Will D-backs Keep Pace With West Rivals

With news that the Los Angeles Dodgers traded for three-time All-Star and former batting champion Hanley Ramirez from the Miami Marlins, the rest of the N.L. West clubs were put on notice that the Dodgers were serious about making a run at the N.L. West title this season.

My question is, will Arizona make a similar statement?

Granted, trading for a player the caliber of Ramirez does not happen every season, and he is truly a unique combination of pure talent and interesting character. But there is plenty of talent out there for the picking if the D-backs were looking to add depth for a run at the West title.

In terms of the team’s depth chart, the team is relatively depth throughout the lineup for position players. Our offense has been stable enough to put up close to five runs a game, with a good combination of speed and power mixed throughout the lineup. From what I can see, pitching has been a thorn in the team’s side all season long.

In the search for starting pitching, the Dodgers have been linked to Chicago Cubs starters Ryan Dempster and Matt Garza. The Rays have been rumored to have made starting pitcher James Shields available, and with the Brewers fading from contention, Zack Greinke has been one of the most sought after starters this trade season.

Although Arizona has prime pitching prospects at the cusp of breaking it into the bigs (Bauer, Skaggs, Corbin), there is a glaring need for depth in the rotation this season. Aside from rookie starter Wade Miley, the rest of the rotation has been anything but consistent this season.

If the team is  serious about making a push for a playoff spot, picking up some depth at the trade deadline would make sense.