The Los Angeles Dodgers have captured the 2024 World Series title, which means the offseason is underway for the Arizona Diamondbacks and the rest of Major League Baseball.
When one season ends, the next begins a day later when free agents can start negotiating with their own clubs, trades can be made and options can be exercised.
The Diamondbacks have already experienced turnover after an 89-73 season brutally came up short of October by tiebreakers. Pitching coach Brent Strom, assistant pitching coach Dan Carlson and bullpen coach Mike Fetters were let go, while third base coach Tony Perezchica departed for a job with Houston.
The D-backs support a core led by position players Corbin Carroll, Ketel Marte, Geraldo Perdomo and Gabriel Moreno. The pitching staff includes Zac Gallen, Eduardo Rodriguez, Brandon Pfaadt and Ryne Nelson.
When does the offseason start for the Diamondbacks?
Within five days after the World Series concludes, options must be exercised or declined and qualifying offers presented. Trades can begin the day after the World Series, although they rarely do.
The D-backs have club options for Merrill Kelly and Eugenio Suarez, mutual options with Joc Pederson and Randal Grichuk while Jordan Montgomery has a player option.
Free agent Christian Walker is the only candidate to receive the $21.05 million qualifying offer, a one-year contract. If the player declines and leaves in free agency, the club they departed would receive draft compensation. Players who receive the QO have until Nov. 19 to accept.
After the five days are up, free agents can sign with anybody.
Teams have a bit more time to decide whether to non-tender players — make members of the 40-man roster free agents — as the deadline is on Nov. 22.
When are the GM Meetings and Winter Meetings?
The GM Meetings take place from Nov. 5-7 in San Antonio, as baseball operations officials will convene to kick off the offseason.
The Winter Meetings will commence in Dallas from Dec. 9-12.
Last year, the Winter Meetings were quiet on the transactions front until the very end, when Juan Soto was traded from San Diego to New York and Rodriguez signed a four-year deal with the Diamondbacks. The event will also host the MLB Draft Lottery on Dec. 10, when the D-backs have a 0.27% chance at the No. 1 overall pick.
The Rule 5 Draft is on Dec. 11.
Shortly after, the international signing period for the previous season ends on Dec. 15, while the new period opens on Jan. 15. The D-backs will have a pool of $6.9 million at the reset, according to Baseball America.
Awards season
The Players Choice Awards and Fielding Bible Awards shut out the Diamondbacks, but there remain plenty of opportunities for hardware.
First up are the Gold Gloves on Nov. 3. Walker (1B), Marte (2B), Moreno (C), Jake McCarthy (RF) and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (LF) are all finalists at their respective positions. Walker and Moreno won last year.
Platinum Gloves will be awarded on Nov. 8.
Marte should feature prominently this awards season, with Silver Sluggers to be announced on Nov. 12 and the All-MLB teams on Nov. 14.
MLB will also announce Hank Aaron Awards, Rivera/Hoffman Reliever of the Year Awards, Edgar Martinez Outstanding Designated Hitter Awards and the Comeback Player of the Year Awards on Nov. 14.
Rookie of the Year winners will be named on Nov. 18, Manager of the Year on Nov. 19, Cy Young on Nov. 20 and MVP on Nov. 21.
What is the Diamondbacks’ payroll?
The D-backs set a franchise record with a payroll near $175 million for the 2024 season as they set to return to the postseason. Despite falling short and losing out on playoff revenue, the Diamondbacks saw a 20% increase in attendance which alleviates those lost earnings.
“Are we going to be in a position to financially compete yet again next year? I think the answer is basically yes we are,” managing partner Ken Kendrick told Arizona Sports’ Burns & Gambo at the end of the season.
The payroll entering this offseason can look dramatically different based on the options. Montgomery’s player option is at $22.5 million, which would make him the highest-paid player on the roster before any free agent moves or trades.
Suarez has a $15 million club option, while Kelly’s sits at a modest $7 million.
Pederson has a $14 million mutual option and Grichuk has a $6 million mutual option, although both players are coming off great seasons. Reliever Scott McGough also has a $4 million mutual option with a $750,000 buyout.
Including all options and estimates for arbitration, the payroll projection from Spotrac is $160.5 million. It is unlikely every option will be picked up, and that number could look a lot different five days after the World Series.
Who are the biggest-name free agents this winter?
Here are 15 names across MLB who will garner plenty of attention this offseason:
– OF Juan Soto
– RHP Corbin Burnes
– 3B Alex Bregman
– LHP Max Fried
– 1B Pete Alonso
– RHP Roki Sasaki (if posted by NPB team in Japan)
– LHP Tanner Scott
– LHP Blake Snell (player option)
– OF Anthony Santander
– SS Willy Adames
– 1B Christian Walker
– RHP Shane Bieber
– RHP Jack Flaherty
– OF/1B Cody Bellinger (opt-out)
– OF Teoscar Hernandez
Diamondbacks positions of need
First base: Walker has been Arizona’s starting first baseman since 2019. Pavin Smith is his backup on the roster, while veteran Josh Bell also enters free agency.
Designated hitter: The Pederson-Grichuk platoon worked out well. The question here is whether the D-backs opt for a similar set up in 2025 or use the DH spot more flexibly.
Third base: Suarez made a strong case to return for another season with a scorching-hot second half. Behind him, the D-backs have a group of young infielders, including top prospect Jordan Lawlar and Blaze Alexander. Kevin Newman is a free agent.
Bullpen: The core of the bullpen will be back, headlined by A.J. Puk, Justin Martinez, Ryan Thompson, Kevin Ginkel and Joe Mantiply. Paul Sewald is a free agent, and the D-backs once again have a closer question whether they add external candidates or pick an incumbent.
Starting rotation: This depends on the decisions by Montgomery and the club to retain Kelly (which seems obvious). If both veterans return, the D-backs could enter spring training with six starters for five spots excluding any young arms looking to break out. Arizona needed all the depth it could get in 2024 due to pitching injuries.