MLB trade rumors have been circulating around the Arizona Diamondbacks for weeks and they have only intensified as the MLB trade deadline has neared.

Most of the speculations has the Diamondbacks becoming sellers on the MLB trade market, but Arizona has other options.

With the team currently sitting just a half-game out of the final Wild Card spot in the National League, Arizona could decide to be buyers at the trade deadline.

The team could also go for a combination of buying and selling or even decide to stand pat and not make any major moves.

Fangraphs currently gives Arizona a 20.5% chance to make the playoffs.    

The MLB trade deadline is July 31.

Could the Diamondbacks decide to be buyers? Some momentum appears to be growing for the Diamondbacks to head in that direction.

Take a look at what MLB writers are saying about Arizona’s potential strategy at the 2019 MLB trade deadline now:

The Arizona Republic: Diamondbacks deploy bevy of scouts ahead of multiple trade-deadline scenarios

Nick Piecoro wrote: “In recent weeks, the Diamondbacks’ staff has been doing its usual traversing of the baseball landscape, with a focus on minor league prospects about whom the organization has less – or conflicting – information. The Diamondbacks also are trying to anticipate the clubs they could match up with in trades and lock in on those teams’ systems. … Whether the Diamondbacks are active as buyers or sellers or quiet at the deadline, their scouts will have a busy couple of weeks.”

ESPN: Diamondbacks could trade for help in bullpen or on the bench

Dave Schoenfield did a story about one player each team should trade for — or deal away — before the deadline abnd he had the Diamondbacks acquiring bullpen help, not trading away players.

He wrote: “Like the Reds, the next two weeks will tell us which direction the Diamondbacks go. FanGraphs gives them a 17% chance of making the playoffs; but how much in prospect capital do you want to surrender merely for a wild-card run? True, Zack Greinke could pitch that game and it could give them a chance. On the other hand, they even could listen to offers on Greinke (but he makes $35 million over each of the next two seasons) or outfielder David Peralta (who is signed through 2020). Most likely, it’s a minor addition in the bullpen or a bench bat.”

The Arizona Republic: Diamondbacks could use pitching help, if it decides to become buyers

Nick Piecoro wrote: “If they were to buy, the Diamondbacks have any number of needs on the pitching side. Rotation depth seems an obvious area, as does bullpen help. If the club buys, Hazen said, it doesn’t have to buy solely with this year in mind; for example, the past two deadlines have seen the Diamondbacks add catcher John Ryan Murphy and pitcher Matt Andriese, both of whom were under club control for multiple years.”

ESPN: Diamondbacks scouting Orioles reliever Mychal Givens

Eddie Matz wrote: “On Tuesday, the Phillies, Braves, Diamondbacks and Padres all had representatives at Camden Yards, where Orioles reliever Mychal Givens seems to be drawing his fair share of interest. ‘His velocity’s ticking up,’ says one scout. ‘He’s pitching like he wants to get out of there.'” 

MORE: Diamondbacks trade rumors: 6 players on top deadline candidates list

The Arizona Republic: Should the Diamondbacks buy or sell at MLB trade deadline? Why not both?

Nick Piecoro wrote: “In recent weeks, Hazen has sounded concerned about the difficulty of pulling off both exercises successfully. He still sounds skeptical, but as time has passed he has seemed to grow more open to trying it. It is understandable why it would be appealing for a club like his. The Diamondbacks are trying to both contend and build up their farm system. Baseball’s version of arbitrage – buying and selling simultaneously – could, in theory, let them accomplish that.”

ESPN: Diamondbacks could potentially buy and sell at trade deadline

Jeff Passan wrote: “Robbie Ray potentially available is an interesting question being asked by teams desiring starters. Like Texas, Arizona hasn’t officially jumped into the sellers’ market yet. Like the Rangers, the Diamondbacks could be a buy-and-sell team, similar to what Tampa Bay did last season when it dealt Opening Day starter Chris Archer and traded prospects for Tommy Pham. David Peralta, Greg Holland, Alex Avila, Andrew Chafin, Adam Jones and Jarrod Dyson are all Diamondbacks who could go. … Dealing Ray could factor into that. Since joining Arizona’s rotation full time in 2016, Ray’s 11.76 strikeouts-per-nine rate ranks third in baseball behind Max Scherzer’s 11.93 and Chris Sale’s 11.88. Even if Ray lacks the control and command of those two, his raw stuff makes him wildly attractive to teams that could deploy him in a starting role or even use him as a devastating October bullpen option. Ray is far likelier to go than Zack Greinke, whose salary — $35 million for each of the next two seasons and another $14 million or so this year — limits his market. Even then, the Diamondbacks’ desire not to bottom out makes trading Greinke, their best pitcher, that much more difficult.”

SB Nation: Making the case for Diamondbacks to be buyers

Jack Sommers writes: “The DBacks have some holes to fill if they want to have a chance to make a deep playoff run. They need a starting pitcher, an outfielder, AND another reliever, preferably a lefty. They need to fill at least one or two of those holes, if not all three, to be able to make a deep run. But it’s not impossible.”

The Sporting News: Diamondbacks could try to squeeze out a postseason appearance

Dan Bernstein wrote: “The Diamondbacks appeared to crush their 2019 draft, but most of their MLB roster won’t be around see those future returns. This year, meanwhile, Arizona  has maintained a winning record and performed well against teams above .500, indicating it might have the endurance to stick around in the playoff hunt. It’s obviously a long-shot for manager Torey Lovullo’s squad to get to the postseason, but with a roster in transition, the franchise might as well try to squeeze out one more October appearance by exchanging its few upper-minors pieces for additional veterans. Where could Arizona use the most help? Probably in its lineup depth, which could endure regression from Adam Jones and Jarrod Dyson down the stretch. One more middle-infield or corner-outfield bat could open up day-to-day flexibility for Lovullo while giving an already above-average group of hitters an extra boost. A bullpen addition might also be necessary for the Diamondbacks given Archie Bradley’s down season.

MORE: If Diamondbacks are sellers, homestand could be last chance to see players

Bleacher Report: The Diamondbacks could try to acquire a starting pitcher

Zachary D. Rymer wrote: “The Arizona Diamondbacks’ current track veers more toward selling than buying. But if they opt to bolster their standing in the NL wild-card race, they’ll need a starting pitcher to help carry their rotation while Luke Weaver recovers from a forearm injury.”

Bleacher Report: Mike Leake, who has been linked to Arizona, could be a good fit for Diamondbacks

Jacob Shafer wrote: “The Diamondbacks are above .500 and contending in the crowded NL West. If they opt to go for it, they could use more reliable veteran arms … As he would for the Yankees, Leake wouldn’t be the sexiest pickup for Arizona, but he could add value …”

Diamondbacks trade history: Notable deals