Arizona did not make headlines with its trade deadline moves. but newcomers Paul Sewald, Tommy Pham, Ryan Thompson, Andrew Saalfrank and Jace Peterson have fit just so.
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:
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.
