Arizona Diamondbacks’ Trade Deadline Moves Not Flashy, Just Effective

Small-market playoff contenders such as Arizona can find themselves boxed in at major league baseball’s late summer trade deadline, when adding complementary pieces can be complicated by financial constraints.

The Diamondbacks did not make a big splash with their deadline moves this season, but general manager Mike Hazen understands the process and navigated it well. His under-the-radar moves have helped push the Diamondbacks into the World Series, where they trail Texas two games to one after the Rangers’ 3-1 victory Monday.

Some teams did more. World Series opponent Texas added Max Scherzer and agreed to pay $34.7 million for the remainder of his 2023 salary and about half of what he is due in 2024. Houston did the same with Justin Verlander, accepting $35 million of the guaranteed $57.5 million remaining on this deal that includes a 2025 option.

Arizona added more modestly priced contributors, filling where it was most needed. Closer Paul Sewald, outfielder/designated hitter Tommy Pham, setup men Ryan Thompson and Andrew Saalfrank and to a lesser degree third baseman Jace Peterson have been instrumental in returning the D-Backs to the World Series for the first time since they won it in 2001.

Without them, the Diamondbacks would not have won seven of nine games in a late September spurt that brought them within hugging distance of the playoffs. Nor would they be 10-5 in the postseason entering Game 4 of the World Series on Tuesday.

A look at the additions:

Paul Sewald

Acquired from Seattle for Josh Rojas and Dominic Canzone on July 31, 2023.

Salary: $4.1 million this season, one more year of arbitration eligibility; the D-Backs picked up about $1.4 million.

Sewald converted his first six save opportunities in the postseason and was not scored upon until Texas sh0rtstop Corey Seager’s two-run homer tied World Series Game 1 at 4-4 in the last of the ninth inning. The Rangers won in 11.

“That gave us an legitimate ninth inning closer, and I can build an inning from that,” Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said.

Sewald could see it coming. The Mariners were in a bit of a funk near the trade deadline, although they recovered, and controllable Andres Munoz and his 100 mph reliever was waiting in the wings.

“This isn’t my first rodeo,” Sewald said. “Mike and Jerry (Mariners’ general manager Dipoto) have plenty of experience making moves, so I kind of thought it was a possibility. You pay attention to who needs a closer. Teams that usually winning divisions usually have one, and this team didn’t. It seems like a match that would work pretty well.”

Tommy Pham

Acquired from the New York Mets for prospect Jeremy Rodriguez on Aug. 1.

Salary: $6 million contract that expires after the season. The D-Backs picked up about $1.6 million.

Pham filled a hole as a left fielder/designated hitter, deepening the Diamondbacks’ lineup and with Lourdes Gurriel Jr. giving them another right-handed bat for an outfield that has two left-handed-hitting starters in Corbin Carroll and Alex Thomas and lefty fourth outfielder Jake McCarthy.

“Everybody talks about this preparation and his focus and his intensity,” Lovullo said. “I said that’s what this team needs right now. A professional hitter. And that’s such a great phrase. He can do anything. He can hit a home run to beat you. He can hit single. He can walk. He can do so many things every single day that beat you. That’s a true pro.”

Pham has three homers and a pair of four-hit games in the playoffs, and his leadoff homer in the second inning of Game 6 of the NLCS in Philadelphia kick-started a three-run inning in a 5-2 victory that evened the series at three games apiece.

“It feels like when I got traded to Tampa,” said Pham, who is in his third playoff series in five seasons, earlier with Tampa Bay and Arizona. “This is a young team position player-wise, with a lot of energy.”

Ryan Thompson

Promoted from Triple-A Reno on Aug. 27 after signing a minor league deal.

Salary: Prorated portion of the major league minimum salary of $720,000.

Additions do not come much more under the radar than Thompson’s. He was released by Tampa Bay in August when he struggled to a 6.11 ERA in 17 2/3 innings in his return from thoracic outlet surgery.

Thompson was thrown right in — he recorded a save on his first day on the roster Aug. 27, a 5-2 victory over Cincinnati — and has been used primarily in the seventh inning in front of Kevin Ginkel and Sewald in the playoffs.

“The guys in our office had been pursuing me all offseason to go get him,” Hazen said. “I talked to the Rays about trading for him at the time, but it didn’t really end up happening. And they were right. It only took me five months to not be so stubborn and actually go sign him.”

Andrew Saalfrank

Promoted from Triple-A Reno on Sept. 4

Salary: Prorated portion of the major league minimum salary.

Saalfrank did not allow a run in his first 10 major league appearances following successful stops at Double-A Amarillo and Triple-A Reno, three years removed from Tommy John surgery that cost him then 2020-21 seasons.

A true situational lefty, Saalfrank has pitched five innings in 10 postseason games, and he extended his scoreless streak to 14 games through the wild card and the NLDS.

“Saalfrank has a lot of swing and miss,” Lovullo said. “There are a couple of pitches in there that tunnel very, very well. He is a tough at-bat.”

Jace Peterson

Acquired from Oakland for minor league right-hander Chad Patrick.

Salary: $9.5 million. The D-Backs paid $1.5 million of his $4.5 million due in 2023, and Oakland will pay $2 million of the $5 million wed in 2024.

Peterson was acquired to add third base depth around Evan Longoria, who has also been used as a DH, and Emmanuel Rivera after Josh Rojas was traded to Seattle. Peterson has had two postseason at-bats.