The Diamondbacks overcame a midseason slump to play their way into the National League’s final playoff spot. They followed up an 84-78 regular season showing with a surprising run. That ended in disappointing fashion, as the Snakes dropped a five-game World Series to the Rangers. They’re now on to the offseason as they take their first steps in trying to get back to the Fall Classic.
Guaranteed Contracts
- Corbin Carroll, LF: $105MM through 2030 (including buyout of ’31 club option)
- Ketel Marte, 2B: $62MM through 2027 (including buyout of ’28 club option)
- Merrill Kelly, RHP: $9MM through 2024 (including buyout of ’25 club option)
- Miguel Castro, RHP: $5MM through 2024*
- Scott McGough, RHP: $3.75MM through 2024 (including buyout of ’25 mutual option)
- Jace Peterson, 3B: $3MM through 2024 (A’s paying down $2MM of Peterson’s $5MM salary)
* Castro’s vesting option is conditional on passing end-of-season physical
Option Decisions
- Team and RHP Mark Melancon hold $5MM mutual option ($2MM buyout)
Additional Financial Commitments
- Owe $14MM to released LHP Madison Bumgarner
- Owe $300K to released RHP Zach Davies
2024 financial commitments: $51.3MM
Total future commitments: $204.05MM
Arbitration-Eligible Players (projected salaries via MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz)
- Christian Walker (5.124): $12.7MM
- Paul Sewald (5.072): $7.3MM
- Austin Adams (4.150): $1.1MM
- Zac Gallen (4.100): $10.9MM
- Ryan Thompson (3.095): $1.3MM
- Kyle Lewis (3.067): $1.61MM
- Kevin Ginkel (3.032): $1.4MM
- Joe Mantiply (3.029): $1MM
Non-tender candidates: Adams, Lewis, Mantiply
Free Agents
Arizona faces a couple immediate questions with the turnaround to the offseason. They’ll make the easy decision to buy out their end of a $5MM mutual option on Mark Melancon, who missed the entire season after a Spring Training shoulder strain. He’ll collect a $2MM buyout to conclude a free agent deal that didn’t work out.
There’s another question the front office will need to decide as it sets its offseason agenda: whether they’ll try to retain Lourdes Gurriel Jr. on a multi-year contract. The righty-hitting left fielder had a strong season in the desert. The third piece in the Daulton Varsho/Gabriel Moreno trade, Gurriel turned in a .261/.309/.463 batting line with a career-high 24 home runs over 592 plate appearances. He paired that with an elite +14 Defensive Runs Saved in 778 left field innings, although Statcast’s defensive metric pegged him closer to league average.
Baseball Reference pegged his contributions around three wins above replacement, while he typically falls in the 2-3 WAR range. He’s a solid everyday left fielder and could find a three- or four-year deal. The D-Backs opened the 2023 campaign with a player payroll around $116MM — the #21 figure in the majors, according to Cot’s Baseball Contracts. If they don’t want to meet Gurriel’s asking price, they’ll likely look for external corner outfield help. Deadline acquisition Tommy Pham is also headed to free agency.
Arizona likely has two outfield spots secured. Corbin Carroll turned in a Rookie of the Year season in the first year of his eight-year extension. He’s a true franchise building block. Alek Thomas had a mediocre regular season offensively, reaching base at a meager .273 clip. He hit well in October and brings plus center field defense (error in last night’s game notwithstanding) and baserunning to the table. Between his secondary skills and strong prospect reputation, he’ll probably get the first look in center field.
The rest of the outfield is uncertain. Jake McCarthy had a disappointing follow-up to his surprisingly strong rookie year. While Dominic Fletcher hit well in a limited sample, he’s a 26-year-old with 28 major league games under his belt. Neither former 7th overall pick Pavin Smith nor 2020 AL Rookie of the Year Kyle Lewis made much of an impact. They could each be let go. Jorge Barrosa is on the 40-man roster but has yet to make his MLB debut.
Arizona isn’t going to be in the Cody Bellinger mix. Any other free agent outfielder could fit within their payroll window. Including projected salaries for their group of arbitration-eligible players, the Snakes have around $86MM in commitments for next year. That leaves around $30MM before reaching this past season’s Opening Day mark. They’re around $50MM shy of the franchise’s approximate $131MM record. While they’re six years removed from that level, it stands to reason they could push near or past those heights after hosting seven playoff games and with a goal of backing up this year’s success.
