Earlier this week I reported that the Arizona Diamondbacks had traded once prized player Conor Jackson to the Oakland Athletics for pitcher Sam Demel & $400,000 cash.

The move of Jackson could be the first of many for an underachieving D-Backs squad that currently sits dead last in the National League West with a record of 26-41, one of the worst records in all of baseball.

This comes after an off-season that saw the team lock up third baseman Mark Reynolds long term, trade for bullpen help in Aaron Heilman, acquire Edwin Jackson & Ian Kennedy via trade to help fortify a rotation led by Dan Haren & Brandon Webb and sign free agents Adam LaRoche & Kelly Johnson to deals.

All the wheeling and dealing has not paid off. The team’s payroll currently sits at $75, 484, 833, the highest it has been since 2003 and it looks as if general manager Josh Byrnes will need to trash the idea of contending this season, dump unnecessary salaries and start fresh.

The team has a core of players such as the above mentioned Reynolds, Chris Young & superstar Justin Upton to build around so baseball fans in Arizona may see their team become a big time seller at the deadline. Let’s take a look at who the Diamondbacks could unload.

Brandon Webb

The three-time All-Star and recipient of the 2006 National League Cy Young award could be a huge trade chip if the Diamondbacks can prove to franchises around baseball that Webb is healthy enough to help someone with a playoff run.

Webb is currently on the 60-day disabled list with shoulder stiffness, but did throw on the mound last week.

There is a very good chance that teams will balk at acquiring Webb, letting him go to free agency hoping to claim him, if healthy, in the off-season at a discount.

Webb is in the club option year of a four year, $19.5 million dollar deal he signed with the team prior to the 2006 season. He is currently earning $8.5 million.

Dan Haren

The Diamondbacks letting their current ace leave via trade is a long shot in my mind, as fans would take the move as the team turning its heads on making a playoff run anytime within the next few years. That does not mean a move will not happen for sure.

Haren is a three-time All-Star who has been one of the best and most consistent starters in the National League since coming over from the Oakland Athletics in a big trade prior to the 2008 season.

Haren is consistently one of the top pitchers in baseball in innings pitched, earned run average, wins, batting average against & strikeouts on a yearly basis and could immediately have an impact on any team that acquired him.

His current 4.71 earned run average is the highest it has been since his rookie season with the St.Louis Cardinals in 2003, but Haren is still one of the best the game has.

The acquisition of Haren would be an expensive one for any team inquiring as he is in the second year of a four year deal worth $44.75 million. He is owed $8.25 million this season, $12.75 million in 2011, $12.75 million in 2012 and has a club option year in 2013 worth $15.5 million with a $3.5 million buyout.

Chris Snyder

Snyder is a player that could most certainly be on the move come the trade deadline. The D-Backs thought they had rid themselves of Snyder’s terrible contract prior to the season in a deal for Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Lyle Overbay, but Snyder’s back caused some concerns and the Jays turned away.

Snyder has been productive this season, filling in for the injured Miguel Montero and could be a useful catcher for any team in need of both offensive and defensive help.

The D-backs have John Hester in Triple A and he could fill in at backstop behind Montero to replace Snyder if he departs.

Snyder has hit for a poor average of .215, but has belted nine home runs and driven in twenty six runs in 158 at-bats. Snyder is also a good game caller and has only made one error behind home plate this season.

The only problem keeping Snyder is Arizona is his contract, which owes him $4.75 million this season, $5.75 million next season and he has a club option worth $6.75 million for 2012 with a $750,000 buyout.

If the D-backs can find someone in desperate need of catching help down the stretch you can fully expect Snyder to be gone.

Adam LaRoche

Prior to the 2010 season Adam LaRoche was wondering where he was going to play. He had a rumoured offer from the San Francisco Giants and that was it. That rumour never came to fruition and he landed with the D-Backs on a one-year deal worth $6 million with a mutual option for 2011 worth $7.5 million with a $1.5 million buyout.

LaRoche, noted as an extreme slow starter in his years with the Atlanta Braves & Pittsburgh Pirates has gotten off to a very decent start this season, hitting .253 with nine home runs and 42RBI in 221 at-bats, while playing so-so defense at first base.

LaRoche averaged 24HR and 85RBI from 2005 – 2008, but has not been healthy enough over the past few years to replicate that production.

He is however a big bat and run producer, which always seems to be needed come playoff time.

LaRoche is not what I would call affordable, but his contract is at a decent enough amount that a team could risk the payout for the run production as LaRoche normally finishes his seasons better than he starts them.

Kelly Johnson

Once projected as the mainstay at the second base position for the Atlanta Braves Johnson struggled last season, losing his starting job to the impressive Martin Prado and did not have a home this off-season.

Reportedly going to the Blue Jays as a fourth outfielder, he opted to take less money from the D-Backs to stick with the National League playing his customary second base position.

Johnson has been one of the bigger surprises in the first half in the NL, hitting for an average of .271 with 13HR & 34RBI in 240 at-bats, while playing decent defense at second base.

Johnson, who has never hit more than 16HR, has always been a decent run producing second baseman knocking in 68 and 69 runs in 2007 & 2008 respectively.

He seems to have returned to form this season and could be good for that many RBI yet again, which makes him a good player to have in the number two hole or bottom half of a good hitting playoff line-up.

The most attractive part about Johnson is his contract. A one year-deal at $2.35 million with no option years is a steal for a player producing close to 70 runs for a team.

He could easily be the next player on the way out for Arizona. Expect the team to deal him in favour of Tony Abreu at second base. Abreu is currently rehabbing, but should be back very soon so a deal could be close behind.

The Arizona Diamondbacks are in need of something to turn around their struggling ball club and the trade deadline may be the answer this year. If the Diamondbacks go on a fire sale it will not be much of a surprise. Let’s wait and see what the team does in the just over a month leading up to the July 31st trade deadline.

Do not forget to follow me on Twitter @BryanMcwilliam or join my facebook group