The Diamondbacks have placed righty starter/reliever Edgar Gonzalez on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right elbow. Gonzalez has pitched in 17 games (6 starts) for the Diamondbacks and he is 1-3 with a 6.00 ERA and a 1.65 WHIP. The D-Backs have recalled righty Yusmeiro Petit to replace Gonzalez on the roster. Petit has pitched in 6 games (0 starts) for the D-Backs this season and he is 0-1 with a 4.70 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP.

The Reds are about to have a big firesale and the D-Backs should swoop right in and benefit. With Eric Byrnes’ replacements playing poorly the D-Backs should look to add someone that can add some zip to the lineup and that would be Ryan Freel. Freel is a 32-year old righty swinging outfielder that can handle any outfield slot defensively. He also can fill in at 3B or 2B in a pinch. Freel’s game is effort and speed much like Byrnes’ when he’s healthy except that he doesn’t have any power. Freel has played in 48 games this season for the Reds and he is 39 for 131 (.298 avg, .699 OPS) with 17 runs scored, 10 RBIs and 6 stolen bases. The D-Backs could also use a 2nd lefty in the bullpen and the Reds are sure to make Jeremy Affeldt available. The 29-year old Affeldt has pitched in 37 games (0 starts) for the Reds this year and he is 1-0 with a 4.46 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP. The Reds would likely want a package of young players like outfielder Alex Romero, Yusmeiro Petit and infielder Pedro Ciriaco. If that’s want the Reds would want the D-Backs should make that trade and play for right now. Freel would be able to start for now and then be an assassin off the bench when Byrnes returns. Affeldt would likely be the main lefty in the pen over Doug Slaten. If the D-Backs thought highly of Romero they would be starting him right now in the outfield instead of Chris Burke. The D-Backs have better pitchers coming up than Petit who barely throws hard enough to dent a sofa. And while Ciriaco is a decent prospect the D-Backs like others in the organization more.

26-year old righty swinging 3B Jamie D’Antona is off to an excellent start in AAA ball for the D-Backs. He has played in 64 games in AAA this season and he is 92 for 232 (.397 avg, 1.043 OPS) with 39 runs scored, 8 homers and 39 RBIs. Unless something happens to Mark Reynolds, D’Antona won’t likely get a shot with the D-Backs until rosters expand in September. But, he could be a very attractive trading chip for the Diamondbacks around the trading deadline because he does appear major league ready.

The Diamondbacks have traded 34-year old outfielder Trot Nixon to the Mets for either a player to be named later or cash. Nixon was stashed in AAA for the Diamondbacks and he was playing pretty well there. Nixon played in 58 games in AAA for the D-Backs and he was 56 for 181 (.309 avg, .995 OPS) with 39 runs scored, 10 homers and 31 RBIs.

The more I watch Mark Reynolds play the more I think he reminds me of Mike Schmidt. He will likely never hit for a great average because he whiffs so often but when he hits the ball it goes a long way. Reynolds has now played in 62 games this season for the D-Backs and he is 58 for 225 (.258 avg, .842 OPS) with 44 runs scored, 15 homers, 45 RBIs and 5 stolen bases. Reynolds has also whiffed 79 times this season but the D-Backs won’t try to change his 40+ homer type swing.