Aside from Bellinger, the top free agent outfielder is Teoscar Hernández. He could require draft pick forfeiture as a potential qualifying offer recipient and might land a four-year deal. Gurriel, Jorge Soler and KBO star Jung Hoo Lee are among the next tier down. On the trade front, players like Alex Verdugo (projected $9.2MM salary), Max Kepler ($10MM) and Anthony Santander (projected at $12.7MM) may be available as rental options.
Arizona has a strong infield in place. Christian Walker is an underrated contributor at first base. A $12.7MM projection for his final year of arbitration isn’t insignificant, but there’s enough payroll room that the D-Backs can accommodate it to retain a Gold Glove defender with 35-homer potential. Ketel Marte had another great season at second base.
The left side of the infield is a little less settled, though it’s not for lack of options. Arizona released longtime shortstop Nick Ahmed in September, a move made in tandem with the promotion of top prospect Jordan Lawlar. The latter didn’t get much action in the postseason, with Arizona relying on a collection of Geraldo Perdomo, Emmanuel Rivera and Evan Longoria between shortstop and third base.
Perdomo’s offense fell off in the second half, but he had an All-Star first couple months and a strong postseason. Neither Rivera nor Jace Peterson offer much offensively. Longoria is a free agent, while Lawlar only has 32 games above Double-A.
There’s enough uncertainty at third base that the front office could add a veteran. Perhaps that’s a reunion with Longoria should he continue playing. Justin Turner is likely to decline a player option with the Red Sox. While he’s not an everyday third baseman at this stage of his career, he could see some action there while logging the bulk of the designated hitter reps.
If Lawlar takes the third base job (or plays shortstop, pushing Perdomo to the hot corner), a Longoria or Turner type could move fully to DH. Old friend J.D. Martinez obviously isn’t an option at third base, but he’s a possibility if the Snakes are content to bring in a DH-only bat to replace the offense with Gurriel, Longoria and Pham hitting free agency.
Arizona has one of the best young catchers in the game with Moreno under club control through 2028. Bringing in a low-cost backup who pushes José Herrera down the depth chart is a possibility. Tucker Barnhart, Martín Maldonado and Eric Haase are free agents.
While there are a few questions on the position player side, the biggest issue for the front office is filling the back of the rotation. Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly make for a strong top two. Brandon Pfaadt had a tough regular season as a rookie before an impressive run in the playoffs. Neither Ryne Nelson nor Tommy Henry (the latter of whom missed the second half with an elbow injury) has established himself as more than a depth starter. Slade Cecconi has made only four MLB starts.
Adding one or two pitchers to fill out the rotation should be the top priority for GM Mike Hazen and his staff. The D-Backs aren’t likely to meet a potential $200MM+ asking price on Blake Snell or NPB ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto. There’s enough spending room they could be a factor on anyone else in the class, although a run at Aaron Nola or Jordan Montgomery would require easily their biggest investment since their surprising $206.5MM strike for Zack Greinke eight years ago.
Sonny Gray and Eduardo Rodriguez could be available for similar outlays to the $85MM guarantee the Snakes awarded Madison Bumgarner in 2019. Seth Lugo, Michael Wacha, Mike Clevinger and Michael Lorenzen (a reported deadline target of Arizona’s this past summer) are among the middle tier veterans. Lucas Giolito is a volatile option after a rough second half, while Frankie Montas and Luis Severino are pure rebound candidates.
On the trade front, Shane Bieber, Nick Pivetta and Adrian Houser could be on the move as they’re a year from free agency. Cal Quantrill, José Urquidy (with whom pitching coach Brent Strom is familiar from his time with the Astros) and Spencer Turnbull are multi-year trade possibilities.
In recent offseasons, the bullpen has been a focus for Arizona. While that might not be as strong a priority after the deadline acquisition of Paul Sewald, there’s still room to deepen the setup corps. Kevin Ginkel has emerged as a quality eighth inning arm. Andrew Saalfrank flashed impressive stuff as a rookie. Miguel Castro, Scott McGough and Kyle Nelson have middle relief spots but are coming off middling seasons. That’s also true of 2022 All-Star Joe Mantiply, who dropped behind Saalfrank as the top lefty option in the playoffs.
