In conjunction with the D-Backs’ Offseason In Assessment, Anthony Franco will maintain a team-specific chat on March 2. Click on right here to depart a query prematurely.
The Diamondbacks went into the offseason advertising and marketing a surplus of left-handed hitting outfielders. After a number of months of rumors, they pulled off their anticipated huge swap, touchdown one of many sport’s finest catching prospects within the course of. That was the most important transfer, although the Snakes additionally supplemented their place participant combine and made a trio of additives to the reduction corps as they push for authentic playoff competition.
Main League Signings
Choice Selections
Trades and Claims
Notable Minor League Signings
Austin Adams, Jesse Biddle, Austin Brice, Sam Clay, Phillip Evans, Ryan Hendrix, Jeurys Familia, Jandel Gustave, Jake Hager, P.J. Higgins, Zach McAllister, Yairo Muñoz, Eric Yardley
Extensions
Notable Losses
Varsho, Caleb Smith, Jordan Luplow, Kennedy, Hummel, Sergio Alcántara, Sean Poppen, Taylor Widener, Stone Garrett, Keynan Middleton, Edwin Uceta, Reyes Moronta, Tyler Holton, Yonny Hernández, J.B. Bukauskas
The previous few seasons haven’t gone effectively for the Diamondbacks. Arizona limped to last-place finishes in 2020-21, adopted by a fourth-place displaying final yr. They partially compensated with a run of what seem like sturdy draft courses. They by no means meant to enter a rebuild however the previous few seasons have primarily functioned as such.
Over the ultimate few months of final season, the younger expertise the group had constructed within the pipeline started to translate to improved MLB outcomes. Arizona was a roughly league common crew within the second half, nonetheless shy of competition however fairly a bit higher than their last few seasons. Basic supervisor Mike Hazen and his entrance workplace headed into the offseason with extra readability concerning the crew’s strengths and weaknesses.
No spot on the roster was a extra apparent plus than the outfield. Arizona had seen Daulton Varsho emerge as a productive common. High prospect Corbin Carroll debuted in late August and hit the bottom operating in opposition to MLB pitching. Jake McCarthy posted a powerful .283/.342/.427 displaying in 99 video games throughout his first prolonged massive league motion. Alek Thomas didn’t have the identical stage of success, although he’s extremely regarded by prospect evaluators for his contact expertise and heart discipline protection.
Hazen indicated the crew would discipline provides on that outfield glut, with 4 fascinating and controllable left-handed bats who may attraction to different groups. Including right-handed stability to the lineup and probably upgrading over Carson Kelly at catcher had been highlighted as priorities, whereas the entrance workplace implied they’d scour quite a few avenues to improve a bullpen that was once more among the many league’s worst.
By and huge, Arizona ultimately checked off each merchandise on that to-do listing. Probably the most easy path to attaining their place participant ends can be to herald a right-handed catcher with plus offensive upside. Arizona was unsurprisingly linked to Sean Murphy earlier than the A’s despatched him to Atlanta. Whereas they missed out on Murphy, the Snakes ultimately pulled off their catching addition in that long-awaited commerce of an outfielder.
Varsho was the participant who ended up the odd man out. A Gold Glove caliber defender who hit 27 house runs in 2022, he was one of the crucial interesting targets on this offseason’s commerce market contemplating his 4 remaining seasons of arbitration management. The outfield-needy Blue Jays at all times appeared like a powerful on-paper match contemplating their surplus of right-handed hitting catchers. Toronto had appeared prone to transfer one among Danny Jansen, Alejandro Kirk or high prospect Gabriel Moreno for a while, and issues lastly coalesced simply earlier than Christmas.
The D-Backs despatched Varsho to Toronto for Moreno and nook outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. Controllable for six seasons, Moreno is likely one of the recreation’s high younger catching skills. He hit .315/.386/.420 with a meager 16.9% strikeout fee in 267 Triple-A plate appearances at age 22 final season. That earned him a short MLB look, through which he posted a .319/.356/.377 line with solely eight strikeouts in 73 journeys to the dish.
There’s some query about how a lot energy affect Moreno will make, however he’s an elite contact hitter with no considerations about his means to stay behind the plate. Even when he solely hits 10 house runs yearly, his excessive batting averages and on-base numbers ought to make him one of many recreation’s finest offensive catchers. He’ll push Kelly right into a reserve function.
Whereas Moreno was the important thing piece of the deal on Arizona’s finish, they considerably backfilled the outfield subtraction with Gurriel’s inclusion. Whereas he’s actually a downgrade from Varsho — notably on protection — Gurriel is a low-variance on a regular basis participant. He’s coming off a .291/.343/.400 displaying in 121 video games. He solely linked on 5 house runs throughout his closing season in Toronto however has twice reached the 20-homer plateau in his profession.
