D-backs aiming to be buyers as Trade Deadline nears 

Mike Hazen wants to be a buyer at the Trade Deadline.

The Diamondbacks' GM hated having to be a seller at last year's Deadline and waited until the last few days to do so.

Now with the Trade Deadline a few weeks away on Aug. 3, Hazen's team is hovering around the .500 mark while still waiting to establish itself as a clear buyer or seller. A weekend sweep of the Dodgers certainly boosted the D-backs' chances, but the first couple weeks after the All-Star break remain crucial ones.

"What I want to do and what I'm gonna do may not work in concert with each other," Hazen said earlier this month. "I want this team to make a deep run in the pennant race and into the playoffs, and we're going to need to add players to do that. I say this every year, I don't really feel like I'm going to make that decision. I feel like that decision is going to get handed to me one way or another from the guys down there [in the clubhouse]."

Last year, with a slightly worse record, the Diamondbacks felt the same urgency coming out of the break and things did not go well.

Arizona won its first three games of the second half before the bottom fell out, as the Diamondbacks dropped nine of the next 10 games and Hazen dealt veterans Josh Naylor, Eugenio Suárez, Randal Grichuk and Merrill Kelly.

Maybe the team pressed after the break last year, maybe it didn't. But it's something the current team keeps in mind.

"I think it's the balance of moving with urgency and just having urgency, but at the same time not trying to force [things]," All-Star outfielder Corbin Carroll said. "I think when you're in that space in this game, it's a bad one to be in. So I would say that's kind of the balance that I feel like we've got to juggle right now."

The Diamondbacks are a hard team to figure. An 11-2 record during a 13-game stretch against the bottom-dwelling Rockies and Giants gave them a big cushion, while their record against teams with a winning record has left much to be desired (19-31).

"I think kind of scuffling would be the word I would use," Carroll said before the Dodgers series. "I think that we're just not playing the way that we need to play if we want to be in a position where we're gonna do something with this season. I think that's reflected in a number of ways, but at the end of the day, if you look outside of what we did versus the Giants and the Rockies, I think our record kind of does reflect what we've done to this point. I think it's frustrating for everyone in here, because we know there's a lot more than that in this room, and we just need to play better, and it starts with me."

Record at the break: 49-47 (Second in NL West, 11.5 games back)
Record at the break last year: 47-50 (Fourth in NL West, 11.0 games back)
Playoff odds: 24.5%
Remaining Strength of Schedule: .497 (18th hardest in MLB)

Biggest need
If the Diamondbacks are buyers, the one clear area they need an upgrade in is at first base. After a career month from Ildemaro Vargas in April, the position has become a real weak spot. Pavin Smith battled injuries, struggled when he returned and was designated for assignment. Free-agent signing Carlos Santana played little before being injured, and he too was DFA'd. Right now, Vargas and Tim Tawa are splitting reps there as Arizona is desperate for any type of production.

Biggest chip
If the Diamondbacks are sellers, they don't have the same number of veteran free-agent-to-be rentals to offer teams. However, right-hander Michael Soroka, who was signed to a one-year deal in the offseason, was outstanding for them before getting hurt. He should be back soon, and if he proves he's healthy, he could be very attractive for a contender. If the Diamondbacks buy, they could deal from their prospect inventory, especially in the outfield where they have depth.

Key player for second half
When they re-signed Zac Gallen just after Spring Training started, the Diamondbacks were ecstatic at the reunion. Gallen, though, hasn't been able to put together full outings and recently landed on the injured list with right elbow inflammation. With starters Corbin Burnes and Ryne Nelson out until September, getting Gallen healthy and pitching like his old self is a priority for the rotation.

Determining factor
The Diamondbacks face a tough schedule coming out of the break. They have three-game sets against the Cardinals and A's at home before flying to St. Louis for one game and then three games at the Nationals, Pirates and Guardians leading into the Deadline. How they do in those games will have a huge impact on whether they end up as buyers or sellers.