ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

ESPN analyst: Arizona Diamondbacks should stand pat

Jul 29, 2013, 7:32 PM | Updated: 7:32 pm

Follow @theAdamGreen...

At 54-51, the Arizona Diamondbacks are just 2.5 games out of first in the NL West.

And given the fact that they had spent the great majority of the season in the division’s top spot, it’s fair to believe that they may reclaim their lead at some point.

However, the D-backs are a disappointing 4-6 since the All-Star Break and appear to be fading. And without a trade, perhaps their hopes of earning a playoff spot are fleeting, at best.

Yet, ESPN.com’s Jim Bowden, in an Insider article, lists the D-backs as one of five teams that should not make a big deadline deal.

Diamondbacks general manager Kevin Towers’ phone never stops ringing because of the team’s stable of young starting pitchers in the major and minor leagues. However, when you’re a midmarket club, you just can’t trade that type of talent for stopgap players at the trade deadline.

The Diamondbacks are a solid blue-collar team that looked like an 85-win team in March and still look like that three days from the trade deadline.

In other words, this is a good team but not a great team. To make significant trades to improve the team, they’d have to mortgage the future because everyone keeps asking for elite pitching prospect Archie Bradley and Tyler Skaggs, and it just doesn’t make sense to trade years of non-arbitration eligibility to try to win now, especially when this team simply isn’t good enough to win a World Series by making those types of deadline deals.

Outside of a small deal for a left-handed reliever, they’re probably better off doing nothing and trying to win over the next several years with the young pitching they have stockpiled.

While a playoff spot would be nice, most people seem to agree that the Diamondbacks should not make a deal that has them part with one of their top prospects.

So while it may be difficult to watch a team that has a shot to win a division simply stand pat, it may actually be the best thing for the franchise going forward.

Arizona Diamondbacks

Jordan Montgomery...

Alex Weiner

Jordan Montgomery’s Diamondbacks debut goes well in win vs. Giants

Arizona Diamondbacks left-hander Jordan Montgomery was as advertised in his team debut Friday against the San Francisco Giants.

6 hours ago

Jordan Montgomery...

Arizona Sports

Jordan Montgomery up, Ryne Nelson sent to IL and Jace Peterson designated by D-backs

The Arizona Diamondbacks recalled starting lefty Jordan Montgomery to make his debut with the team Friday against the San Francisco Giants.

13 hours ago

Arizona Diamondbacks' Christian Walker (53) is tagged out by San Francisco Giants first baseman LaM...

Associated Press

Diamondbacks’ bats go quiet in shutout loss to Giants

Diamondbacks hitters went three-up, three-down in seven innings on Thursday as they dropped the series opener to the Giants.

1 day ago

Ryne Nelson...

Arizona Sports

Ryne Nelson pulled after 2 innings with right elbow contusion

D-backs' Ryne Nelson exited a series-opening loss to the San Francisco Giants after a ball came back to hit his throwing arm.

1 day ago

Eugenio Suárez...

Alex Weiner

Diamondbacks drop messy getaway game to Cubs in avoidable series loss

The group of self-inflicted losses from the Diamondbacks early this season grew on Wednesday against the Cubs.

2 days ago

Jordan Montgomery...

Arizona Sports

Jordan Montgomery to debut for Diamondbacks with start Friday vs. Giants

Jordan Montgomery will make his Arizona Diamondbacks debut Friday against the San Francisco Giants, manager Torey Lovullo told reporters.

3 days ago

ESPN analyst: Arizona Diamondbacks should stand pat