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The Arizona Diamondbacks have fired manager A.J. Hinch and general manager Josh Byrnes in moves that Dbacks fans have been clamoring for over the past couple of months.

Bench coach Kirk Gibson has been named interim manager and director of player personnel Jerry Dipoto has been named interim general manager.

Let me say this first before we gloat.  Two men are out of a job and now must find another way to provide for their families.  Let’s not forget the families behind these men.  That being said, this is a business and everyone understands that.  This is a “win now” business and the job wasn’t being done.  Hinch was not a favorite of many fans from the beginning when he was hired last season to replace Bob Melvin.  Byrnes was a popular hire as GM because of his time in Boston as an assistant GM.

Quickly though, both fell out of favor with the public.  Hinch went 89-123 in his time in managing the team.

A few weeks ago team president Derek Hall indicated changes would be made.  It took a little longer than some of us would have liked to see, but clearly these are the right moves.  Hinch was unable to bring energy and emotion to a group that could use quite a bit of both.  Byrnes made a couple of good decisions, namely Dan Haren and Kelly Johnson, but for the most part made questionable decisions.  Just look at the relief pitching or lack thereof.  The off-season free agent signings were a bust.  The team has held on to falling stars longer than they should have.  The team abandoned retiring stars before making amends (Luis Gonzalez).  Not that that was all Byrnes’s fault.  However he can be blamed for Eric Byrnes.  He can be blamed for many moves.  Fact is most didn’t work and his time to go passed before the season even began.

We’ll see what happens now, but can things get any worse?  I doubt it.

So, who does have trade value on this team?  Well, more than you think.  The only real  untouchables would be Justin Upton, mainly because he is still so talented and still so young, and Ian Kennedy, who is still under contract for five years.  I think even young guys like Stephen Drew and Mark Reynolds have the ability to be traded.  Who can you get back in return though?  That of course all depends on who the Dbacks are willing to part with, and yes that might even include Dan Haren.

So who do you think Arizona will trade first?  Chime in and tell us.

That something though had better turn into reality and not just make them empty words.  Something has to give and someone or multiple someones have to go.  Plain and simple.  The reality of it is, even if the Dbacks go out and win a few games on this homestand it doesn’t change anything.  This team isn’t going to be fixed with just some wins.  This team has proven it is in need of some major repairs.  For the long haul, changes are necessary.  Some wins only place a band-aid on the present.  This team as it is now, will continue to lose more than it wins.

Reports are that pretty much everyone is touchable when it comes to trades.  Only Justin Upton, Ian Kennedy, and Jerrod Parker are considered untouchable according to a story from Nick Piecoro on azcentral.com.

I would like to see the Dbacks hang onto Adam Laroche and Kelly Johnson, two guys who might have higher trade value.  They’ve each made some nice contributions to the team this season so far.  As much as I love Dan Haren, now might be the time to move him.  He threw a nice game the other night.  Although he’s given up home runs at an alarming rate so far this season, a change of scenery might be the best thing for him.  Don’t get me wrong, if Haren stays, that is just fine by me too.  Give him a supporting cast though that can consistently score runs and most importantly a bullpen that can back him up.

I would not be surprised to see changes, at least a couple, within the next week.  I have a feeling the Dbacks aren’t going to wait to long to get this new rodeo started.

Scott Allen