Trade Rumors: Is Josh Collmenter Available?

Jul 4, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Josh Collmenter (55) pitches against the Atlanta Braves during the fifth inning at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

The trade deadline is now two days and a few hours away, and Diamondbacks players with value to contenders are starting top pop up in the rumor world. I’ve already talked about Wade Miley, and my colleague Tom Lynch wrote about Addison Red yesterday. The newest name that has come up is starter Josh Collmenter who has had a pretty good season for a rotation that hasn’t had a great year, and has experienced a lot of change to say the least.

Collmenter is 8-5 with a 4.03 era this season. His highlight of the season came on May 30th when he faced the minimum 27 batters in a 4-0 victory over the Cincinnati Reds. He became just the second Snakes Dbacks pitcher to accomplish that feat. In 114 innings he has given up 120 hits and 13 home runs which isn’t good at all. According to BaseballReference.com, his WAR of 0.5 isn’t good either, and his FIP is worse than his ERA at 4.13. So based on the metrics, he isn’t really having a great year. However, he still has value to contenders in need of starting pitching because the starting pitching market is getting weaker by the day.

In his latest Rumors and Grumblings column, ESPN MLB Insider Jayson Stark suggested many players that the Dbacks will listen to offers for. One of those players is the Tomahawk, along with Miley, and Reed. He didn’t mention any specific names, but once RedSox LHP Jon Lester comes off the market, and David Price stays in Tampa, the same teams that are in on Lester and Price will come calling.

I talked with MLB.com Dbacks beat writer Steve Gilbert on twitter about this and this is what he said:

So that is the situation in terms of Collmenter’s value. The Snakes are listening to offers, and unless Tony La Russa, and G.M Kevin Towers get a significant offer that helps them in both the short and long term, they won’t make a deal for a starter that had a great run this season for a while, and is probably apart of the Snakes future.

I’m guessing that the Cardinals, Dodgers, Giants, Pirates, Orioles, and others will come calling, and they might be able to get something for him, but I think it’s foolish to trade one of your best starters, and a guy that is part of the future, unless they get a unbelievable offer that they cant refuse.