D-Backs won't surrender draft pick to sign another player

The Arizona Diamondbacks' unwillingness to forfeit a draft pick has likely withdrawn their interest from signing free-agent second baseman Howie Kendrick.

"We're not going to give up the pick," general manager Dave Stewart told Steve Gilbert of MLB.com. "It's just tough after we've already given up our first pick. To give up our top two picks, that would be difficult for us to do."

The Diamondbacks surrendered their 13th overall pick in 2016 to the Los Angeles Dodgers as the result of signing Zack Greinke. They'd be required to give up the 37th selection of the competitive-balance round should they agree to a deal with another player who was issued a qualifying offer.

It was reported earlier Monday the Diamondbacks have been engaged in ongoing discussions with Kendrick, who received a one-year qualifying offer from the Dodgers.

Arizona has been linked to several veteran second basemen this winter, though Stewart acknowledges the interest was more of an insurance policy than a necessity, should the D-Backs' young players stumble.

"Only just for the security of it," Stewart said. "We don't have a reason to believe that we're not going to get more production from (Chris Owings), or (Nick) Ahmed, or, for that matter, Jake Lamb or (Yasmany) Tomas. We think those guys are all going to be productive, but when you have back-to-back years of .300 or close to .300 with (Ender) Inciarte, we did give away some offense. You wouldn't mind knowing that you've got a guy that you know is going to do that vs. guessing on it."