Aces LHP Patrick Corbin scratched from his scheduled start today vs. Sacramento. He could be piece in deadline deal.
— Chris Gabel, RGJ.com (@RGJ_Aces) July 31, 2012#Dbacks
As the above shows, Diamondbacks prospect Corbin has been scratched from the game today for the Reno Aces. This could mean one of two things (I'm discounting it being something trivial like an injury), The rumor mill has been flying around a possible deal with the Cubs, either for Matt Garza or Ryan Dempster, but let's not discount the possibility that Corbin could be getting called up, to replace a member of the current roster who is being dealt elsewhere. The most obvious candidate there would be Joe Saunders, but Wade Miley is another name who has been mentioned of late. Jack Magruder seems to lean towards this
Been told
— Jack Magruder (@JackMagruder) July 31, 2012#Dbacks LHP Corbin will not be moved, but I guess things could change in the "lightning round." Credit KT for that phrase, BTW.
If it is a deal, Dempster and Garza would certainly provide a veteran presence for the Diamondbacks, and would allow us (presumably) to return Josh Collmenter to his role as a long-relief man in the bullpen. Garza is the younger (aged 28), and would be under team control for 2013; he has a 108 ERA+ in his career, but is currently sidelined with fluid in his tricep (not seen as serious). Dempster is 35 and has a 99 career ERA+, but does live in Arizona; he'd be a free-agent at the end of this year, so unless an extension is worked out, would be a three-month rental. Something based on Garza for Corbin seems more likely.