Hazen looking to improve D-backs at the Trade Deadline

PHOENIX -- An hour or so before his team would drop an 11-7 game to the Cardinals on Wednesday, D-backs GM Mike Hazen talked about how he was approaching Tuesday’s Trade Deadline.

Here are some things to know about what he said:

The strategy hasn’t changed
The D-backs have not played well over the past month, losing 10 of their last 13 games. They’ve fallen from first place and trail the Dodgers by four games in the NL West.

Still, Hazen plans to aggressively try and improve the team at the Trade Deadline.

“It’s been the roughest stretch of the season so far,” Hazen said. “But look, we’re still standing where we’re standing and year-over-year we’re pretty happy with where we’re standing. We think we have a good team. We have a good team that plays hard and there’s talent in the lineup, there’s talent in the bullpen and there’s talent in the rotation. So we’re out there looking to find ways to improve.”

The market has still not defined itself
With three Wild Cards in each league, the number of teams in contention -- or who feel like they’re within striking distance -- is large, and some teams are still undecided as to whether they are sellers.

“We’re still pretty far out from having a real firm grasp of it,” Hazen said. “It seems to change on a daily basis with certain parts, probably more the Wild Card chase than anywhere else. I don’t have a firm understanding of exactly who is going to do what because we’re hearing that every day, that they don’t have a firm understanding of what they’re going to do.

"We’re just going to continue to make phone calls and try to get assessments every day where we can and just letting teams know what we’re looking for and where we would be willing to be active. I think in two or three days from now we’ll have a much better sense for that.”

The areas of need have not changed
Although the bullpen struggles have gotten the most attention during the recent rough patch, the D-backs offense has also underperformed.

Despite that, pitching remains the priority, especially a backend reliever and a starter. They would also like to add a bench bat, but that might prove harder to do.

“I think bullpen is probably more realistic given the volume of bullpen that’s traditionally out there at the Deadline,” Hazen said. “I think for us to improve our pitching is a priority for me. The bottom part of our lineup, as well, is something that we’re looking at finding ways to maybe create a platoon situation for [manager Torey Lovullo] to maybe strengthen our bench. That’s something we’re looking at as well. I think the pitching gets a slightly higher priority but we’re looking at almost everything.”

Rental is more likely
Hazen’s goal in trades is generally to get young, controllable players in return especially if he’s going to give up a well-regarded prospect.

An example is the 2019 Deadline when he was willing to trade one of the organization’s better prospects in Jazz Chisholm for Zac Gallen, who would be under team control for multiple seasons after.

Hazen, though, has shown a willingness to trade for a rental, as he did when he dealt three Minor Leaguers to the Tigers in 2017 for J.D. Martinez.

“We’re always trying for those deals,” Hazen said of getting controllable players back. “I think the rental market is usually what you have the most available to you. So we’re going to engage in that, too.”

There are some untouchables ... well, kinda
When asked if there were Minor League players he would not discuss trading, Hazen said there were, sort of.

“Yes,” he said. “Although, depending on what else is being offered, we would consider almost anything. But, yes, in most cases, there are certain players we are telling teams we’re not discussing.”