SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- The Diamondbacks have a glut of middle infielders, including three -- Nick Ahmed, Chris Owings and Jean Segura -- whom manager Chip Hale says are above-average Major League shortstops. It's a good problem to have, Hale says.
The excess also leads to trade speculation, as it has of late with the St. Louis Cardinals in need.
On Sunday, FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal cited a "Diamondbacks official" saying Ahmed -- clearly the best defender but also the least productive offensively -- should be the odd man out and a possible trade candidate. Rosenthal also cited the same team official saying Ahmed is slow to embrace adjustments.
Hale on Monday said that was not accurate.
"That bothered me. I don't know where that came from," Hale said. "I think because Nick Ahmed is a very educated kid, University of Connecticut, (and) he's extremely competitive, he sometimes comes off to people that he's not willing to make adjustments. He is, like most kids today -- any of us who have kids know if you tell them to do something you better have a good reason for it. And he's educated; he knows the game of baseball very well.
"He's been extremely willing to work with any of our hitting coaches, whether it was Turner (Ward) last year or Mags (Dave Magadan) this year. I don't know where that came from. It really bothered me reading that, to be honest with you. He's doing everything he can to make himself a better ballplayer at the plate; we know how good he is defensively."
Hale said he likely would talk to Ahmed after Monday's game against the Mariners.
"Nothing really bothers him," Hale added.
Ahmed was hitting .381 entering Monday's game and picked up two hits in his first two at-bats.
