The Arizona Diamondbacks have already made their big free agent splash, but their offseason is far from over. There are still two pressing needs to address on the roster. Each need is large enough that, if left unaddressed, the 2025 season could be sabotaged, much like 2024.
The first question is how much payroll owner Ken Kendrick is willing to pony up for the season. Diamondbacks general manager Mike Hazen said in November payroll would be around their $173 million figure from 2024, but that was before the Corbin Burnes signing. With Burnes in tow, the team's 2025 payroll is projected at $194 million by Roster Resource.
Another factor that will determine the Diamondbacks' budget for 2025 is the Competitive Balance Tax. Arizona is unlikely to go over the $241 million threshold for 2025. Their current CBT payroll is $214.582 million, according to Roster Resource, meaning they only have about $26 million in yearly salary they can afford to add to that before incurring penalties. That will include any in-season pickups, especially if they are buyers at the trade deadline for the third straight season.
They should get some relief when they (hopefully) offload Jordan Montgomery's $22.5 million salary. Given the current situation of the starting pitching market, a lot of pitchers are going to have to come off the board before the Diamondbacks see any market on the veteran left-hander.
Diamondbacks must find a closer who can stabilize the ninth inning
It's pretty clear the team's top remaining need is shoring up the back end of their bullpen. The closer problem was front-and-center in the team's failure to make the postseason in 2024. With that in mind, Hazen should be relentless in his pursuit for a ninth-inning stopper.
Paul Sewald, who started the season 11-for-11 in save opportunities failed to convert five of them in July and was removed from the role for the rest of the season. Justin Martinez took on the bulk of the closing duties with mixed results, including an ugly blown save on Sept. 22 vs. Milwaukee. Arizona had an 8-0 lead after the top of the third, with that game proving to be the difference between making the postseason and getting eliminated.
With the team's internal candidates struggling to lock down the closer role, they'll need to find someone who can. They already checked in with the St. Louis Cardinals for Ryan Helsley's availability, but were rebuffed as St. Louis has shown no interest in trading him ahead of his final year of control. Other potential candidates include Pete Fairbanks, Kirby Yates, and David Robertson.
Arizona doesn't lack for quality arms in the bullpen, as Kevin Ginkel and AJ Puk have proven to be effective high-leverage arms. Martinez's high-octane stuff has him projected as a future closer, but the lack of consistent poise and command is still an issue despite making considerable progress in both areas in 2024.
Right-handed bat to replace Randal Grichuk and complete the DH platoon
The Diamondbacks will have to rebuild their designated hitter platoon from scratch, with Joc Pederson going to the Texas Rangers and Randal Grichuk still a free agent. Pavin Smith is the likely candidate to be the left-handed half of the platoon, while they they need to sign or trade for someone to complete the left-handed half.
The ideal complement to Smith will be a right-handed hitting outfielder, much like Grichuk. Other candidates who could fill the role include Austin Hays and Lane Thomas. Hays is a free agent after getting non-tendered by the Philadelphia Phillies in November while Thomas' projected $8.3 million salary in his final year of control makes him a trade candidate for the cost-conscious Cleveland Guardians.
The Diamondbacks could also go big and try to land an everyday bat instead, but that comes at a more considerable cost. They could look at the Angels' Taylor Ward or the A's Brent Rooker and slide them as the everyday DH. Ward has a bit more defensive viability and is the easier player to get of the two, but Rooker is the more impactful bat in terms of power potential and has another year of control.
There's still much to be done for a majority of teams out there as free agency and trade talks lag into January. How will the D-backs build upon their promising offseason so far?