Diamondbacks receive B- grade for trade deadline moves

Heading into the end of July, the Arizona Diamondbacks found themselves in a familiar position as 2023, hovering around in the Wild Card race. Just like last season, the Diamondbacks adopted a similar strategy at the trade deadline.

They added four players, sacrificing emerging prospects Deyvison De Los Santos and Andres Chaparro, to acquire two key bullpen arms, A.J. Puk and Dylan Floro, and a power bat in first baseman cc.

Dylan Floro, the final addition, could be considered the best of the acquisitions. This season, Floro has posted a 2.06 ERA in 51 games with the Nationals. In his first 23.2 innings, he allowed just one earned run and primarily pitched in the 7th or 8th innings.

However, Jim Bowden of The Athletic was not entirely impressed with the Diamondbacks’ deadline moves, particularly focusing on the cost of acquiring A.J. Puk. De Los Santos, the prospect given up in the trade, has hit 30 home runs across Double-A and Triple-A this season.

“I liked the acquisition of A.J. Puk, who gives the Diamondbacks another power left-hander out of the bullpen, but didn’t like the price they had to pay in prospects to get him. However, that was the cost of doing business in a seller’s market and adding another lefty reliever was a glaring need. After learning about Christian Walker’s oblique injury, the Diamondbacks quickly responded, landing first baseman Josh Bell, who belted five homers in his last 10 games for Miami. But the biggest thing for this team remains the anticipated returns of Merrill Kelly and Eduardo Rodriguez from the injured list. They could be difference-makers for the D-Backs down the stretch.”

As Bowden noted, the Diamondbacks did not acquire a starting pitcher, indicating their confidence in Merrill Kelly and Eduardo Rodriguez’s return from injury. Rodriguez is the first arm expected to return. Having not made a start in a Diamondbacks uniform, the southpaw could potentially make an appearance next week against the Cleveland Guardians. As for Merrill Kelly, the Diamondbacks are anticipating a return sometime around mid-August. Kelly had posted a near 2.00 ERA during his short stint on the mound before he was sent to the IL back in April.

The Diamondbacks received a B- grade from Bowden, alongside teams like the Oakland A’s, Chicago Cubs, Milwaukee Brewers, and Pittsburgh Pirates. In contrast, four teams received an A grade, including the San Diego Padres, who acquired All-Star closer Tanner Scott from the Marlins. The Miami Marlins, who traded nearly half their roster and acquired six players including Justin Turner and Randy Arozarena, and the Tampa Bay Rays, who made 10 moves before the deadline, also received A grades.

The Detroit Tigers, Chicago White Sox, and Colorado Rockies were the three teams that received the lowest grades, all earning a D.