The Diamondbacks have lost 28-year old righty reliever Juan Gutierrez for the rest of this season and probably all of the 2012 season as he will undergo Tommy John Surgery soon. Gutierrez pitched in 20 games (0 starts) for the Diamondbacks this year and he was 0-0 with a 5.40 ERA and a 1.69 WHIP. He has now pitched in 143 games (0 starts) in his first three years with Arizona and he is 4-9 with 24 saves, a 4.62 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP. Here’s to hoping he has a full recovery and gets back to pitching with the D-Backs in 2013.

UPDATE: (10/14/2011) -The Diamondbacks have released Juan Gutierrez.

30-year old lefty starting pitcher Joe Saunders is having a rough time so far in August for the D-Backs.  Saunders has started 4 games so far in August and he is 0-3 with a 6.56 ERA and a 1.71 WHIP.  The Diamondbacks hope that Saunders will be better in September, because they are going to need all hands on the deck to hold off the Giants in the N.L. West.  Saunders has now pitched in 26 games (all starts) for the Diamondbacks so far this year and he is 8-11 with a 3.98 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP.  He needs to tighten up his control a tad as he has walked 58 batters in his first 165 innings pitched this year, but that’s nitpicking.

The Diamondbacks have designated 35-year old righty swinging infielder Cody Ransom for assignment. Ransom played in 12 games for the D-Backs this year and he was 5 for 33 (.152 avg, .546 OPS) with 3 runs scored, 1 homer, 4 RBIs and 1 stolen base. The D-Backs’ needed Ransom’s roster spot for John McDonald and Aaron Hill.

UPDATE:  (8/29/2011) - Cody Ransom has cleared waivers and accepted a outright assignment to AAA.

The Arizona Diamondbacks have dealt 29-year old lefty swinging 2B Kelly Johnson to the Blue Jays for 29-year old righty swinging 2B Aaron Hill and 36-year old righty swinging shortstop John McDonald. Johnson played in 114 games for the D-Backs this year and he was 90 for 430 (.209 avg, .699 OPS) with 59 runs scored, 18 homers, 49 RBIs and 13 stolen bases. He played in 268 games in his two years with the Diamondbacks and he was 256 for 1,015 (.252 avg, .795 OPS) with 152 runs scored, 44 homers, 120 RBIs and 26 stolen bases. So Johnson had one good year and one not so good year for the Diamondbacks.

Aaron Hill is having an off-season but the D-Backs think a change of scenery can spark him on to greatness. Hill has played in 104 games for the Blue Jays this year and he was 89 for 396 (.225 avg, .584 OPS) with 38 runs scored, 6 homers, 45 RBIs and 16 stolen bases. He has now played in 875 games in his first 7 years in the majors and he is 881 for 3,326 (.265 avg, .732 OPS) with 436 runs scored, 96 homers, 409 RBIs and 39 stolen bases. John McDonald will either share time at SS with Willie Bloomquist or he will bump him back to being a utility man. McDonald played in 65 games for the Blue Jays this year and he was 42 for 168 (.250 avg, .630 OPS) with 19 runs scored, 2 homers, 20 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. He has now played in 865 games in his first 13 years in the majors and he is 488 for 2,033 (.240 avg, .606 OPS) with 246 runs scored, 21 homers, 177 RBIs and 33 stolen bases.

I really like this deal for the Diamondbacks as Hill is a better all-around 2B than Kelly Johnson is. The D-Backs also get help for either the bench or the starting lineup with defensive wizard John McDonald.

33-year old righty swinging SS Willie Bloomquist is having a hard time at the plate for the Diamondbacks so far in August. Bloomquist has played in 16 games for the D-Backs so far in August and he is 13 for 63 (.206 avg, .575 OPS) with 7 runs scored, 1 homer, 7 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. He is starting to slow down from the grind of playing every day since Stephen Drew’s injury. Bloomquist has now played in 76 games overall this year and he is 71 for 271 (.262 avg, .658 OPS) with 35 runs scored, 4 homers, 21 RBIs and 13 stolen bases. The Diamondbacks are on the hunt for a shortstop to replace Bloomquist or platoon with him before August 31st.