D-backs fielding calls on arms, infielders

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- At Day 2 of the Winter Meetings, the D-backs continued to receive lots of interest in their starting pitchers and middle infielders.
According to USA Today, the Yankees are interested in left-hander Patrick Corbin, who is in his final year of control, and D-backs general manager Mike Hazen said he has frequently been asked by other clubs about Arizona's pitching.
"We have been hit on our starting pitching," Hazen said. "We have all sorts of starting pitching -- we have starting pitching that's young and controllable. We have starting pitching that's not as controllable. It's sort of all over the spectrum and sort of hits a lot of different clubs. And a lot of different teams are looking for starting pitching right now."
Trading a starting pitcher would be more complicated than dealing an infielder, because if he traded a member of his rotation, Hazen would have to somehow replace him.
"There would have to be some other path that you would feel comfortable you'd be able to replace that starting pitcher with," Hazen said. "Wherever that was. You could theoretically do it without having a plan in place. I would like to have a plan in place if we did that."
The rotation heading into Spring Training appears set with Zack Greinke, Robbie Ray, Corbin, Taijuan Walker and Zack Godley. Hazen mentioned the club has a little bit of depth in prospects Anthony Banda, Braden Shipley and Matt Koch.
Right-hander Shelby Miller is expected to return from Tommy John surgery sometime around midseason, and prospect Taylor Clarke could be ready at some point to contribute if needed.
Still, trading one of the front five, Hazen said, would require the team to find a way to acquire a replacement.
When it comes to the middle infield, however, dealing someone is much simpler because of the team's surplus in that area.
As it stands, the D-backs' middle-infield options consist of Chris Owings, Nick Ahmed, Brandon Drury, Daniel Descalso and Ketel Marte.
Owings' versatility makes him extremely valuable. Although the D-backs have said they'd like to add outfield depth, Owings could help alleviate that, as he can not only play every position in the infield, he can play all three outfield positions well.
"I would say that's probably the plan," Hazen said of using Owings in that role. "Love the way he plays second, love the way he plays short, plays all over the outfield. He can play third. To me that is a huge strength."