Gurriel provides above-average contact expertise and usually reveals first rate energy. He not often walks and is restricted to the nook outfield or DH after an early-career experiment within the infield didn’t pan out. Whereas he’s a flawed participant, Gurriel can hit and provides one other right-handed presence to the lineup. He’s headed into the ultimate season of his contract and will likely be a free agent at yr’s finish, that means he’d be a simple commerce candidate if the D-Backs aren’t contending midseason.
He’s not the one right-handed hitting outfielder the Snakes introduced in by way of commerce. Earlier than the Varsho swap, Arizona rolled the cube on 2020 AL Rookie of the Yr Kyle Lewis. It was a one-for-one deal that despatched catcher/outfielder Cooper Hummel to Seattle. Lewis has had a disastrous previous couple seasons, with persistent proper knee points protecting him to only 54 mixed video games because the begin of 2021. A former first-round decide and high prospect, Lewis hit .262/.364/.437 for Seattle throughout the shortened season. His well being has been a query mark since he tore his ACL in a house plate collision inside months of being drafted. Nonetheless, Lewis stays simply 27 years previous and gained’t be counted upon for on a regular basis work within the Arizona outfield.
Gurriel and Lewis present matchup choices in proper discipline and at DH. Left discipline belongs to Carroll, who’s a consensus high three prospect. Arizona has already appeared into the potential for extending him past his allotted six seasons of management in what might be one of many membership’s extra fascinating storylines this spring. Thomas and McCarthy can every play heart discipline, with the latter assured of standard run someplace after his high quality debut marketing campaign.
The D-Backs added one other righty-swinging designated hitter possibility by way of free company. 15-year MLB veteran Evan Longoria signed a $4MM deal to separate time between third base and DH. He’s clearly not the star he was at his peak, however Longoria has continued to hit at an above-average stage into his late-30s. Accidents have price him virtually half the final two seasons. He’s finest fitted to a part-time or platoon function at this stage of his profession and that’s prone to be the capability through which he operates.
Left-handed hitting Josh Rojas ought to get the lion’s share of at-bats on the sizzling nook. Rojas is an effective hitter with some defensive flexibility however isn’t a fantastic gloveman anyplace. He’s an enough if below-average third baseman, and his contact and baserunning expertise make him a strong participant total.
He’ll presumably be enjoying alongside Nick Ahmed on most days. A two-time Gold Glove winner, Ahmed continues to be one of many sport’s preeminent defensive infielders. He’s by no means contributed a lot offensively and misplaced just about all of 2022 to shoulder surgical procedure. Arizona a minimum of monitored the marketplace for shortstop upgrades — together with a unfastened hyperlink to Xander Bogaerts that at all times felt like a protracted shot — however in the end accomplished the offseason with out an addition there. Ahmed will likely be again and will take the job from Geraldo Perdomo, who didn’t carry out effectively over a protracted look with Ahmed out final season. Nonetheless simply 23, Perdomo might be in line for extra time at Triple-A.
The opposite aspect of the second base bag is clearly outlined. Ketel Marte will likely be again on the keystone. Christian Walker had an enormous second half efficiency to grab maintain of first base. Arizona introduced in Diego Castillo in a minor commerce with Pittsburgh so as to add some insurance coverage within the center infield. He figures to start out the season in a utility function or within the minors.
Arizona took a quantity method to deal with their different offseason precedence: the bullpen. They eschewed the highest of the free agent market and introduced in half of what figures to be their Opening Day group by way of lower-cost means. They began by claiming Cole Sulser off waivers from the Marlins, taking a buy-low flier on a pitcher who’d discovered success with Baltimore in 2021 earlier than a disappointing yr in South Florida.
That was adopted by a sequence of worth performs in free company. Veteran righty Miguel Castro inked a one-year, $3.75MM assure with a ’24 vesting/participant possibility. He’s a usually steady center reduction possibility, a pitcher who usually works to an ERA round 4.00 with strong strikeout and grounder charges however wobbly management. A pair weeks later, Arizona took a extra surprising cube roll on 33-year-old Scott McGough. The best-hander has simply six MLB appearances — all of which got here with the 2015 Marlins — and has spent the final 4 years in Japan. He posted a 2.94 ERA in 232 2/3 innings over 4 seasons with NPB’s Yakult Swallows and evidently impressed Arizona evaluators alongside the way in which.
McGough proved to be the group’s solely multi-year free agent signee of the offseason. His two-year, $6.25MM pact continues to be a comparatively low-risk transfer, although it’s powerful to venture whether or not he can tackle high-leverage innings in Torey Lovullo’s bullpen till seeing him in opposition to massive league competitors for the primary time in virtually a decade.
There shouldn’t be any such questions relating to Arizona’s closing bullpen addition. Previous good friend Andrew Chafin appeared like one of many high left-handed reduction arms on the free agent market. He opted out of the ultimate $6.5MM on his contract with the Tigers and appeared prone to discover a sturdy multi-year pact after a second straight wonderful season. For no matter motive, that apparently by no means materialized. Chafin lingered alongside a handful of different high quality southpaws deep into the offseason till Arizona swooped in with a $6.25MM assure. The D-Backs additionally secured a 2024 possibility on what seems to be like a powerful deal for the membership, one which reinstalls a well-recognized face into key late-inning work.
