Hazen blunt ahead of Deadline: 'Need to go out there and play our best baseball'

PHOENIX -- Prior to his team leaving on a seven-game road trip to close out the first half of the season, Diamondbacks general manager Mike Hazen addressed it.

Last year he did it just after the Trade Deadline, when the D-backs found themselves sellers. This time, Hazen wanted to make sure he did it before the Deadline.

Hazen had said through various media outlets that he wanted to be a buyer at this year's Trade Deadline, but needed his team to start playing better in order to make that happen. It was a message that he wanted to make sure he delivered in person as well.

"I didn't want to wait to hold back some of the things I wanted to say to them that I maybe should have said last year on July 1," Hazen said. "It wasn't a negative meeting. Just reiterating how much there was for us to play for, the position we needed to put ourselves in to continue to push forward, and we need to do that now.

“I also said that I feel like I'm continuing to say things in the media that are not critical, but challenging in some ways, and I'm tired of doing that that way. And I wanted to address some of those things and then give them the opportunity if they want to talk about anything to do that too."

Hazen shared his belief in the team and its abilities and stressed the importance of stacking as many wins as possible before the Trade Deadline.

Players were encouraged to speak to him privately if they had any concerns about his message or wanted to share their feelings about it.

"The long story short was just to lay out the opportunity that's in front of us, and do not take that for granted," Hazen said. "And while we have a number of guys on the injured list, those guys will be coming back. But there's no excuses because of injuries. No one cares. And we need to go out there and basically play our best baseball."

The Diamondbacks wound up splitting a four-game set against the Padres in San Diego before sweeping the Dodgers in Los Angeles heading into the All-Star Break.

Troy to IL
Outfielder Tommy Troy was placed on the 10-day injured list with a sprained right AC joint, retroactive to July 12.

Troy was injured when he ran into the wall while making a catch in Saturday's game against the Dodgers.

Gallen getting opinions
Hazen said that right-hander Zac Gallen, who was placed on the IL last weekend with right elbow inflammation, is still gathering information on his injury.

"He's getting second opinions in terms of mapping out what a [rehab] plan is going to be," Hazen said. "So I don't really have a firm answer for you yet."

Perdomo gets injection
Shortstop Geraldo Perdomo received a cortisone injection in his left wrist to battle some inflammation he's experienced in that area.

Hazen said it was not a serious injury and Perdomo was expected to be in the starting lineup Friday against the Cardinals when the second half gets underway.