The Arizona Diamondbacks have become an attractive destination for free agents in recent years. Over the past two offseasons they've added Eduardo Rodriguez, Jordan Montgomery, Joc Pederson, and Corbin Burnes.
Diamondbacks general manager Mike Hazen was asked about that on the DbacksTV broadcast on Saturday and this is what he had to say.
"We should have a competitive advantage if everything's 50/50 and the players want to play in Arizona. We should create that competitive advantage because the infrastructure for us is set up to have a competitive advantage. Sometimes you do get close, the dollars get close, and it could be negligible between whatever the offers are and then it becomes a lot of other things. We need to be prepared to provide those other things."
Hazen cited the team being competitive, not only for this year but beyond that, as the players want to win where they go. It comes as no coincidence that after their run to the World Series that players want to sign in Arizona. Then the following season they improved their regular season win total by five, adding more confidence that the team had staying power as a contender.
"They don't want to win for just a year. They don't want to look at this roster and say '[Zac] Gallen's a free agent, Merrill [Kelly]'s a free agent, [Jordan] Montgomery's a free agent, [Randal] Grichuk, [Josh] Naylor, and [Eugenio] Suarez. How are you going to put this back together next year?' We have to be able to show them how we can put this back together."
That's why the extensions to core players has been huge for Arizona. They've got Corbin Carroll, Ketel Marte, and Geraldo Perdomo locked up on long term deals, showing other players they take care of their own. That doesn't go unnoticed by potential free agents for the reasons Hazen said above.
Another advantage the Diamondbacks have is the ability to live year-round and be there to raise a family. That's why Rodriguez and Burnes ultimately chose to sign. Burnes, in particular, was already living in Scottsdale and reached out to the team first before signing a franchise-record contract in December.
Hazen doesn't know how well, as an organization, they've pushed these competitive advantages throughout his tenure. While he says they've done a pretty good job of it it's something they really want to be good at. Since their World Series run in 2023, payroll has gone up significantly from $124 million in 2023 to a projected $187.8 million, giving enough payroll space to be aggressive in free agency.
"I think when it comes down to it, if you get the opportunity to choose them they choose you over going somewhere else, that's going to be the benefit of the franchise, the fans, and the community."
The last two years, the stars have all come together for the Diamondbacks to have this competitive advantage for attracting free agents. While it isn't something they should take for granted, but is something they should push while they have it.