SnakeBytes, 8/31: D-day

Of course, we’ll be posting details of any confirmed deals involving the Diamondbacks, as they happen, up until the trade deadline, which is at 1 pm Arizona time. In the meantime, treat this as an open thread for any rumors or interesting reports of potential trades, whether involving Arizona or any of the other teams.

Trade deadline updates

[AZ Central] Diamondbacks face roster decisions after loss as trade deadline nears - Center fielder Starling Marte, closer Archie Bradley, left fielder David Peralta and left-hander Robbie Ray were named as players the Diamondbacks would be willing to move, according to multiple reports. A source indicated the Diamondbacks had made clear to rival clubs earlier this month that they would listen on nearly everyone on their roster. Second baseman Ketel Marte, right-hander Zac Gallen and first baseman Christian Walker were said to be among those whom the Diamondbacks were not to willing to move.

[The Athletic] Diamondbacks need to get something for Robbie Ray before they get nothing - Even as he’s pitched terribly, contributing his fair share to Arizona’s fall from contention this season, Ray is still coveted by other clubs. Recent reports in The Athletic have suggested the White Sox and Astros are interested in the lefty, with Ken Rosenthal reporting the Astros believe “they could fix Ray.” These teams surely won’t be willing to give up as much as they would a year ago, both due to Ray’s dwindling team control and his performance, but something is better than nothing. And nothing is what the Diamondbacks are likely to get if they hold on to Ray at this point.

[Arizona Sports] Ain’t No Fang D-backs roundtable: Trade ideas at the deadline - Ain’t No Fang podcast hosts Steve Zinsmeister, Cody “Bear” Fincher and Derek Montilla sat down to think of what trades they would like to see the Arizona Diamondbacks make at the deadline. It wasn’t easy due to this shortened season having an expanded playoff pool mixed with an inability to identify if this team can emerge as a contender. So far, that identity has changed from week to week. That being said, here are a few moves they’d like to see them make at the MLB trade deadline:

Team news

[Arizona Sports] Taylor Clarke’s strong start can’t save Diamondbacks heading into deadline - “Wasn’t a very good homestand for us,” Torey Lovullo acknowledged. “We’ve got to find a way to regroup, and get ready to start playing the type of baseball that we’ve grown accustomed to here in Arizona.” The bright spot in this one was clearly Taylor Clarke, who gave Lovullo five innings of one-hit baseball while tying a career-high with seven strikeouts. That was particularly valuable today after Arizona leaned on the bullpen for six innings Saturday night.

[dbacks.com] Escobar's HR provides lone run in loss as offense struggles - During their current 1-10 stretch, the D-backs have scored 29 total runs. Over their first 11 games of the season -- when they went 3-8 -- they also scored 29 total runs. When Arizona went on a 10-3 run in between those two skids, it scored 90 total runs in that span. Lovullo said the issue is that hitters aren't making adjustments to the way they’re being pitched. He would like to see them make opposing pitchers come into the strike zone with their pitches, rather than the hitters chasing.

And, elsewhere...

[Yahoo] Four trades down, more to come? The Padres and GM A.J. Preller are going for it
- San Diego Padres manager Jayce Tingler reminded folks about his boss, general manager A.J. Preller, on Sunday morning, saying, “He doesn’t sleep and he’s relentless,” and then a couple hours later, Preller made his third and fourth weekend trades between coffees or reboots or zombie apocalypses or whatever keeps him upright and frenetic. In the oddest of summers, at a deadline in which many contenders are measuring full commitment against the havoc of a 16-team postseason that opens with a best-of-three prayer, Preller and the Padres have chosen to embrace the chaos. First they’ll help create it, then they’ll embrace it.

[ESPN] MLB trade deadline day preview -- What big names could move, who will be buying and selling - It's MLB trade deadline day, usually a day of anticipation and hopefully much wheeling and dealing before the 4 p.m. ET deadline arrives. We've already seen a half-dozen or so interesting deals, although no blockbusters. That's not necessarily a surprise, given the major issues affecting this year's trade market: What might happen on Monday? Buster Olney reported on Sunday Night Baseball that there is a growing expectation that there might be a flurry of deals, even given the financial issues. Here are some key questions, rumors and needs.

[SI] MLB trade deadline spotlights team travel directors - If the trade deadline looks stressful for players or general managers or the folks who run MLB Trade Rumors, there’s a particular sort of anxiety reserved for one role—the team travel director. It’s the travel directors who handle all of the player movement behind the scenes, quickly arranging for hotels and flights, and figuring out the details for anything that might be left behind. (Does he need his car shipped to meet him in his new city? What about someone to pack up his apartment?) Even in a normal season, the work can seem like something of an organizational marvel.