Offseason In Review: Arizona Diamondbacks

The D-backs followed up their 2023 World Series appearance with a narrow playoff miss and responded by making the biggest free agent signing in franchise history. Now brandishing one of the best one-two starting pitching punches in the sport, they’ll look to ride a powerhouse rotation back into October baseball.

Major League Signings

• Corbin Burnes, RHP: Six years, $210MM (opt-out after 2026 season)
• Randal Grichuk, OF: One year, $5MM (includes buyout of 2026 mutual option)
• Kendall Graveman, RHP: One year, $1.35MM (includes buyout of 2026 mutual option)

2025 spending: $46.35MM
Total spending: $216.35MM

Option Decisions

• LHP Jordan Montgomery exercised $22.5MM player option
• Team exercised $15MM option on 3B Eugenio Suarez
• DH Joc Pederson declined $14MM mutual option (received $3MM buyout)
• Team exercised $7MM option on RHP Merrill Kelly
• OF Randal Grichuk declined $6MM mutual option (received $1.75MM buyout)
• Team declined $4MM mutual option on RHP Scott McGough (received $750K buyout)

Trades and Waiver Claims

• Acquired 1B Josh Naylor from Guardians in exchange for RHP Slade Cecconi and Competitive Balance (Round B) draft pick
• Acquired INF Grae Kessinger from Astros in exchange for minor league RHP Matthew Linskey
• Claimed C Rene Pinto off waivers from the Orioles
• Claimed RHP Seth Martinez off waivers from Astros (later lost to Marlins via waivers)

Notable Minor League Signings

• Trey Mancini, Shelby Miller, Scott McGough, Brandon Bielak, Casey Kelly, Cristian Pache, Ildemaro Vargas, Aramis Garcia, Jeff Brigham, Garrett Hampson, Jose Castillo, Josh Winder, John Curtiss

Extensions

• Geraldo Perdomo, SS: Four years, $45MM (plus 2030 club option)

Notable Losses

• Christian Walker, Joc Pederson, Paul Sewald, Josh Bell, Kevin Newman, Slade Cecconi

Arizona’s playoff hopes in the 2024 season stayed alive until the very end, but they ultimately watched from home after missing the postseason by the literal narrowest margin possible. It was a bitter pill for the club and its fans to swallow — particularly since the offseason promised considerable turnover. Star first baseman Christian Walker hit free agency, as did slugger Joc Pederson on the heels of what was arguably a career-best season. Closer Paul Sewald and key role players like Randal Grichuk and Kevin Newman also returned to the open market.

That all left plenty of work to be done, and not a ton of payroll space to make it happen — or so it seemed initially, anyhow. General manager Mike Hazen publicly stated in November that he anticipated a payroll in the same range as 2024’s $173MM figure. With Jordan Montgomery exercising a $22.5MM player option on the heels of a down year, the D-backs lost plenty of flexibility. There was still a decent amount of room, but they ostensibly needed to replace their first baseman, designated hitter, closer and multiple bench pieces.

As he set those payroll expectations, Hazen also made clear that bolstering the back end of his bullpen was a key priority. For the first third or even half of the offseason, the general expectation was that Arizona would seek high-end bullpen help and perhaps a more affordable replacement for Walker, who seemed destined for multiple years with an average annual value in the $20MM range.