Diamondbacks receive disappointing trade deadline projection from ex-MLB GM

The Arizona Diamondbacks haven't exactly had the best 2026 season so far. While they're 23-23, and only 5.5 games back in the NL West and four games back in the NL Wild Card race, there's been a good amount of disappointment.

While there are some, like Nolan Arenado, Corbin Carroll, and Ildemaro Vargas, who have played well, the struggles of some of the key players, like Ketel Marte, Merrill Kelly, and Zac Gallen, might lead to a difficult decision come the MLB trade deadline.

Former MLB general manager Jim Bowden of The Athletic revealed the Diamondbacks' trade deadline projection this year, and similar to how the season has gone thus far, it would be a disappointing result.

Diamondbacks projected to have a disappointing trade deadline

"Trade deadline position: Sellers," Bowden writes. "A third-place finish seems to be the endgame for Arizona this year, behind the Dodgers and Padres but ahead of the Giants and Rockies. Other teams should have plenty of interest in their veterans, especially Gallen and Kelly, if they can get back on track."

Bowden is projecting the Diamondbacks to wind up as sellers by this year's trade deadline on August 3rd, which isn't an unrealistic projection at all.

But it would still be a major disappointment for the D-Backs to wind up as sellers this year. At 23-23, they still are well within striking distance of the playoffs, so a deadline as sellers would mean a rough second-half of May followed by a poor June and July.

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If they do sell, there is sure to be plenty of interest in some players. Gallen and Kelly would likely be hot topics like they were a year ago, while Arenado and Vargas would be intriguing trade targets as well.

Bowden is projecting the Diamondbacks to sell at the deadline, in what would be a very disappointing outcome for the 2026 season.

While they could get a decent return for the players they could sell, conducting such a trade deadline plan would be far from ideal for this D-Backs team that realistically has a decent chance to make the postseason.

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