It’s hard to envision Arizona making a serious push for Josh Hader given their needs on the rotation front. Reynaldo López and Jordan Hicks are free agent setup types who’ll command multi-year deals. If the D-Backs want to bring in a left-hander, Matt Moore and Wandy Peralta are among the options.
Aside from supplementary acquisitions, the D-Backs could devote some of their long-term payroll room to extension negotiations. Arizona holds two more seasons of arbitration control on Gallen, who is on track to hit free agency before his age-30 campaign. He’d surely beat the five years and $64.5MM that Kyle Freeland received in the same service class. Logan Webb landed a five-year, $90MM guarantee in an extension with the Giants that went into effect beginning in his 4-5 service year, setting a potential benchmark for Gallen’s camp.
Moreno is the other top extension possibility. He has more MLB success than Keibert Ruiz did when he inked an eight-year, $50MM deal with the Nationals in the same service bracket. It’s possible a guarantee in that range that only buys out two or three free agent years — as opposed to the potential five seasons covered by the Ruiz extension — is mutually agreeable.
While it remains to be seen if the Snakes can get a long-term deal done with any of their players, one extension seems quite likely to be hammered out. USA Today’s Bob Nightengale wrote last month the D-Backs were likely to award an extension to manager Torey Lovullo. Arizona already signed Hazen through 2028. A similar term for the seventh-year skipper — who is currently under contract through next season — could be on the docket.
This year didn’t conclude with the championship that everyone in the Chase Field offices was seeking. Their relatively surprising playoff performance reinforced that they’ve moved into a win-now window. They’ll face challenges from their bigger-spending competitors in the NL West. The D-Backs are no longer upstarts. Beginning today, they set out to prove they have staying power.
Note: The original version of this post listed Lourdes Gurriel as a qualifying offer candidate. Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports that Gurriel is ineligible to receive the QO under the terms of his contract.
In conjunction with this post, Anthony Franco held a Diamondbacks-specific chat on 11-2-23. Click here to view the transcript.
Pretty much on point. Doubt that Mantiply is a non-tender although no extra value there.
Manny. You can’t be serious? You know absolutely nothing about the Dbacks, so why waste our time making such an inane assessment of this article as “Pretty much on point.”
Anthony Franco knows nothing about the Dbacks either. Look at his assessment of the Dbacks OF and who they might look to add.
What do ALL of the current Dbacks and prospect OF (Corbin Carroll, Alex Thomas, Jake McCarthy, Pavin Smith, Dominic Fletcher and Jorge Barrosa) have in common? Duh. They are ALL left handed hitters! Why then would the Dbacks even think about adding Another suggested left handed hitter like Bellinger, Lee, Verdugo or Kepler? Somebody needs to do a little research, and THINK a little before they write such drivel in an article.
Franco should have written an OF assessment like…the Dbacks right handed hitting prospects to replace the right handed hitting Gurriel (Druw Jones and Kristian Robinson) are not going to be ready next year, so the Dbacks might look at Free Agent right handed OF like Teoscar, Soler or Santana.
For the most part I agree that they won’t be seeking LF bats. I do however think Bellinger is the exception, just because of how dynamic of a bat he has. I’d assume if they were to sign him Thomas gets shopped.
Other than that tho I’d say they ll be looking to add a middle of the order RH bat.
Hey Scott,
The issue with the outfiled in not necessarily that they are LHH. The issue is that none of them other than Carroll can hit for power, nor can they hit LHP above league average. As such the desire to get a RHH is because there are more of them available, and in general RHH hit RHP better than LHH hitting LHP.
On the flip side, if there is a talented LHH that hits for power (OPS> 0.850) against RHP, and can be league average against LHP (platoon split OPS > 0.750) that is worth far more than a RHH that hits LHP better than RHP because 73.5% of all plate apperences in the MLB are against RHP.
As such, I would not dismiss Bellinger. He hits RHP extremely well and his platton splits againt LHP is not bad (in 2023 he actually hit LHP better than RHP). He also is capable of being the league MVP. Seager, Harper, Schwarber, Freeman, Olson, are all elite because they can destroy RHP and are really good against LHP as well.
