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Two months later, it’s still hard for Arizona general manager Mike Hazen to process that his team did not qualify for the 2024 postseason after the Diamondbacks went to the World Series in 2023.
With a young, improving roster and key veterans like right-handers Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly under team control for just one more season, Hazen is not shy about making sure he does everything he can to take advantage of that.
“It adds a little urgency that we didn’t make the playoffs,” Hazen said. “I want to get back to the playoffs.”
Hazen and his staff have been laying the groundwork for moves over the past month. Will something come to fruition during the Winter Meetings, which get underway Monday in Dallas? That’s hard to say, but here’s what you should know heading into them:
Bolstering the lineup is at the top of the Diamondbacks’ to-do list this winter. With the expected losses of first baseman Christian Walker and the designated hitter platoon of Joc Pederson and Randal Grichuk to free agency, Arizona is in the market for at least one bat to try to fill that void.
The Diamondbacks will also look to bolster the back end of the bullpen. With lefties A.J. Puk and Joe Mantiply returning, along with righties Justin Martinez, Kevin Ginkel and Ryan Thompson, Arizona has a good group to start with, but Hazen wants to add another late-inning option if he can.
Potential Trade Candidates
The Diamondbacks have two areas of surplus that they could look to deal from — center field and starting pitching.
With Corbin Carroll, Lourdes Gurriel Jr., Jake McCarthy and Alek Thomas returning in the outfield, Arizona has the flexibility to deal one of them. The most likely candidates are McCarthy or Thomas since both can play center field, which Hazen said has been a position a lot of clubs have inquired about.
With their rotation of Gallen, Kelly, Brandon Pfaadt, Eduardo Rodriguez, Ryne Nelson and Jordan Montgomery, the D-backs have another surplus they could trade from.
Arizona fans already know the team’s No. 1 prospect (No. 9 overall), Jordan Lawlar, based on his debut in September 2023. Lawlar likely would have seen big league time last year had he not missed chunks of the season due to injury, and he figures to be a big part of the 2025 Diamondbacks.
With Geraldo Perdomo set as the starting shortstop, the D-backs could use Lawlar to give Perdomo a rest at times while also playing him at second and third and giving Ketel Marte and Eugenio Suárez either days off or DH days. That would be especially helpful to reduce the wear and tear on Marte.
Hazen hasn’t shown a propensity to make picks in the Rule 5 Draft the last several years because with the Diamondbacks expected to contend, it is hard to carry a player uncertainty on the active roster all year long. That doesn’t figure to change this year.
How do they make up for the expected losses on offense?
With Walker, Pederson and Grichuk likely departing, the Diamondbacks will have to find a way to replace the offense that trio provided. That won’t be easy as Walker’s 26 homers, Pederson’s 151 OPS+ and Grichuk’s .875 OPS were a huge reason why Arizona led the Majors in runs scored in 2024. Some of the help could come internally, with Lawlar a candidate to make the team out of Spring Training, but Hazen will look to add some bats either via trade or free agency. With Walker’s expected departure, the Diamondbacks could look to Pavin Smith to take over at first, or depending on the cost they could potentially reunite with free agent Paul Goldschmidt.
Last year, Hazen found surplus value in Pederson and Grichuk on the free agent market, and he’ll probably look to do so again.
