One move each NL West team must make before the trade deadline

The MLB trade deadline is July 30 at 6 p.m. ET and because several teams are in the mix for a wild-card spot, it promises to be the most intriguing day of the season.

The NL West hasn't lived up to expectations this season, but every team outside of the Colorado Rockies is still in the mix for a playoff spot. The Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres will surely be two of the more active teams ahead of the trade deadline. The Arizona Diamondbacks and San Francisco Giants, meanwhile, must prove in the coming weeks why their front offices should bolster their rosters.

With that in mind, here is one move each NL West team must make ahead of the trade deadline.

(All statistics and records are through Tuesday's games.)

Arizona Diamondbacks (41-44)

The move: Trade RHP Paul Sewald 

After making a miraculous run to the 2023 World Series, the Diamondbacks entered the season with the highest Opening Day payroll in franchise history. However, injuries and inconsistent performances have resulted in Arizona limping to a 41-44 record, putting the team in a precarious position with the trade deadline rapidly approaching.

There's still time to turn things around, especially with left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez (shoulder) expected to return before the deadline. Even so, with the Diamondbacks owning the third-most difficult remaining schedule in the majors, GM Mike Hazen should sell off pieces if his team can't quickly get on track. Arizona has a few intriguing trade candidates, including speedy outfielder Jake McCarthy, but if the team decides to sell, it should only part with players who aren't under contract long-term.

The 34-year-old Sewald, an impending free agent, would instantly be one of the top rental arms on the trade market if the Diamondbacks made him available. Sewald was sidelined by an oblique strain earlier this season but has pitched well since coming off the injured list, posting a 1.56 ERA with 11 saves in 19 games. Contending teams could get desperate for relievers at the deadline, so capitalizing on Sewald's value could net Arizona a worthwhile acquisition capable of helping the team for the foreseeable future. 

Colorado Rockies (29-56)

The move: Trade second baseman Brendan Rodgers 

The Rockies' playoff aspirations are essentially dead, as they're one of just two teams to be more than 5.5 games back of the third and final NL wild-card spot. Colorado is typically quiet around the trade deadline and this season doesn't appear to be any different. It would be wise for the club to explore Ryan McMahon's market, but Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post recently reported there's “nearly zero” chance Colorado trades the third baseman.

Nonetheless, Colorado desperately must add pitching – both in the starting rotation and bullpen – and the only way to make a substantial upgrade is through the trade market. Rodgers, who will hit free agency in 2026, would be a compelling target for teams searching for middle-infield help.

In 68 games this season, the 2022 Gold Glove Award winner is slashing .282/.325/.407 with five home runs and 28 RBI. Considering they have several MLB-ready arms waiting in the minor leagues, the New York Yankees would be an ideal trade partner for the Rockies if the Bombers want to end the Gleyber Torres experiment at second base.

Los Angeles Dodgers (53-33)

The move: Acquire Rays outfielder Randy Arozarena 

The Dodgers are no strangers to making splashy deadline acquisitions and after going on a massive spending spree this past offseason, they should have another noteworthy move up their sleeve. On paper, Chicago White Sox starter Garrett Crochet and Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette seem like perfect matches, though neither is the most realistic options. Los Angeles could get outbid by the Baltimore Orioles for Crochet while trading for Bichette poses a major risk, considering he's hitting a career-low .227 with four homers and 28 RBI this summer.

Despite being a risky addition in his own right, Arozarena is worth the gamble for the Dodgers, who have received minimal production from outfielders other than Teoscar Hernandez. Arozarena is slashing an uncharacteristic .196/.305/.353 with 11 home runs, 28 RBI and 10 stolen bases, but his stellar June provides optimism that he's returning to All-Star form. In 25 games last month, Arozarena hit .291 with three home runs and nine RBI and posted an .893 OPS. 

Given that Arozarena is under team control until 2027, he won't be cheap to acquire. That said, even though Los Angeles' farm system isn't as strong as it has been in recent years, the team has more than enough talented prospects to strike a deal with Tampa Bay. 

It's a World Series-or-bust season for the Dodgers. Adding a proven playoff performer like Arozarena could be the key to achieving their ultimate goal.

San Diego Padres (46-43)

The move: Acquire Rockies catcher Elias Diaz  

President of baseball operations A.J. Preller is another executive who enjoys taking big swings at the trade deadline, but it wouldn't be surprising if he took a more reserved approach this time around. The Padres can't continue to gut their farm system to acquire talent, though Diaz wouldn't cost much to acquire and would immediately upgrade the team's catcher situation.

Catcher Kyle Higashioka hit eight home runs last month, but Luis Campusano – who is on a rehab assignment due to a thumb injury – has struggled defensively. Campusano has not only been the worst catcher in baseball, but he's also statistically been the worst overall fielder, posting -12 defensive runs saved.

It's possible Higashioka will assume the majority of the starts at catcher for the remainder of the season, but it wouldn't hurt to bring in the rental Diaz to shoulder the load. Diaz, the MVP of the 2023 MLB All-Star Game, is slashing .307/.352/.439 with five home runs and 28 RBI in 58 games. 

San Francisco Giants (42-44) 

The move: Acquire Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette 

As mentioned, Bichette is off to the worst start to a season of his career and there's no telling whether a change of scenery will change that.

Still, he's a 26-year-old, two-time All-Star who is under contract through the 2025 season and (more importantly) is better than San Francisco's current options at shortstop. The Giants have been searching for a true successor to Brandon Crawford with little success, as five shortstops have combined to post 0.7 bWAR this season, the seventh fewest at the position among teams.

San Francisco needs more than just a stopgap at shortstop. Although the team's No. 3 prospect, Marco Luciano, impressed with his bat during his 10-game stint earlier this season, his defense casts doubt that he's the Giants' long-term answer. Bichette isn't an elite fielder by any means, but he's competent defensively, as evidenced by his 58th-percentile ranking in fielding run value, according to Baseball Savant.

With the way he's performing at the plate, Bichette isn't an ideal addition for most contending teams, but he could be a low-risk, high-reward acquisition for the Giants, given their situation. If Luciano still has enough name value to serve as a headliner in a potential deal, San Francisco shouldn't hesitate to flip him for Bichette.