The singulair biggest offensive issue with the Dbacks is that Carroll is the only player with an OPS >0.830 against RHP. That is a major void in the middle of the lineup. and no RHH (Pham, Gurriel, Walker, Longoria etc) are excelling against RHP. Marte’s power is from the RH side.
I have the same issue with Matt Chapman. His 2023 OPS against RHP was 0.722. Perdomo’s OPS against RHP was 0.738. Chapman destroys LHP, but he would be yet another offensive void in the lineup 73.5% of the time.
What would D-Backs fans think of a straight-up trade of Geraldo Perdomo for Tiger starting pitcher Reese Olson?
As a Ranger fan, Perdomo really impressed me during the Series. No way should the D-backs think about trading him. Not unless they are blown away with an offer.
As a D’Backs fan Perdomo more than likely depending on what Lawlar does during Spring Training, there was talk by D’Back brass to making Perdomo a super-sub for Shortstop, 2nd and 3rd.
Lawlar’s numbers in the minors are truly impressive, especially considering his age, and he seems like the D-Backs shortstop of the future. That’s why I suggested trading Perdomo for something the team seems to need – more starting pitching.
The Moreno for Varsho trade is looking more and more like Lou Brock for Ernie Broglio.
not that he’s any worse, but javy baez blocks him at ss
No chance
giving baez a chance to bounce back is better than giving up a potential frontline starter when your team is lacking pitching specifically, and has a ss on a big deal with baez.
For Love
Hard NO
Dbacks will look for a Top of the Rotation type, not a rookie who flashed mid-rotation potential.
think we have different definitions of frontline starter. imo olsen’s a 3 or 4 and if you ask some a 2 .
dingers
IF, and that’s a big IF, the Dbacks were to move Perdomo, it would be for a #1/#2 starter, not a questionable , rookie #3/#4 starter. The Dbacks have 5 or 6 of those already. Who knows which, if any of those starters take that next step?
Your response will probably be that I am over valuing Perdomo…if that’s what you claim/think, why are you trying to get him? The answer is that Perdomo is a talented, young leader, who plays Gold Glove defense, was an All-Star in 2023, and showed huge strides offensively and power-wise from last year to this year, and proved he has another gear this post-season. Of course you want him. He’s already one of the best SS in the league!
you lost me right at the end with best ss in the league. i can name at least 10 to 15 better ss RIGHT NOW. not to say that there’s a chance he’ll be better but there’s a chance he won’t. they also have a surplus of MiF talent with Lawlar, marte and him. it’s a position of strength and i could see them getting someone like olsen, a controllable pitcher with 3-4 starter projections.
I would love this! I have Tigers pegged to make the playoffs and Olson a large part of that. Gimme Olson all day. Also, I have Skubal picked as my 2024 Cy winner.
delusional take
Why did Pavin Smith pinch-hit last night? Longoria is a borderline HOF-er and Smith is arguably the worst player to appear in the World Series in the last 20 years. Lefty/Righty matchup isn’t a good enough argument, btw
maybe so that he got an Official MLB World Series At-Bat™ ? He appeared in four games, 0-1 1K with last night’s K.
He ended the 8th striking out looking with a runner on^TM
Longo hit .150 in playoffs this year he didn’t do anything to earn not being pitch hit for.
BizzyDat — Because the D-Backs lack depth on their bench and Longo looks like he’s at the end of his career. But I agree, Pavin Smith—on most teams—is not the answer.
They had Brandon Webb on MLB Network. They mentioned his time with Arizona but said nothing of his time with Texas (he didn’t play). It’s quite sad.
Ahh, yes. Those 4 memorable minor league starts for the AA Frisco RoughRiders in 2011.
BTW congratulations to you and the Texas Rangers.
His team did win a pennant. I’m not sure if he got anything from it, though, as he never pitched for Texas.
Incorrect.
2011 Frisco RoughRiders
Classification: AA
League: Texas League (South Division)
Record: 79-61, Finished 2nd out of 8 teams
You have to play for the team during its season to claim any championship rings or banners
Clarification—
Players have to play for the actual MLB team.
Trainers, staff, office staff, front office employees, coaches, etc, just need to be employed by the Texas Rangers to get a ring. Some get it for free, others have to pay.
