The Arizona Diamondbacks are having an embarrassing 2021 season, and most fans are simply begging for it to end.
The team is currently 22-66 on the year.
That levels out to a .283 win percentage, putting Arizona on pace to finish the season somewhere around 46-116.
That would be one of the worst finishes by any team in the Modern Era.
Manager Torey Lovullo has received tons of flak for the team’s performance, and it feels increasingly likely that he won’t make it out of the woods this year.
I've always been the biggest Torey Lovullo supporter, however, the Dbacks must fire him ASAP. They really need a new voice right now and also Hazen's job shouldn't be completely safe either at this time.
— Louis Schanz (@KingLouieLouie) June 5, 2021
With the season obviously heading nowhere meaningful for Arizona, it’s a good time to assess some goals for the rest of the campaign.
2. Reach 60 Wins
Winning 60 games is certainly nothing to write home about, but for a team in the Diamondbacks’ position, it would be a nice benchmark to hit.
Arizona is likely going to lose a lot of talent at the trade deadline, so wins could be even harder to come by in the second half, but the team just needs to go 34-36 over its final 70 games in order to reach 60 wins.
That’s really not a lot to ask.
With a major deadline sell likely approaching, the Diamondbacks will probably have to call on some prospects to fill roster spots.
With any luck, one or two prospects will have strong MLB showings in the second half.
Arizona fans need something to be excited about, and that could be just the thing.
1. Have A Successful Deadline Sell
When things are going this poorly, nothing should be off the table in trade talks.
The Diamondbacks should have a fire sale at the upcoming trade deadline, and they should try to add as much young talent as possible while doing it.
Arizona has a few players who are obvious trade candidates due to their contract situations.
Eduardo Escobar is one of them.
Per @JonHeyman on MLB Network, the following All-Stars are “as good as gone”: #Twins Nelson Cruz, #Pirates Adam Frazier, and #DBacks Eduardo Escobar
— MLB Trade Deadline (@MLBDeadlineNews) July 8, 2021
He is batting .254 with a solid OPS+ of 110 this season.
He was also just named an All-Star for the first time in his 11-year career.
His value is at a high, and he could warrant a solid return.
Moving on from Escobar, Joakim Soria is another name to look out for.
Like Escobar, Soria is a free agent at the end of the season, so Arizona might as well unload him now.
Soria has a 4.07 ERA, 3.86 FIP, and 1.32 WHIP this year.
Those numbers are okay, but he has a better track record than that.
The righty has a career 3.05 ERA and posted a 2.82 mark last season.
Soria could be a nice addition for a contender.
And one more guy who will likely be moved: Asdrubal Cabrera.
He’s also playing on an expiring deal.
He has been mediocre in 2021, batting .240 with a .717 OPS so far, but his defensive flexibility could make him a nice asset for a contending team.
On top of the players we just talked about, it would be no surprise to see the Diamondbacks go crazy and trade away some of their stars.
Carson Kelly (.845 OPS) is signed through the 2024 season, and he could be dealt for a handsome return.
Ketel Marte (.974 OPS over limited games this season) is signed through the 2022 season and shouldn’t be untouchable.
David Peralta and Madison Bumgarner are a couple of other guys who Arizona should take calls on.
The bottom line is that the Diamondbacks aren’t going to be in any position to contend any time soon, so they shouldn’t hesitate to trade away anyone.
NEXT: Are Arizona Diamondbacks Tanking In 2021, Or Just Bad?