Diamondbacks trade rumors: Robbie Ray, Patrick Corbin drawing interest

Arizona starters Robbie Ray and Patrick Corbin are drawing interest from teams seeking starting pitching, according to Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe.

Since there aren’t many controllable starting pitchers known to be available ahead of the August 1 non-waiver trade deadline, the Diamondbacks could consider moving one or both lefties, neither of which has been dominant this season.

Ray, 24, could be the more attractive trade piece, because he won’t be eligible for free agency until 2021. Over 86.1 innings this season, Ray has pitched to a 4.69 ERA and 3.97 FIP. He made 23 starts last season and has already started 16 contests this year.

While he struggled throughout his first few starts, Ray has had a bit more success of late. He is eighth in the majors in strikeouts per nine innings and won’t be arbitration eligible until 2017, making him an affordable starting option.

Corbin, 26, is in a similar financial situation. He won’t become a free agent until 2019 and similarly isn’t arbitration eligible until 2017. Corbin has made 17 starts for Arizona this season, pitching to a 4.90 ERA and 5.04 FIP over 101.0 innings.

A National League scout told Cafardo that Corbin “is making his way onto go see lists,” which likely means clubs seeking controllable starting help will begin sending scouts to his starts.

Corbin has yet to prove he can be a consistent starter, but he pitched to a 3.47 ERA in his first three seasons with the Diamondbacks and could be a valuable back-end of the rotation option for a contending club.

Arizona is nine games under five-hundred and 7.5 games back in the National League Wild Card standings, which likely means the club will position itself to be active leading up to the deadline. Since both Corbin and Ray are controllable pieces, it could take multiple prospects to acquire either starter. However, with few distinguished starters available, Corbin or Ray might be worth it.