Diamondbacks owner and managing partner Ken Kendrick remains undecided on whether the team will be buyers or sellers at the upcoming MLB trade deadline. With the season’s rollercoaster performance so far, Kendrick said he wants to wait and see how competitive Arizona is over the next month before making any major decisions.
The Diamondbacks endured a rough stretch in May, losing nine of 10 games, which dropped them four games below .500. However, June has brought renewed hope, with the team starting the month 9-4. Currently, Arizona holds a 36-35 record, sitting just 3.5 games out of a Wild Card spot while trailing the Los Angeles Dodgers by 6.5 games in the division.
Given the season’s unpredictability, Kendrick emphasized that how the team performs leading up to July 31 will largely influence their strategy at the trade deadline. “But will we invest in this team? If the facts and circumstances suggest investing gives us a legitimate chance to be in the postseason, then we’re going to do that,” Kendrick told Arizona Sports’ Burns & Gambo.
The Diamondbacks entered the season with a record-high payroll of nearly $195.5 million, ranking in the top 10 across Major League Baseball. This hefty spending included signing Cy Young winner Corbin Burnes to a massive six-year, $210 million deal. Unfortunately, injuries to Burnes and Justin Martinez have complicated the team’s outlook, limiting their on-field contributions.
Despite these setbacks, Kendrick remains optimistic about the team’s talent. He believes that, even with injuries, the current roster has as much potential on paper as the group that made it to the World Series last year. “Some may argue with me. That was a band of brothers who did it. This band of brothers may be also able to do it. So I think we just have to let the next month play out,” Kendrick said.
Regarding recent trade activity, Kendrick called Sunday’s acquisition of Rafael Devers an “unusual” event and said there are no imminent deals on the horizon for the Diamondbacks. “We wouldn’t be likely doing an event of significance, I wouldn’t think in the next month. Then within the last two weeks of July, it’s where all the teams get more and more serious.”
As the trade deadline approaches, all eyes will be on Arizona to see whether Kendrick decides to bolster the roster or look toward future seasons.