Arizona Diamondbacks 10 Highest Paid Players in 2018

Feb 19, 2018

PHOENIX, AZ - DECEMBER 11: Free agent aquisition Zack Greinke of the Arizona Diamondbacks (C) laughs with Chief Baseball Officer Tony La Russa (R) and General Manager Dave Stewart during a press conference at Chase Field on December 11, 2015 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Ralph Freso/Getty Images)

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LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 06: A.J. Pollock #11 of the Arizona Diamondbacks rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run in the third inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in game one of the National League Division Series at Dodger Stadium on October 6, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

#4 A.J. Pollock – $7.75 Million in 2018 ($7,750,000 Million AAV)

Next year will be a nice test for Mike Hazen and the Arizona Diamondbacks. Under Hazen’s guidance, the D-backs’ front office has shown an uncanny ability to foster roster stability. After this season, though, free agency will necessitate an inevitable roster churn.

Only two players in AZ’s top 10 money this year will be free agents at season’s end. Of the two, A.J. Pollock is a player that Arizona considers a member of its core. He’s set to earn near $8 million this year and stands to improve upon that when the season’s over.

The Diamondbacks are likely to want to keep as many of the bright young stars that they have assembled together for as long as they can afford to. Pollack is at the crest of a free agent wave that’ll be crashing into Arizona starting next off-season. That wave could swell to tsunami-size the following year when Paul Goldschmidt is set to hit free agency.