MLB Rumors: One D-Backs Player Off-Limits; 3 Others On Trade Block

While Brandon Nimmo and Cody Bellinger get all the attention on the free agent center field front, there is another way for teams to secure a decent CF for 2023. The Arizona Diamondbacks have five of them. MLB Insider Ken Rosenthal reports in The Athletic that three of them are up for grabs on the trade market. But one, in particular, is off-limits:

Corbin Carroll, who had an .830 OPS last season in his first 115 major-league plate appearances, is off-limits, according to sources familiar the team’s thinking. But three others with the ability to play center — Daulton Varsho, Alek Thomas and Jake McCarthy — are in play.

Rosenthal says that Thomas and McCarthy are the most likely to be dealt, but both of them could fetch a decent return. They were each highly-regarded prospects and had nice major debuts in 2022 after being high picks in the 2018 Draft. Both bat left, as does Varsho. 

Carroll, however, is the gem of the D-Backs' future in the outfield, their top prospect and the 16th overall pick in the 2019 Draft also made his big league debut, posting an .830 OPS in 100 at-bats. 

Amazingly, with all that depth, the Snakes also brought in another center fielder in a trade this past week, dealing for 2020 Rookie of the Year Kyle Lewis from the Seattle Mariners. He, however, bats from the right side, differentiating him from the group. 

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