5 Trade Targets Named for Arizona Diamondbacks

The Arizona Diamondbacks have recovered from a slow start to the season and now find themselves right in the heart of the mix for a Wild Card berth in the National League. Where we once thought earlier in the year that they could be sellers, insider Ken Rosenthal not only has them buying, but he suggests a particular need they'll be focusing on:

The Diamondbacks expect to pursue a left-handed first baseman/DH type at the deadline, people briefed on their plans say.

The insider then went on to name five potential trade targets that the Snakes could be looking at as we get closer to the mid-summer trade deadline:

Luis Arraez, San Francisco Giants
Lars Nootbaar, St. Louis Cardinals
Zack McKinstry, Detroit Tigers
TJ Rumfield, Colorado Rockies
Troy Johnston, Colorado Rockies

Arraez is only two months into his stint in San Francisco, after signing a $12M deal as a free agent just before spring training. The Giants have become a non-factor, however, and the three-time batting champion Arraez will be one of their top trade candidates as they become sellers.

Nootbar, a staple in the Cards' outfield (and on the rumor mill) the past few years, is set to make his season debut on Friday after recovering from offseason surgery on both heels. How he looks upon his return to the lineup could determine whether he finds himself back on the trade block, as he has been for much of the last couple of seasons.

The Tigers and Rockies are both having disastrous seasons, with playoff hopes seemingly dashed already. McKinstry is having a dreadful year, batting just .158, so not sure how truly interested the D-Backs would be in him.

Rumfield has had an excellent rookie season at the age of 26 this year for Colorado, with a .286 average, eight homers, 30 RBIs and an .818 OPS. Johnson, 29, has been even better, with a .320 average. Two great trade chips for the Rockies, indeed. But we know that they rarely like to pull the trigger as sellers at the deadline, no matter how buried in the standings they are.