Hazen: 'A lot of conversation' with trade talks
PHOENIX -- It's a busy time in the D-backs' front office right now with the July 30 Trade Deadline fast approaching, not to mention the Aug. 1 deadline for getting this month's MLB Draft picks signed.
D-backs GM Mike Hazen spent some time Tuesday discussing a variety of topics including trade talks, signing their No. 1 pick and manager Torey Lovullo, who is in the final year of his contract.
On current trade discussions
"I think the general direction is pretty well-identified. I think there’s a lot of moving pieces right now. As you can imagine, there’s a lot of interest in our players. We are trying to figure out exactly what we’re going to do and when. It’s hard for me to give an assessment on when things are going to happen because we’re at the mercy of two parties coming together. There’s a lot of conversation around a very wide range of possible targets."
On whether fans should expect wholesale changes
"I probably wouldn’t have that expectation. I think it’s unrealistic to think that you can pull off that many trades, even if you wanted to pull off that many trades. That's probably where my answer is coming from. It's probably unrealistic to think that you have to have many options.
"But there are different types of opportunities present now, I think, as more teams are engaging the Trade Deadline looking beyond the season, using this as an acquisition time. Now, those trades are hard to pull off because they're easy to push into the offseason, but sometimes it makes sense to do those things now."
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On whether the D-backs would be willing to part with what some might consider their "core players"
"They're being asked about, but I wouldn't really classify it as very serious conversation at this point with anybody. But you never know what's going to happen. We have to be open-minded to any and all possibilities because of where we stand right now. The notion that we're one player away from catching up to the Giants is just not true.
"We need to be open-minded to anything that’s going to come our way. But we need to anchor around certain players, too. So that means that we're not just out there looking to make mass changes to the entirety of the roster, but we have to be open-minded to what that next team is going to look like and how we get there as fast as possible."
On whether he still backs manager Torey Lovullo as strongly as he did last month
"I look at it the same way. I think the depth to which we have gotten here, it is hard for me to, you know, pin this down on any one thing, frankly. I think that when I look at us blowing games in the bullpen when the moves have all been made properly, that comes back on me. We have to make an assessment on what we’ve done from a baseball operation and from a talent acquisition standpoint and how that’s all come together. Given the depths of where we are right now, we’re going to step back at the end of the season and take a hard look at everything that we’re doing."
On the prospects of signing top Draft pick, high school shortstop Jordan Lawlar
"I feel good. I think we’re hoping we’re going to be able to come to an agreement."