2026 Arizona Diamondbacks Discussion thread

[Weenus O'Baggins]

Dbacks hosted 52,000 additonal fans this year. The most since 2008. You invest in the team and people come in the middle of 110s in a crappy stadium with bad AC. Kendrick's response is to apparently cut salary next year.

I don't see how they do that needing 2 SPs, a closer, a set up, a 1b, a LF and a 3rd base. I can only assume they sell of Marte and his mega cheap 16 million contract for a slew of prospects

Right now this is the Dbacks situation.

Only 8 players not in arbitration or FA

Burnes and Eduardo take up a hilarious 51 million dollars

Marte 16 Million

Lourdes 13 million. (thats 64 million in basically unplayable salaries)

Carroll 10.5 million (holy contract batman)60

Perdomo 6 Million (Holy contract Batman)

Pfaadt 3.25 Million (LMAO stop it Hazen)

Anyway, that is 103 million with 60% basically dead money

Anyways everyone else that matters is in arbitration. Gabby, Thomas, Nelson, McCarthy...

So assume 25 million in arbitration we are at 128 million. Now add on the various rookies on a 40 man and we will say 150 million.

So Kendrick wants to cut payroll needing..checks notes:

8 starters

Its going to be an absolute poop show. I assume they trade Marte for a 3 or 4 to 1 deal

 

[Weenus O'Baggins]

Considering the restraints on Lovello, I absolutely consider a legit closer the #1 priority by a mile. I would invest heavily on it.

Jesus even Pavin Smith is in arbitration. You have to assume he is your starter next year.

 

[82CardsGrad]

As Kendrick pointed out, it’s a 40-man roster that constitutes the team payroll.
From his comments, I sensed a desire to ensure the salary allocation is better configured so that the 25-man roster is able to be competitively paid. We’ll see…

 

[Adrian]

https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/mlb/diamondbacks/2025/09/30/arizona-diamondbacks-zac-gallen-mlb-playoffs-trade-deadline-offseason/86426145007/

 

[Adrian]

Diamondbacks Face Critical Decisions Heading Into 2026

The Arizona Diamondbacks are bringing back manager Torey Lovullo for his tenth season at the helm, adding pressure to perform in 2026 and beyond.

gophnx.com

 

[Adrian]

How do the Diamondbacks intend to improve roster for 2026?

Diamondbacks GM Mike Hazen gave his end-of-season press conference, and he made it clear which areas of the roster will be the focus.

arizonasports.com

 

[Adrian]

Diamondbacks brass: 'We need to fix' slow start to season

Finding ways to start of the season sharper will be a point of emphasis this offseason for the Arizona Diamondbacks, team leaders say.

arizonasports.com

 

[Adrian]

D-backs GM Mike Hazen Reveals Offseason Roster Focus

The Arizona Diamondbacks will begin their offseason early after missing out on the MLB playoffs for the second straight season, and their biggest need is relati

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[Adrian]

Diamondbacks free agents, options heading into offseason

The Diamondbacks traded most of their impending free agents at the deadline, so the list of players coming off the books has diminished.

arizonasports.com

 

[Adrian]

Who Will Play First Base for the Diamondbacks in 2026?

The Arizona Diamondbacks have a long list of questions and roster spots to fill heading into the 2025-2026 offseason. General Manager Mike Hazen made clear tha

www.si.com

 

[Weenus O'Baggins]

Who Will Play First Base for the Diamondbacks in 2026?

The Arizona Diamondbacks have a long list of questions and roster spots to fill heading into the 2025-2026 offseason. General Manager Mike Hazen made clear tha

www.si.com

Platoon of Smith and Tawa is my guess.

 

[Weenus O'Baggins]

Projected arbitration for the Dbacks:

Diamondbacks (11)

Ildemaro Vargas (5.129): $1.4MM
A.J. Puk (5.124): $3.3MM
Ryan Thompson (5.095): $3.9MM
Kevin Ginkel (5.033): $3MM
John Curtiss (4.078): $1.2MM
Pavin Smith (4.015): $2.4MM
Alek Thomas (3.103): $2.2MM
Kyle Nelson (3.081): $1MM
Jake McCarthy (3.074): $1.9MM
Gabriel Moreno (3.061): $2.4MM
Ryne Nelson (3.020): $3.3MM

 

[Dback Jon]

Projected arbitration for the Dbacks:

Diamondbacks (11)

Ildemaro Vargas (5.129): $1.4MM
A.J. Puk (5.124): $3.3MM
Ryan Thompson (5.095): $3.9MM
Kevin Ginkel (5.033): $3MM
John Curtiss (4.078): $1.2MM
Pavin Smith (4.015): $2.4MM
Alek Thomas (3.103): $2.2MM
Kyle Nelson (3.081): $1MM
Jake McCarthy (3.074): $1.9MM
Gabriel Moreno (3.061): $2.4MM
Ryne Nelson (3.020): $3.3MM

Assuming they will keep all of them right now. Gabi should get a real contract.

