👋 GOOD MORNING — Happy Wednesday! Cardinals Training Camp is underway, the Mercury are back in action tonight, the MLB Trade Deadline is just over a week away and ASU and UA kick off their football seasons in 38 days. There’s about to be PLENTY to talk about.

Good thing too, because Patrick returns from vacation tomorrow so I’m handing him back the reins. Thank you to everyone who read the newsletter over the last week while I filled in!

On to the show!

— Leah Merrall

The MLB Trade Deadline is July 31 and chances are this D-backs team is about to look very different at this time next week.

It’s been an up-and-down season for the Diamondbacks who are 50-52 with 60 games still to play. While there’s been no formal confirmation, all signs point to GM Mike Hazen selling at the deadline.

Trade rumors are rampant and will only continue to swirl until next Thursday. It’s hard to keep up with it all, so let’s take a look at all the Diamondbacks who might be on the trade block, who’s rumored to be interested and where they might be headed.

Eugenio Suárez, 3B

There’s not a D-backs player whose name has been in more trade rumors than Eugenio Suárez. It’s not exactly shocking considering his impressive play–he’s on pace to hit more than 50 home runs this season. ESPN ranks Suárez as their top MLB trade deadline candidate and insider Jeff Passen lists a 90% chance the D-backs third baseman gets traded.

Zac Gallen, SP

Until this season, Zac Gallen was one of the D-backs’ best and most reliable pitchers. Now in a contract year, Gallen is posting career-worst numbers in almost every category. According to Jesse Rogers of ESPN, the Diamondbacks are getting as many if not more calls for Gallen as they are for Merrill Kelly despite the latter having a better season. Gallen’s age (he’s 29) may play a factor. ESPN ranks Gallen 12th on their top trade candidates list and Passen puts his chance of getting dealt at 60%.

Merrill Kelly, SP

Merrill Kelly, like Gallen, is on the last year of his contract. The 36-year-old starting pitcher is having a solid season for the D-backs and was incredibly reliable in Arizona’s World Series run in 2023. ESPN ranks Kelly 13th among top MLB trade candidates and Passen lists a 70% chance that the right hander gets dealt.

Josh Naylor, 1B

The D-backs acquired Josh Naylor from Cleveland last December. Since arriving in Arizona, he’s been one of the better-hitting first basemen in MLB. ESPN ranks Naylor 14th on their top trade deadline candidates list and Passen puts the likelihood Naylor gets moved at 70%.

My take: Obviously these are just rumors, so take everything with a grain of salt. With that being said, there’s a reason these names have circled reports again and again. It’s been a disappointing season for the Diamondbacks fraught with inconsistent play and so, so many injuries. With a 50-52 record, the trade deadline can go either way. Now it’s in the players’ hands… And Hazen’s.

Torey Lovullo’s take: “There’s a lot of intensity in the dugout every single night,” he said ahead of last night’s loss. “And our guys are playing hard and that’s my job, to make sure they play hard, focused baseball, and as long as they’re doing that on a nightly basis, I’m satisfied with it. But yeah, we know what these next eight games mean, and we’re going to out there and do our best.”

Spaced Out: The Diamondbacks fell 3-1 to the Astros last night. Starter Eduardo Rodriguez managed to out-duel Houston’s All-Star pitcher Framber Valdez, but the D-backs bullpen relinquished the lead (sound familiar?) to Brice Matthews and the Astros once E-Rod exited. Arizona hosts Houston one more time at Chase Field tonight before hitting the road to face Pittsburgh on Friday.

Signed, Sealed, Delivered: Cardinals second-round pick Will Johnson signed his four-year rookie deal yesterday morning. Johnson was the last of the rookie class to sign and he did so just in time for rookies and veterans to report to training camp.

Cats in the Hall: Yesterday, the Arizona Athletic Department announced its newest members of the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame: Nick Foles (football), Kevin Cordes (swimming), Ben Diggings (baseball) and Samantha Pickens (diving). Foles is a Super Bowl champion, Super Bowl MVP and is Arizona Football’s leader in career passing yards. Cordes is an Olympic gold medalist, was a two-time NCAA Swimmer of the Year and four-time NCAA champion. Diggins was a First-Team All-American, first-round MLB draft pick and a USA Baseball National Team member. Pickens was a five-time All-American, two-time National Champion and was Pac-12 Diver of the Year. The induction ceremony will be held in November.

Are you #aligned?

Thinking about a D-backs team with no Suárez, Gallen, Kelly, or Naylor: