Piecoro adds that the Diamondbacks pursued McCarthy as a free agent two years ago before he signed with the Oakland Athletics.

With Daniel Hudson recovering from Tommy John surgery, the Diamondbacks are reportedly in the market for a veteran pitcher to pair with their projected starting three of Ian Kennedy, Wade Miley and Trevor Cahill.

McCarthy has been solid for the A’s since signing with them prior to the 2011 season when he’s been healthy, but the issue has been keeping the right-hander on the mound.

While he was able to make 25 starts in 2011, McCarthy was limited to 18 starts and 111 innings last season due to shoulder injuries and a life-threatening skull fracture sustained when he was hit in the head by a comebacker late in the season.

McCarthy is expected to recover fully from the skull fracture, but teams are reportedly more concerned about the durability of his shoulder, which has given him problems over the years. Still, the 29-year-old figures to draw interest this winter as he maintained an ERA and WHIP of 3.29 and 1.179 over his past two seasons in Oakland.