The Diamondbacks aren’t any stranger to dealing from their perennial outfield depth, and GM Mike Hazen tells Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic that his inventory of heart fielders is once more drawing curiosity. Hazen wouldn’t rule out a commerce finally coming collectively. It doesn’t sound as if Arizona is actively buying any of its outfield choices however quite listening to pretty strong curiosity, given the dearth of heart subject choices in free company and elsewhere on the commerce market. Diamondbacks followers, particularly, will wish to take a look at Piecoro’s piece for a full slate of quotes and perception from Hazen.
The Snakes have Corbin Carroll, Alek Thomas and Jake McCarthy lined up as their probably outfield heading into the 2025 season, with Lourdes Gurriel Jr. mixing into left subject as nicely. There’ll probably be some rotation of that bunch by the outfield and DH spots all through the season. (Gurriel, it needs to be famous, just isn’t a middle fielder and isn’t seemingly among the many gamers most closely inquired about right now.)
Of the D-backs’ trio of heart field-capable outfielders, solely Thomas and McCarthy stand as possible commerce candidates. Carroll, the 2023 NL Rookie of the 12 months, had a sluggish begin in 2024 however bounced again to type because the season went on, slashing .256/.348/.522 (136 wRC+) over his last 425 plate appearances. He signed an eight-year, $111MM extension after a quick however glorious 32-game cup of espresso late within the 2022 season. He’s a cornerstone participant in Arizona. Different golf equipment have in all probability inquired all the identical, however Carroll is staying put.
Thomas and McCarthy, nonetheless, are a minimum of a bit extra believable as commerce candidates. The previous ranked as one of many recreation’s prime prospects for years however has but to solidify himself as a viable on a regular basis participant within the majors. He’s a plus defender and runner when wholesome however has mustered solely a .226/.271/.359 batting line in 916 journeys to the plate within the majors.
Thomas, 24, doesn’t strike out at an alarming clip (19.3%) but additionally ranks third amongst 251 huge league hitters (min. 900 plate appearances) with a 57.2% ground-ball charge relationship again to 2022. That penchant for grounders has undercut what scouting stories tabbed as above-average uncooked energy. Thomas did pop 18 homers between Double-A and Triple-A a pair seasons again, however he has solely 20 homers in his 916 huge league plate appearances. With out elevating the ball extra often, he’s unlikely to hit for a lot energy within the majors. That mentioned, he did make loads of arduous contact this previous season (91.6 mph common exit velocity, 48.6% hard-hit charge). Even when a lot of that occurs on the bottom, a participant with Thomas’ velocity ought to see a much better common on balls in play than each the .200 he posted in 2024 and the .260 he’s notched in his profession. There’s loads to love about Thomas, and there are absolutely groups in want of a middle fielder who’re hoping they will purchase low.
McCarthy, 27, is one other stable defender — maybe not fairly to the extent of a wholesome Thomas — who turned in a pointy .285/.349/.400 batting line in 2024. He smacked eight homers, swiped 25 baggage (in 31 tries) and confirmed very sturdy contact abilities (15.8% strikeout charge). He doesn’t have a lot energy but additionally doesn’t possess obtrusive platoon splits. McCarthy doesn’t stroll as a lot as one would like from a prototypical leadoff hitter (6.3% in 2024, 7.1% profession), however he makes sufficient contact and runs nicely sufficient to profile as a table-setter who can deal with all three outfield spots.
Each Thomas and McCarthy have one minor league possibility remaining and are controllable for an additional 4 seasons, which solely provides to their attraction for win-now and rebuilding golf equipment alike. The Royals, Phillies, Pirates, Reds, Mets and Yankees are simply among the groups that may very well be available in the market for outfield assist this winter (although a few of these clearly depend upon the end result of extra urgent free agent pursuits).
As notably, Hazen indicated that any trades from his huge league roster could be made with a watch towards bettering one other space of the MLB squad. The D-backs might lose Christian Walker to free company, as an example, leaving a possible void at first base. Hazen has already publicly indicated that he hopes so as to add one other high-leverage reliever/nearer, although Piecoro particularly calls out the truth that the D-backs aren’t prone to transfer a number of years of a controllable outfielder in a straight-up swap for a reliever.
Followers could speculate on the potential to successfully buy somebody like Thomas or McCarthy by taking over some and even all the remaining $22.5MM on Jordan Montgomery’s contract. That appears overwhelmingly unlikely. 4 years of both Thomas or McCarthy would absolutely be valued at greater than the remaining $22.5MM on that contract, and even Montgomery himself would in all probability nonetheless command a number of million {dollars} on a bounceback deal in free company. Taking up his contract in all probability quantities to someplace within the neighborhood of $15MM in underwater cash, and that sum isn’t practically sufficient to influence a group to half with a controllable huge league outfielder.
