D-backs involved in talks as Deadline nears

ST. PETERSBURG -- With fewer than 24 hours to go until Wednesday's 1 p.m. MST non-waiver Trade Deadline, rumors involving the D-backs picked up prior to Tuesday night's game against the Rays.

The D-backs talked to the White Sox about right-hander Jake Peavy, and at one point in the afternoon were the reported frontrunners for him. But Arizona's chances of acquiring him dwindled by early evening, and he was traded to the Red Sox later in the evening.

Arizona's starter on Tuesday, Ian Kennedy, was also the subject of rumors, with one source saying there were "lots of teams interested." Among the suitors were the Padres and Angels.

Both of those teams have people in their organization with a history with Kennedy. Padres GM Josh Byrnes traded for Kennedy when he was GM of the D-backs, and Angels GM Jerry Dipoto was interim GM of the D-backs during Kennedy's time there and was assistant GM in Arizona when Kennedy won 21 games in 2011.

ESPN's Buster Olney reported that the Cubs were a possible destination for Kennedy.

That Kennedy made his start on Tuesday night did not mean that he wouldn't be traded, but rather was evidence that no deal was imminent.

Arizona manager Kirk Gibson met with Towers and the team's baseball operations staff in a suite at the team hotel during Monday's off-day, discussing the 25-man roster and rest of the organization.

"It's a real thorough evaluation in a number of different directions," Gibson said.

Gibson was asked if he was happy with the 25 guys he currently had on his roster, or if he felt the team had to make a trade.

"I like our 25 guys," Gibson said. "I think right now our starting pitching isn't really set, our bullpen is in somewhat flux, we've got too many outfielders. I wouldn't say that we are really set in how we're playing right now. You've got to wait until you get up to this point right here [the Trade Deadline] and then try to make more sense of it."

Starters Brandon McCarthy and Trevor Cahill are set to return from injuries in the next 10 days and, judging by Gibson's comments, Patrick Corbin, Wade Miley and Randall Delgado do not need to worry about losing their spots.

"Our best three guys are Corbin, Miley, Delgado," Gibson said. "They've been the most consistent right now. I don't think you look at taking those guys out of where they're at."

One starter that could be added to the roster later this season is top pitching prospect Archie Bradley.

"He's throwing the ball good," Gibson said of Bradley. "I think probably it's possible by the end of the year that we might see him up here, get him introduced a little bit. Maybe September-ish."

The D-backs have a glut of outfielders, and would like to move veteran Jason Kubel, who is in the last year of his deal.

Kubel has dealt with rumors in the past, including this past offseason when it appeared the club would deal him before trading Justin Upton to the Braves.

"I want to be where I'm wanted," Kubel said when asked if he wanted to stay in Arizona. "I think that's still here, yeah. It's a business. It's part of the job. That's the way it goes."

The D-backs were also linked to the Astros right-hander Bud Norris, but it's unknown how serious those talks were.