D-Backs Are Sellers, What's Next?

As the MLB All-Star break comes to an end tomorrow, and we begin the dog days of summer. Though before the grim and bleak, as D-Backs fans how about that All-Star game Ketel Marte Double & Corbin Carroll HOME RUN!!

Anyways I'm afraid it’s time to tap out on our Arizona Diamondbacks playoff hopes. This is not a drastic attempt at a reverse jinx or a way to get onto the legendary freezing cold takes in a couple of months. Sometimes, mentally, with your beloved franchises, you have to know when the battle is lost and it’s time to prepare for the war ahead.

For the D-Backs, we fortunately have multiple assets (players) that are wanted around the league. Furthermore, it's important to note that most of the rumored players are not signed past this season as of now. Why bring this up? Well, two reasons: one, that could affect trade values, and two, it’s crucial to get a return now rather than lose out and end up empty-handed in 2026.

The current players "on the market" according to multiple reports for the D-Backs are Eugenio Suárez, Merrill Kelly, Josh Naylor, and Zac Gallen. For me, the toughest name to see on that list is Gallen, as he has always been one of my all-time favorite D-Backs. I’m secretly holding on to hope he doesn’t get moved and decides to re-sign! I need the candles in the comments for this one, D-Backs fans.

Alright I know, yes, Kelly is a hometown guy and all, but being older, I wish for him to get a championship before it's too late. Gallen is still 28, and I believe we can get back to the Series before he’s done. For the other two, Suárez has become quite the fan favorite as he does anywhere he goes, and Naylor is having a great season too. But again, both aren't signed past 2025. It would be a disservice to the team not to cash in on Suárez’s career season and Naylor being a really good left-handed bat.

Before we go into a panic about the Ketel Martes, Corbin Carrolls, and Geraldo Perdomos...chill. Let’s breathe in & out. They are not going anywhere. I’d give the chance of a Ketel trade 1.5%, Carroll -1,000,000%, and Perdomo maybe 2.3%. They are the core three right now, and top prospect Jordan Lawlar is still being considered the 3B of our future alongside them.

With all the rumors swirling, the three teams I’ve seen most on the radar for our available players are the Mariners, Yankees, and Mets. I’ve checked the rosters for you, done the grit work, and come up with a wishlist of players we should want in return.

Mets

They probably have the least to offer in terms of high-ceiling potential prospects of the three, but I’ve looked around and found some intriguing names. Sadly, this team has been linked to Zac Gallen the most, so a trade with the Mets might mean no more Gallentine’s Day in Arizona.

Jonah Tong, Pitcher (RH), Age: 22, Level: Double-A

Fresh off a Futures Game appearance, this would be the top want in return. At Double-A this year, he has a 1.83 ERA with 125 K’s in 78 innings. The biggest thing to me though? A .141 batting average against. He looks like an MLB impact-type next season. We need guys who can get to AZ quicker, and we all know—we need ARMS!

Nolan McLean, Pitcher (RH), Age: 23, Level: Triple-A

Another arm. This guy is very MLB-ready, having dominated both Double- and Triple-A this year. Also a former college arm, which...in my opinion, tend to have more long-term success. Not as many strikeouts, but still holds opponents to a .204 average. We need guys who can get to the desert ASAP and get outs!

Jonathan Santucci, Pitcher (LH), Age: 22, Level: Double-A

Yes, there’s a theme here—another pitcher. That’s due to need and also because the Mets don’t have many MLB-ready bats right now. Santucci, other than having a really cool last name, is a solid lefty who projects as a middle-of-the-rotation starter. Ceiling isn’t as high as Tong’s, but he can still be impactful.

Yankees

The other NY team seems interested in all our available players, so there’s a possibility of a combo deal sending multiple names to the Pinstripes. The Yankees’ system doesn’t have many pitching prospects ready, but I have one dude in mind:

George Lombard Jr., SS/2B, Age: 20, Level: Double-A

Okay, before you state the obvious: we already have a SS and 2B...but sometimes, if the best player is on the table, you just figure it out. Lombard, another Futures All-Star from last week, is soooo electric. He’s what we love about D-Backs baseball: fast, scrappy, and only knows 110%. He already has 25 SBs this year and just got promoted to Double-A. Most likely headed to the Arizona Fall League this offseason, which usually means a big league debut isn't far behind.

Mariners

The boys out in Seattle seem most interested in our hitters Suárez and Naylor, even potentially wanting both! If we can package this deal together, it means multiple prospects. And honestly, I feel like they have the deepest pool available to pick from. I narrowed it down to a few.

Harry Ford, C/OF/1B, Age: 22, Level: Triple-A

Yes, another catcher, which we need, but he’s athletic enough to play other spots too. Ford is a multiple-time Futures All-Star and played for Great Britain in the WBC. He’s stuck behind “Big Dumper” in Seattle but looks as major-league-ready as you can be. Could impact the team next season, and many believe he has untapped power potential.

Ryan Sloan, Pitcher (RH), Age: 19, Level: Single-A

Sloan won’t be in the league soon, but his potential is very high. Already 220 lbs at 6'5", he’s got a massive frame and a high ceiling. Despite being just 19, he’s only walked 11 guys in 55 innings, that’s a great sign that he’s already showing command, which is usually a hurdle for young arms.

Lazaro Montes, OF, Age: 20, Level: Double-A

This youngster is flying up the Mariners system. He’s got power that could help our future middle-of-the-order. At 6’5” 210, he could also slot in at 1B, a weak spot for us right now. D-Backs fans are used to having a dude at 1B: Travis Lee, Conor Jackson, Paul Goldschmidt, Christian Walker. Could Lazaro be the next in line?

As the deadline draws closer, I’m sure more teams in the hunt, like the Cubs, Tigers, Red Sox, or even Phillies will come calling too. But right now, based on reports, the two NY teams and Seattle have been mentioned multiple times.

Being sellers is never something you want to hear in mid-July, but we still have so much to be excited about with our core and some young prospects close to the show. This year, we had high hopes, something that, as a fan, is both a blessing and a curse, because failure just hurts that much more.

But this year, there was nothing we could really do. The injury bug just tore this season apart. So now it’s time to reset, recharge with some trades, see what we have the rest of the year, and look to compete in 2026.