Chafin, Castro, Sulser and McGough are presumably all going to open the season within the MLB bullpen. They’ll be a part of left-hander Joe Mantiply, who had a breakout 2022 displaying. Righty Kevin Ginkel presumably has a center innings job secured after a quietly sturdy end to the ’22 season. Mark Melancon is headed into the second season of a two-year free agent deal that didn’t pan out as hoped in yr one. He’s not assured of the nearer’s function; Lovullo has already indicated he may take a committee method to the ninth inning early within the season (hyperlink by way of Steve Gilbert of MLB.com). Nonetheless, Melancon will presumably be on the roster in some capability because the crew seems to be for a bounceback from the four-time All-Star.
That solely leaves a spot or two within the early going for depth sorts like Kyle Nelson, Corbin Martin, commerce acquisition Carlos Vargas or non-roster Spring Coaching invitees like Jeurys Familia, Austin Brice, Austin Adams, Jandel Gustave, Ryan Hendrix and Sam Clay. There’ll clearly be some attrition in that group — accidents, workload administration or underperformance will necessitate adjustments to the bullpen combine all through the approaching months — however the group has stockpiled slightly extra reduction depth than they’ve had in prior seasons.
The D-Backs didn’t must do as a lot to construct out the beginning employees. Zac Gallen is a authentic #1 starter. There’s no indication the perimeters have mentioned an extension. It wouldn’t be stunning if the entrance workplace gauged his curiosity in signing past his remaining three years of arbitration management sooner or later. Merrill Kelly is a strong mid-rotation kind behind him, even when his lack of swing-and-miss stuff may make it troublesome to maintain a 3.37 ERA. There’s not a ton of certainty behind that duo, although the Snakes have a handful of choices who may fill out the again of the employees. Zach Davies had a fantastic if unexciting season behind the rotation final yr. He’s again after re-signing on a modest $4MM free agent deal and can maintain one of many season-opening rotation spots.
Madison Bumgarner had comparable manufacturing as Davies final season, albeit at a a lot greater value level. His five-year, $85MM free agent contract has been a serious disappointment. Bumgarner has been a sturdy supply of innings however hasn’t come near reestablishing himself because the top-of-the-rotation starter he was all through his time in San Francisco. In October, Hazen implied that Bumgarner’s veteran standing would get him one other shot within the rotation however indicated the membership may ultimately go in one other course as efficiency dictates.
Whether or not that occurs would possibly rely as a lot on Arizona’s youthful pitchers than on Bumgarner himself. Righties Ryne Nelson and Drey Jameson look set to battle for the fifth spot this spring after every debuted late final season. Brandon Pfaadt has but to achieve the majors however is arguably extra highly-regarded by evaluators than both Nelson or Jameson are. He pitched very effectively over ten Triple-A begins to shut out final season and might be on the radar for an enormous league name early within the upcoming marketing campaign. Tommy Henry and former excessive draft decisions Blake Walston and Slade Cecconi headline the depth choices behind that group.
There’s room for the membership to nonetheless look right into a veteran on a minor league deal so as to add some stability to the higher ranges. Clearly, the principle organizational hope is that higher-upside hurlers like Nelson and Pfaadt will carry out effectively sufficient within the early going to cement themselves within the rotation. Ought to they achieve this, that might lead the group to think about bumping Bumgarner or Davies from the group. Early on, nonetheless, Arizona figures to retain as a lot depth as they will given the inherent threat in relying on any pitching prospect to imagine a big function on a crew with playoff aspirations.
Whether or not the Diamondbacks have authentic motive to hope for a postseason spot is debatable. The pitching employees, whereas improved, nonetheless seems to be slightly mild relative to these of most contenders. The membership has query marks on the left aspect of the infield, notably at shortstop. They’re in a gauntlet of a division, one the place the ever-competitive Dodgers and extremely aggressive Padres will likely be projected 1-2 in some order by most observers. Arizona seems to be to have clearly pulled away from Colorado on the backside of the division. It stays to be seen whether or not they can each leapfrog the Giants and dangle within the Wild Card combine for a full season.
Even when a playoff berth seems to be like a protracted shot, there’s extra motive for rapid optimism than has existed in a while. The core of the following aggressive Arizona crew is starting to take form, and the farm system ought to stay among the many league’s finest even after Moreno and Carroll graduate. High prospects like Jordan Lawlar and Druw Jones are nonetheless a number of seasons out, nevertheless it’s straightforward for the group and its followers to dream about them ultimately becoming a member of Moreno, Carroll, Marte and maybe a younger pitcher or two in comprising a bunch that may yearly battle the behemoths on the high of the division.
