ESPN Assigns Disappointing Midseason Grades to Diamondbacks, Pirates, Mets

The Arizona Diamondbacks received a midseason grade of C due to significant struggles in their starting pitching and bullpen, despite having one of the top offenses in MLB led by All-Stars Corbin Carroll, Ketel Marte, and Eugenio Suarez. Key injuries, including Corbin Burnes' Tommy John surgery and closer Shelby Miller's forearm strain, have contributed to their pitching woes, with the bullpen tied for the most blown saves in the league. The team sits just below .500 and 5.5 games out of a Wild Card spot, facing uncertainty about whether to buy or sell before the trade deadline. Conversely, the Arizona Cardinals' offseason was highly praised, with ESPN giving them a high grade for bolstering their defense by signing standout edge rusher Sweat and extending tight end Trey McBride, moving to address critical team needs. Meanwhile, the New York Mets, despite a brief rough patch in June, maintain a strong position in the National League standings, showing resilience and balanced offensive production. Lastly, the Pittsburgh Pirates continue to struggle with poor offensive performance, ranking among the worst in batting categories, although their pitching staff remains a relative bright spot.