BTW—
Will Smith, meanwhile, made history thanks to his World Series appearances: he has now won three rings in three years with three different teams.
The Dbacks biggest problem is Ken Kendrick still owns the team. Carroll extension is his one allowed 100 million + contract per team
“Kendrick still owns the team”…Do you have any idea how dumb you sound ripping the owner of a team that just played in the World Series? Get some new material Bud. How did being overloaded with 100M+ contracts help the Yankees, Pads or Mets this year?
His 84 win 3rd wild card team getting hot at the right time is not his achievement lmao. Show me any time in his ownership where they had more than two big contracts at once. They signed Greinke and committed nothing else so it hamstrung them. Then signed Bumgarner and nothing else from the outside. So now they have Bumgarner’s dead money and Carroll’s extension. He’s a proven cheap owner who isn’t going to see the light because they went to the Fall Classic
There is no way the D’Backs spend the way the Mets, Padres who by the way are a small market team that is being rumored to having cash flow issues right now, that is why they are going to cut payroll in for the 2024 season. The AZ market is a small region, now with the loss of one of their cash cows being Bally sports TV contract, the chances of a big time FA is not going to happen. Believe me would like to have Bellinger come to AZ, and 3rd baseman Chapman also LHP Montgomery but in reality, is not going to make it happen.
Hard to believe Madison Bumgarner was on this team beginning of the year, melancon too. Wtg for these free agents to ruin it fir the incoming free agents. Most of the dbacks players are one year, if less removed from aa rosters. Expect more minor leaguers than free agents.
But why stop with every free agent under the sun suddenly for Arizona . Insert other mlb team here.
Being a long time D’Back fan it was a great ride, nobody as a D’Back fan expected this to happen in 2023. D’backs brass said they were shooting for 2025 as a contender. This is a good step in the right direction. Now looking to 2024 hopefully see another step up the ladder. The window is cracked open now, with a strong farm system, hopefully the owner wants to open up the purse strings a little more. So let the offseason being only a month till the Winter Meetings. It was a fun season for D’Back fans, makes it an easier offseason to have.
if the front office is saying 2025 is their contention year, then they clearly overvalue saber metrics vs actual playing time, like most gms.
What happened to Kyle Lewis? Was he hit by a truck or something?
It’ll be at least another 20 years before they appear in another world series.
Tom
Jealousy does not become you.
Not jealous, I just live in reality
Hate to break it to you, but if you’re fantasizing about 20 years down the line, it’s not reality you’re living in.
Reality is acknowledging that almost the entire NL Pennant squad is back next season and affordable.
Dbacks need 4 things. First and most importantly a power hitter. 3rd base needs ro be covered by a 25 to 30 hr player.Chapman maybe. Second another hitter in the OF. I would love JD back here as a DH/OF. We then need another starter cause 3 guys isn’t enough. Definitely a lefty. And one more bullpen piece.
For pitching they need 1 Quality Starting Pitcher, 1 Quality Relief Option. Then need to slide Perdomo to Third so Lawler can take over at short. Finally get some thunder in the line up in the outfield and DH. Would love them to move off Christan Walker as well but that likely won’t happen.
The core of this team is young. Built primarily around speed, defense, and hitting. They trended to run hot and cold and with multiple hit innings to produce runs. They have power but don’t rely on it. I don’t think adding big contracts is the answer. They need to add a couple of backend starters and maybe a few minor league contract starters for depth. A Left hander is sadly need. They need a true long man in the pen. If Longo wants to play he’d be a good fill in for third. Lawler they feel is the future. I don’t think Rivera is the answer for third. He runs too hot and cold with little power. Left and DH is where they could add some punch but I’d stay away from the DH only types.
They made a very good run this year but need to keep adding young talent and look to ’25 as was the plan.
speed defense and hitting??? what else is there???
Trade for Rooker from Oakland or Steer in Cincy.
I wouldn’t be so sure on the no QO to Adams. Before the comebacker shattered his ankle he had a pretty good record.
Lawlar should be the SS moving forward, with Perdomo moving over to 3B. The kid should not have been wasting away on the pine, either. Smooth move, TL.
Oh, and I hope Castro fails his physical.