The Diamondbacks’ two largest offseason strikes occurred in late December, because the workforce surprisingly landed Corbin Burnes on a six-year, $210M deal and bought Josh Naylor in a commerce with the Guardians. These headline-grabbing transactions, nevertheless, solely bolstered an already deep rotation and stuffed a gap at first base that was left open when Christian Walker signed with the Astros.
As such, two of the Snakes’ chief offseason targets stay unaddressed, as president of baseball operations Mike Hazen informed the Arizona Republic’s Nick Piecoro that the D’Backs are nonetheless wanting so as to add a high-leverage arm to the bullpen and a right-handed hitter to assist stability out the lineup. Including the left-handed hitting Naylor in for the right-handed hitting Walker tilted Arizona’s lineup a bit additional to the left facet, and the Diamondbacks have been linked to such free agent relievers and commerce targets as Devin Williams, Ryan Helsley, and Kirby Yates over the course of the offseason.
Apparently, Hazen implied that the D’Backs might deal with these wants in free company, saying, “I nonetheless am able so as to add to the workforce, sure,” when requested if extra payroll house was obtainable. The surprising Burnes signing despatched the Diamondbacks’ payroll past the $193M mark (as per RosterResource’s estimates), which is well the very best payroll in franchise historical past. This spending enhance comes on the heels of one other payroll surge, as Arizona’s Opening Day payroll went from $116.1M in 2023 to $163.3M final season.
It’s in all probability protected to imagine that Hazen’s remaining payroll flexibility is pretty restricted, as he famous that “I don’t have that potential to simply go, you understand, handle it with one swipe of the pen. So these are in all probability the complicating elements relative to what we’re attempting to get carried out, however there’s nonetheless alternative.” This might make trades the extra seemingly path to additional roster upgrades, although Hazen mentioned that rival groups have been asking for an excessive amount of in return.
Nonetheless, Hazen mentioned that the D’Backs is perhaps keen to make use of its rotation depth for trade-chip functions, noting “that could possibly be in a few of the areas the place your reliever commerce is available in.” Arizona’s beginning pitchers had been drawing commerce curiosity even earlier than Burnes joined the roster, and one arm has already been dealt, as Slade Cecconi was despatched to Cleveland as a part of the Naylor deal.
This being mentioned, Hazen is reluctant to maneuver an excessive amount of pitching, whether or not from the extra established veterans within the rotation to youthful arms slated for Triple-A or the bullpen. Accidents considerations are omnipresent, since “as you understand in beginning pitching, it could possibly be as a lot as lacking a few bullpens someplace in camp,” Hazen mentioned. “And that generally takes the potential potential for someone to make the workforce on Opening Day not possible, and that occurs fairly often.”
The Diamondbacks are, due to this fact, effective taking all seven of their beginning pitching candidates into the beginning of Spring Coaching, Hazen mentioned, however Piecoro notes that Jordan Montgomery continues to be obtainable in commerce talks. Arizona’s efforts to maneuver Montgomery have been a well-documented subplot of the workforce’s offseason, however there hasn’t been a lot public buzz round particular groups within the left-hander’s providers. Granted, that isn’t a shock, given Montgomery’s $22.5M wage in 2025 and his injury-hampered 6.23 ERA over 117 innings in 2024.
Williams was traded from the Brewers to the Yankees, Yates is seemingly near a cope with the Dodgers, and the Cardinals (considerably curiously) aren’t planning to commerce Helsley, although the nearer is a free agent subsequent winter and hasn’t had any extension talks with the St. Louis entrance workplace. The D’Backs additionally had some curiosity in re-signing outdated buddy Paul Sewald, however Arizona’s ex-closer signed with the Guardians earlier this week. Among the many remaining members of the free agent bullpen market, Carlos Estevez, Kenley Jansen, David Robertson, and Craig Kimbrel are among the many extra notable pitchers with closing expertise, plus any variety of relievers is perhaps obtainable in commerce talks.
Arizona had arguably the league’s high offense final season, however even with Naylor changing Walker, the D’Backs are lacking a few key contributors. Joc Pederson signed with the Rangers, although Randal Grichuk continues to be a free agent, and a reunion with the outfielder would immediately deal with the Diamondbacks’ want for a righty bat. Grichuk’s potential to play the outfield additionally makes him a match, as Hazen mentioned the workforce isn’t wanting particularly for a right-handed hitting DH choice. Pavin Smith figures to take Pederson’s spot because the left-handed hitting facet of the DH platoon, however Hazen desires to maintain the designated hitter place comparatively open with a purpose to give a number of gamers doable relaxation days.
