Is Jake Meyers the Answer to the D-backs’ Center Field Problem?
The Astros may move Jake Meyers, but do the Diamondbacks have the talent to make a deal? A deep look at why Meyers fits Arizona perfectly, and why a trade remains unlikely.
One possible solution to the Diamondbacks’ center field problem has hit the market. Ken Rosenthal and Katie Woo of The Athletic reported Monday that the Houston Astros are open to moving center fielder Jake Meyers for controllable starting pitching.
Meyers is coming off a solid 2025 season with Houston, despite missing nearly two months with a right calf strain. In 104 games, he slashed .292/.354/.373 with three homers and a 107 wRC+.
In addition to his high on-base profile, he played strong defense in center field. Baseball Savant has him at +8 Fielding Run Value, buoyed by a +9 Outs Above Average, and Baseball Reference has +5 fielding runs above average. Overall, it adds up to a 2.4 bWAR/2.3 fWAR.
Why Jake Meyers is the Perfect Match for the D-backs
The D-backs got weak production out of their center field group in 2025. Arizona ranked 27th in FanGraphs WAR (0.6) and Baseball Reference’s Wins Above Average (-1.6).
Jake McCarthy opened the season as the starting center fielder, but a 3-for-41 (.073) slump got him sent down to the minors. That led to Alek Thomas getting the majority of the starts (121) at the position. Thomas didn’t fare much better, with a .249/.289/.370 slash in a career-high 469 plate appearances. The reality is that neither Thomas nor McCarthy serves as a realistic solution at the position, even as the team elected to hold onto both last month.
The D-backs won’t find much relief from their farm system. Their top center field prospects are Slade Caldwell and Druw Jones. Neither prospect figures to take a meaningful at-bat for the club in 2026. The best-case scenario for Arizona is that one of the two breaks out in 2026 and pushes for the starting role in 2027 when McCarthy and Thomas both play their way off the roster.
Looking underneath the hood, there’s a lot to like about Meyers’ offensive game. There isn’t much power, although he homered 23 times between 2023-24. But what he provides is a capable bottom-of-the-order bat who doesn’t chase and is exceptional at making contact. Meyers’ 23.7% chase rate ranks in the 79th percentile, and his whiff rate of 21.2% in the 71st.
Looking at his expected metrics, used to minimize defensive skill and luck, he put up a .278 xBA, .393 xSLG, and a .322 xwOBA in 2025. The latter metric ranks in the 52nd percentile, indicating that he’s a capable hitter overall. Considering center field is one of the few positions teams are willing to trade offense for defense, there’s a reason to believe he’ll get a solid return on the trade market.
As a right-handed bat, there’s always a concern about platoon splits. Meyers was woefully bad against right-handed pitchers through the 2024 season. However, he showed improved numbers, with a .290/.360/.377 slash (111 wRC+), an 18.1% strikeout rate, and a 9.0% walk rate. Expected metrics back him up with a .281 xBA, .404 xSLG, and .333 xwOBA.
Even if his production vs. righties regresses a little, say around the 90-95 range, the defense would elevate him to an everyday starter in center. In theory, he is an ideal trade candidate for the D-backs, but they lack the right pieces to strike a deal with the Astros.
Why a Jake Meyers to Arizona Trade Isn’t Likely to Happen
While Meyers would be a great fit for the D-backs, pulling off a trade will be difficult. It’s simply a case where the two organizations don’t line up properly on a needs standpoint.
The Astros are looking for starting pitching help, with left-hander Framber Valdez now a free agent. Per Roster Resource, this is what Houston’s 2026 rotation currently projects to be.
Of course, that’s not what their rotation will look like come March 26th. It’s merely to show why they’re desperate enough to leverage a solid starting center fielder.
The D-backs themselves are in a similar situation. Zac Gallen is hitting free agency, and Arizona doesn’t have a lot of internal depth. Houston has the better system, with Miguel Ullola and A.J. Blubaugh as near MLB-ready arms, both being better prospects than Mitch Bratt and Kohl Drake.
The D-backs don’t have a lot of trade chips as an organization, with a weak pitching pipeline and a former top prospect (Jordan Lawlar) who hasn’t found his footing at the major league level. While the Astros could have an issue with retaining Jeremy Peña beyond his control years, it’s not big enough for them to consider picking up Lawlar.
Due to the lack of starting pitching on Arizona’s side, thanks to a weak pipeline, a deal is unlikely to come together without involving a third team. It’s challenging to execute such a deal, as it adds another organization that has its own needs to account for.
As an aside that’s not necessarily relevant to my core audience, I think the Kansas City Royals match up extremely well for Meyers. The Royals were 24th in CF fWAR (1.1), and have stated they’re willing to trade pitching for outfield help.