 

[Weenus O'Baggins]

So that's a fair amount of money. Who is getting tendered by tiers

Who is a lock:

Moreno 2.4 million and desperately needs to be extended. This is the #1 off season priority

Ryne Nelson 3.3 million and desperately needs to be extended

Ildemaro Vargas 1.4 million. (0.2 WAR) Switch hitter utility guy. Good price.

John Curtiss 1.2 million (0.4) WAR. Cheap and solid.

Who is likely to be kept (positive WAR players)

Pavin Smith 2.4 million (0.4 WAR). With holes at DH and 1st, he is a cheap option for either.

Ryan Thompson. 3.9 million (0.3 WAR). That's a big salary but he was solid down the stretch.

Alek Thomas 2.2 million (0.1 WAR). There just isn't another ready CF right now.


Who is likely gone

Jake McCarthy (-0.6 WAR) he turns 29 next year. Any other team he would be a lock to be gone but with Lourdes out there is a small chance he hangs on.

Kyle Nelson. 1 million (-0.1 WAR). Nearly 4.75 career ERA. It's time

Kevin Ginkel 3 million (-0.8 WAR) too much stink and not enough gink. He's a Torey favorite though so does that keep him on the roster?

Definitely gone

AJ Puk - TJ out for at least half the year.

 

[Weenus O'Baggins]

Assuming they will keep all of them right now. Gabi should get a real contract.

8.9 million buys you a starting caliber player and 3 spring training invites. I think that's the better plan

 

[Weenus O'Baggins]

7 million if they keep McCarthy, which is a MAYBE

 

[Weenus O'Baggins]

Or 3.5 million for McCann, 3.5 million for a reliever, McCarthy, and a league minimum guy

 

[Dback Jon]

7 million if they keep McCarthy, which is a MAYBE

That is a lot for him

 

[Dback Jon]

Or 3.5 million for McCann, 3.5 million for a reliever, McCarthy, and a league minimum guy

McCann is needed

 

[AZ Native]

So that's a fair amount of money. Who is getting tendered by tiers

Who is a lock:

Moreno 2.4 million and desperately needs to be extended. This is the #1 off season priority

Ryne Nelson 3.3 million and desperately needs to be extended

Ildemaro Vargas 1.4 million. (0.2 WAR) Switch hitter utility guy. Good price.

John Curtiss 1.2 million (0.4) WAR. Cheap and solid.

Who is likely to be kept (positive WAR players)

Pavin Smith 2.4 million (0.4 WAR). With holes at DH and 1st, he is a cheap option for either.

Ryan Thompson. 3.9 million (0.3 WAR). That's a big salary but he was solid down the stretch.

Alek Thomas 2.2 million (0.1 WAR). There just isn't another ready CF right now.


Who is likely gone

Jake McCarthy (-0.6 WAR) he turns 29 next year. Any other team he would be a lock to be gone but with Lourdes out there is a small chance he hangs on.

Kyle Nelson. 1 million (-0.1 WAR). Nearly 4.75 career ERA. It's time

Kevin Ginkel 3 million (-0.8 WAR) too much stink and not enough gink. He's a Torey favorite though so does that keep him on the roster?

Definitely gone

AJ Puk - TJ out for at least half the year.

Great write up

 

[Adrian]

Zac Gallen's Projected Contract Could Create Tough Choice for D-backs

The Arizona Diamondbacks face a tough decision with regard to one of their long-time veteran starters. Right-hander Zac Gallen, a client of the notorious Scott Boras, is expected to reject the Qualifying Offer and test free agency.

www.yardbarker.com

 

[Adrian]

What is the qualifying offer D-backs can give Zac Gallen?

The Diamondbacks will most assuredly give a qualifying offer to starting pitcher Zac Gallen, who hits free agency. How much is that?

arizonasports.com

 

[Adrian]

Diamondbacks Have Massive Roster Crunch Looming

The Arizona Diamondbacks have a looming 40-man roster crunch that they will have to deal with very shortly after the conclusion of the World Series. GM Mike Hazen and the Baseball Operations group will be busy figuring out a thorny set of decisions to make within the next two weeks.

www.yardbarker.com

 

[Adrian]

D-backs' offseason FAQ: What you need to know

This story was excerpted from Steve Gilberts' D-backs Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

www.mlb.com

 

[Adrian]

Lourdes Gurriel Jr. Exercises Player Option

Unsurprisingly, Gurriel is not walking away from his money while hurt. Click over to MLB Trade Rumors to read more

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