The Diamondbacks have gotten a lot of trade interest in outfielder Jake McCarthy but Arizona isn’t yet interested in dealing the 26-year-old, USA Today’s Bob Nightengale writes.
This isn’t the first time McƒCarthy’s name has surfaced in trade rumors, though the buzz quieted after McCarthy turned in a lackluster 2023 season. The outfielder finished fourth in NL Rookie of the Year voting in 2022 but followed up that breakout campaign by hitting only .243/.318/.326 over 312 plate appearances last season.
McCarthy’s struggles resulted in a loss of playing time and even a demotion to Triple-A, plus an oblique injury kept him from being a part of Arizona’s postseason rosters during the team’s run to the World Series.
Randal Grichuk is expected to begin the season on the injured list, so McCarthy should probably land a job as the Diamondbacks’ fourth outfielder for at least the start of the year. He also has a minor league option remaining, so the D’Backs could stash him back at Triple-A if necessary. It is worth noting that the D’Backs were reportedly open to moving either McCarthy or Dominic Fletcher in February’s trade with the White Sox that sent Fletcher to Chicago, though, in the wake of that deal, Arizona might not be willing to further deplete their stock of young outfielders by also moving McCarthy in another trade.
Nightengale feels McCarthy might be more of a trade chip later in the season if the Diamondbacks are having trouble finding playing time or a roster spot available for him.
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