The Arizona Diamondbacks are built for now.
Two consecutive winning seasons that include a 2023 World Series appearance and the progression of several key prospects have brought the Diamondbacks to a point where continued success is expected.
The roster and payroll reflect their commitment.
The Diamondbacks have a projected cash payroll of $183 million this season, which would be a franchise record, and they are spending a chunk of that on players who more than likely will be in their final season in Arizona.
Key rotation pieces Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly as well as corner infielders and power bats first baseman Josh Naylor and third baseman Eugenio Suarez are in their “walk year,” the final year of an expiring contract.
History has shown that players eligible for free agency for the first time — Gallen, Kelly and Naylor will be in that group this winter — will at least test the market and could move on.
Diamondbacks general manager Mike Hazen understands that reality, and he also understands that it can work in his favor on a team that is in a win-now mode.
“That aspect of it, I’m not too worried about that right now,” Hazen said of the Diamondbacks’ potential free agents-to-be.
“We’re fortunate to have the guys that we have. The guys you are talking about are very good players for us. I would imagine that this will be a very important year for them personally as well as for the team.
“In baseball, that part of it usually serves the team very well, when you rely on the individual players to perform their very best. And need them to. That usually translates very well to wins and losses.”
It played out that way the Diamondbacks’ 89-win season a year ago. Joc Pederson and Randal Grichuk combined for 26 homers and 80 RBIs when they were used in a platoon DH role, and both were playing on one-year deals.
Pederson parlayed his 23-homer season into a two-year, $37 million contract with Texas. Grichuk returned to Arizona on a $5 million deal, and once again hopes to use this season as a springboard.
Naylor is replacing Christian Walker, who was in the final year of his contract before entering free agency last season and was on his way to a third straight 30-homer season before a late July oblique injury caused him to miss a month.
That dd not affect Walker’s market — after declining a $21.05 million qualifying offer from the Diamondbacks, he landed three-year, $60 million free agent contract with Houston.
The Diamondbacks will pay Naylor $10.9 million in his final season of arbitration eligibility, and their major offseason flex included adding Corbin Burnes on a six-year, $210 free agent deal.
It was the kind of move the Diamondbacks before the 2016 season, when the signed Zack Greinke to a mega-deal while sniffing contention.
“Our team looks a little different as it has in the past,” Hazen said. “I do think and I hope that it is reflected in the urgency that we had this offseason. From Ken (managing general partner Kendrick) all the way down. There is a little reflection of that, for sure. Not that next season is not important. By no means.
“I do think we wanted to make sure that this team had the capabilities to be the very best version of that. That included adding depth. That included rounding out our position group. Rounding out our bullpen. This season is important to us. Every season is important to us.”
Arizona also fleshed out its future by signing shortstop Geraldo Perdomo to a four-year, $45 million contract extension that kicks in next season. Perdomo will make $2.5 million this season and will jump to $6.25 million in 2026.
