PHOENIX — To Diamondbacks general manager Mike Hazen, these final six weeks of the regular season do not involve a choice between trying to win games and developing the young players on the roster. Both can coexist and the goal is to win as many games as possible.
“The young players that are here are the ones that are going to help us win games now and are going to help us for next year,” Hazen said before his club’s 6-5 victory over the Guardians on Tuesday night at Chase Field.
Hazen made the difficult decision to sell at last month’s Trade Deadline, dealing veteran position players Josh Naylor, Eugenio Suárez and Randal Grichuk, as well as pitchers Merrill Kelly and Shelby Miller.
There will be plenty of playing time for newcomers like first baseman Tyler Locklear, who came over in the Suárez trade, as well as young players from the system like infielder Blaze Alexander and, eventually, top prospect Jordan Lawlar.
“We get to watch these guys play, and they’re ready to come play,” Hazen said. “These are all guys who have been in Triple-A, moved to the very top of the Minor League food chain and are ready to be assimilated into the Major Leagues. We’re watching to see if can we bet on these guys moving forward.”
That’s why these next six weeks are so critical for position players like Locklear, Alexander, Lawlar, Pavin Smith, Alek Thomas, Jake McCarthy and Adrian Del Castillo, because if they show well, they get a leg up in competition for spots next year.
It also helps the coaching staff and front office determine what holes they will need to fill in the offseason.
“I think the next six weeks is a better representation of what we’re going to see moving forward than what Spring Training of next year would tell us,” Hazen said. “So as much history as we can build now, we’re going to be better off.”
It’s a great opportunity for players like Locklear, who got to start at first base the first 16 games after being acquired. The return from injury of Smith will cut into Locklear’s playing time with Smith getting most starts against righties and Locklear against lefties.
“Locklear has played every single day because he had to with the way the roster was constructed for the first two weeks he was here,” Hazen said. “Taking some playing time away from him will be part of the plan, and not a bad thing. Getting him away from some of the tougher matchups will give him a break and allow him to watch the game a little bit. He’s scuffled a little bit here lately, and that’s part of the process. He will come back out the other side.”
Del Castillo will see time at DH or behind the plate and Smith or Locklear could see time at DH if they need at-bats.
Alexander has looked good at third base, and that’s a spot that Lawlar could see time at, too, when he gets called up.
Again, that doesn’t mean there won’t be enough at-bats to go around, because shortstop Geraldo Perdomo will need some days off — something he hasn’t gotten much of lately — and second baseman Ketel Marte could get a day off or see time at DH.
The bullpen has already seen three of the newcomers called up. Brandyn Garcia made a brief appearance in the big leagues after coming over in the Naylor deal, and Andrew Hoffmann (Grichuk deal) and Juan Burgos (Suárez deal) are currently in the bullpen and more could be on the way as time goes on.
“It’s not going to be perfect, we know that,” Hazen said. “They’re going to have their ups and downs, but they’re going to get their opportunity, and it’s interesting to see how the bullpen starts to come together for next year, based on what happens in the next six weeks.”
Starting pitchers like Dylan Ray, who was drafted by the Diamondbacks, and Kohl Drake, who was acquired in the Kelly deal, might get starts, but that wouldn’t likely be until September when Arizona can carry an extra pitcher.
