5 Arizona Diamondbacks Become Trade Candidates After Corbin Burnes News

The Arizona Diamondbacks got the worst news possible on starting pitcher Corbin Burnes on Friday, as he'll be out until late next season, or possibly even 2027 after Tommy John surgery. So what does this mean for the team going forward in 2025?

According to MLB insider (and former GM) Jim Bowden, it means they should sell, sell, sell! "You become the co-headliner at the trade deadline with the Baltimore Orioles! That's what you do!" Anything not nailed down (essentially, all pending free agents) should be dealt, and as Bowden says, the D-Backs could turn this around in a hurry if they make smart deals.

Despite their insane seven-run 9th-inning comeback a couple of days ago against the Atlanta Braves, Bowden and other baseball observers feel the Snakes, at one game under .500, have little chance of getting out of the stacked NL West (or Wild Card race) without their ace pitcher.

There are four players that should become trade candidates asap:

Zac Gallen

Gallen used to be the D-Backs' ace, but he's been a shell of himself this season, and not putting his best foot forward in his contract year. He's got a career worst 5.13 ERA and 1.33 WHIP while leading the NL in walks surrendered with 33 in 73 innings. But potential suitors would be buying on the hope that he regains his form down the stretch that saw him go 43-19 over the previous three seasons with an ERA in the mid-3.00s.

Merrill Kelly

Another pending free agent who has been a top-end of-the-rotation guy for the past four years. He's 36-19 over that time, with an ERA in the low to mid-3.00s. As Jeff Passan wrote recently, "He'd look good in any rotation."

Josh Naylor

MLB insider Jim Bowden says if the Diamondbacks sell before the July trade deadline, All-Star Josh Naylor could be on the move, with the Seattle Mariners and Cincinnati Reds as top fits👀.

Naylor, hitting .287 this season, would give both teams a much-needed boost at first base… pic.twitter.com/AAgoFCPnzG
— Sportsnaut (@Sportsnaut) June 5, 2025

"You call up Seattle and see if they want a first baseman who can hit and drive in runs," said Bowden.

Naylor was an All-Star in 2024 with career highs of 31 HR and 103 RBIs with Cleveland. This season, although the home runs are down a bit, with just seven, his OPS is actually higher, at .793, as he's hitting .289 with a .345 on-base pct.

Eugenio Suárez

Another big-time power bat who has five 30-HR seasons on his resume, and is on pace for 40 bombs this year. Sure, he's streaky, and his average will never be anything to write home about, but he is OPS'ing .815 this season. His bat could help a lot of lineups.

Shelby Miller

"Shelby Miller's renaissance is real," writes Passan about the D-Backs' 34-year-old reliever. He's sporting a 1.75 ERA, has six saves, and is holding opponents to a .187 average.

Will the D-Backs do all this selling? With Burnes out for the year, Bowden is pretty emphatic: "They're screwed! Their season's over."

Sounds like they'll be a seller.