Backs Unable to Secure Starting Pitching at Deadline

The team's poor record over the last month impacted Mike Hazen's level of aggressiveness

The Arizona Diamondbacks brought in four players at the trade deadline, two relievers, including a closer, a reserve infielder, and a right handed platoon outfielder. The marquee acquisition was getting closer Paul Sewald from the Mariners. They also brought in right handed hitter Tommy Pham from the Mets, infielder Jace Peterson from the A's, and right handed reliever Peter Strzelecki from the Brewers. They achieved most of their goals with one glaring omission;  starting pitcher. 

Mike Hazen was open about the fact that the team's performance over the last month or so, 9-18 since June 28th, caused him to be less aggressive or willing to pay the prices required to get a starter than he otherwise might have been.

 "I think we would have been even more aggressive had we maintained where we were a month ago in all honesty...I think if you're in a certain position, relative to winning the division with a commanding lead, that is such an important dynamic that maybe you can justify being even more aggressive"

In yesterday's discussion he mentioned that teams were not even willing to discuss prices until the last week or so, so the option to make a trade a month ago was not on the table. In discussing the starting pitcher market just now Hazen said that it was a challenging deadline with a lot more buyers than sellers. That made it difficult to acquire the starting pitching the team was after, even though they engaged on both rental market options and on pitchers with control. 

"That market was really tough, there weren't a lot of starters out there available, some of the starters that were out there got held, some got traded, we didn't end up acquiring one"

Teams were not only asking for prospects, but were also pushing for players off the major league roster. This wasn't about holding on to prospects, according to Hazen, but also about how he would reconstruct the team if he had to start removing players from the major league roster to add a starter.  They did that to some degree, notably the Andrew Chafin trade. 

"The question you have to ask yourself is what you're actually putting together when you put the team back together. It's not just about holding prospects. We were willing to be aggressive with some of our guys, but there were a lot of combinations of players, and almost every deal was a combination of two to three players, and some of those players are on our team now"  

The D-backs will now need to rely on their minor league depth until Tommy Henry and Zach Davies return to the rotation from the injured list. Brandon Pfaadt has already made two starts since being recalled and Slade Cecconi will be making his major league debut tomorrow in San Francisco. 

Andrew Chafin Trade

Hazen said the biggest motivating factor was he felt they needed additional right handed relief depth.  They had many inquiries and they felt they had the depth from the left side between Kyle Nelson, Chafin, Joe Mantiply, and Tyler Gilbert. They received many inquiries on Chafin and Mantiply, and ultimately it was Chafin who got moved. 

Hazen admitted that Chafin's poor splits against left hand batters, who are hitting .314 with a .417 on-base percentage in 60 plate appearances, and the fact that Tyler Gilbert has performed well were factors that he considered as well. But those weren't the driving factors. It was more about the return according to Hazen. That said Peter Strzelecki will be optioned to the minors, and lefty Joe Mantiply will be recalled from Triple A-Reno Hazen said. Left unsaid was the fact that the team saves several million dollars with this deal. In the end it may just have been a salary dump of an underperforming veteran reliever. 

Tommy Pham Trade

Hazen mentioned that Pham has a proven track record and also has shown he's very motivated this year and reports are that he has been a good clubhouse presence. This was the last chance to add a right handed bat that might make some impact. 

Related Content

Andrew Chafin Traded to Milwaukee Brewers for Peter Strzelecki

Diamondbacks Acquire Infielder Jace Peterson from Athletics

Diamondbacks Get Closer Paul Sewald in Trade with Mariners

D-backs Acquire Tommy Pham from Mets