CHICAGO -- The D-backs bolstered their middle-infield situation as well as their bullpen just prior to Monday's non-waiver Trade Deadline, acquiring infielder Adam Rosales and right-hander David Hernandez.The trades cost the D-backs two Minor League right-handers: Jeferson Mejia was sent to the A's for Rosales, while Luis Madero went to the Angels for Hernandez.
Arizona made probably its biggest acquisition almost two weeks ago by picking up outfielder J.D. Martinez from Detroit. 
Even after the Martinez trade, the D-backs knew they still wanted to improve their bullpen if they could. What they did not anticipate was that they'd find themselves shopping for a shortstop. In fact, teams were calling Arizona earlier in July trying to pry one away.In the span of 12 hours, though, the D-backs' situation changed drastically.First, starting shortstop Chris Owings sustained a fractured right middle finger in Sunday's game against the Cardinals, which required surgery on Monday that will keep him out until late September.Then backup shortstop Ketel Marte learned Sunday night that his mother had passed away in a car accident in the Dominican Republic. He left the team to return home to his family and was placed on the bereavement list. When Marte will return is uncertain.Along with those two losses, Nick Ahmed, another shortstop, fractured his right hand earlier this year and is unlikely to return until late August at the earliest.When Owings went down, the A's contacted the D-backs to offer up Rosales, but Arizona did not get serious about the talks until it realized that Marte would be out as well.Rosales has played short, third, second and left field for the A's this year while hitting .234/.273/.346 in 223 plate appearances. He has been tough on lefties, though, compiling an .809 OPS against them over the past two seasons. Left-handers have given the D-backs fits this year."We felt like we needed to bolster our shortstop depth in the short term," D-backs general manager Mike Hazen said. "We like Adam's ability to play short, play all over the field. He's a good utility guy. He's going to step into a pretty big role for us in the short term, and we think he can handle that. He's obviously had a great year last year, and he does some things really well -- handles left-handed pitching -- so he's going to help us with that."Heandez, who has a 2.23 ERA this year in 38 games for the Angels this year, will be in his second stint with the D-backs after pitching to a 3.54 ERA for Arizona from 2011-15."David was one of the guys we targeted through this entire process, so we feel really good about that," Hazen said. "We feel like it strengthens our club in a way that we needed. He's throwing the ball really well this year. We had a chance to scout and watch a number of his outings. His stuff has been good and very typical to how he has pitched when healthy throughout the majority of his career. He's pitched here, he's familiar with this environment, with the ballpark, with the organization, and he's been very successful."The second-place D-backs entered Monday trailing the Dodgers by 14 games in the National League West, but they still are in strong position for the postseason. They lead the Rockies by half a game for the first NL Wild Card spot and are up by 5 1/2 games on the Brewers and 7 1/2 on the Cardinals."We need to go out and play good baseball, but I'm confident this team can compete with anybody in this division and confident that this team can compete with any team in the National League," Hazen said.Steve Gilbert/ MLB.com
Even after the Martinez trade, the D-backs knew they still wanted to improve their bullpen if they could. What they did not anticipate was that they'd find themselves shopping for a shortstop. In fact, teams were calling Arizona earlier in July trying to pry one away.In the span of 12 hours, though, the D-backs' situation changed drastically.First, starting shortstop Chris Owings sustained a fractured right middle finger in Sunday's game against the Cardinals, which required surgery on Monday that will keep him out until late September.Then backup shortstop Ketel Marte learned Sunday night that his mother had passed away in a car accident in the Dominican Republic. He left the team to return home to his family and was placed on the bereavement list. When Marte will return is uncertain.Along with those two losses, Nick Ahmed, another shortstop, fractured his right hand earlier this year and is unlikely to return until late August at the earliest.When Owings went down, the A's contacted the D-backs to offer up Rosales, but Arizona did not get serious about the talks until it realized that Marte would be out as well.Rosales has played short, third, second and left field for the A's this year while hitting .234/.273/.346 in 223 plate appearances. He has been tough on lefties, though, compiling an .809 OPS against them over the past two seasons. Left-handers have given the D-backs fits this year."We felt like we needed to bolster our shortstop depth in the short term," D-backs general manager Mike Hazen said. "We like Adam's ability to play short, play all over the field. He's a good utility guy. He's going to step into a pretty big role for us in the short term, and we think he can handle that. He's obviously had a great year last year, and he does some things really well -- handles left-handed pitching -- so he's going to help us with that."Heandez, who has a 2.23 ERA this year in 38 games for the Angels this year, will be in his second stint with the D-backs after pitching to a 3.54 ERA for Arizona from 2011-15."David was one of the guys we targeted through this entire process, so we feel really good about that," Hazen said. "We feel like it strengthens our club in a way that we needed. He's throwing the ball really well this year. We had a chance to scout and watch a number of his outings. His stuff has been good and very typical to how he has pitched when healthy throughout the majority of his career. He's pitched here, he's familiar with this environment, with the ballpark, with the organization, and he's been very successful."The second-place D-backs entered Monday trailing the Dodgers by 14 games in the National League West, but they still are in strong position for the postseason. They lead the Rockies by half a game for the first NL Wild Card spot and are up by 5 1/2 games on the Brewers and 7 1/2 on the Cardinals."We need to go out and play good baseball, but I'm confident this team can compete with anybody in this division and confident that this team can compete with any team in the National League," Hazen said.Steve Gilbert/ MLB.com
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