The Diamondbacks went into the 2020 campaign aiming for a playoff spot, but they wound up going 25-35 and finishing last in the National League West. The D-backs nevertheless had a rather modest offseason and now look as if they’ll extend their playoff drought to four years in 2021.
Major League Signings
- Joakim Soria, RHP: One year, $3.5MM
- Tyler Clippard, RHP: One year, $2.25MM
- Asdrubal Cabrera, INF: One year, $1.75MM
- Total spend: $8.5MM
Trades And Claims
- Traded LHP Travis Bergen to Blue Jays for cash considerations
- Claimed RHP Humberto Castellanos from Astros
- Traded RHP Zach Pop to the Marlins for a player to be named later
- Claimed RHP Rogelio Armenteros from Astros (later lost on waivers to the Nationals)
Notable Minor League Signings
- Anthony Swarzak, Heath Fillmyer, Ben Heller, Chris Devenski, Ryan Buchter, Bryan Holaday, Seth Frankoff
Extensions
- None
Notable Losses
With last season on the verge of concluding, Diamondbacks CEO Derrick Hall suggested to reporters that the club was unlikely to make significant changes on the roster, in the dugout or in the front office. He also called it “far-fetched” that Arizona’s 2021 payroll would match the $124MM that it was projected to spend last year before the pandemic sliced 102 games off the schedule. Hall wasn’t kidding. The Diamondbacks made little in the way of notable moves over the winter, and they’re set to enter this season with a payroll of $98MM, according to Jason Martinez of Roster Resource.
Right-handers Joakim Soria and Tyler Clippard, two of the three major league free agents the Diamondbacks signed, will play important roles in their bullpen this season after signing low-cost one-year deals. It’s no surprise the Diamondbacks made improving the unit a priority, as it finished 18th in the league in ERA and 25th in K-BB percentage in 2020. Soria and Clippard – a Diamondback in 2016 – are up there in age (36), but they carry quality track records and didn’t show any clear signs of slowing down last season. They and holdover Stefan Crichton look like the top three relievers in a righty-heavy Arizona bullpen, while experienced minor league signings Ryan Buchter, Anthony Swarzak and Chris Devenski are among those vying for spots behind them.
Arizona’s bullpen did struggle in 2020, but its rotation was even worse. Even though the group logged an unappealing 5.04 ERA, the Diamondbacks didn’t make any outside pickups during the offseason.
They’re stuck with Madison Bumgarner, who bombed during the first season of his five-year, $85MM contract, and left to hope he’ll return to something resembling his San Francisco form in 2021. They’ll also need a rebound from Luke Weaver, who was outstanding in 2019 before forearm issues cut him down that season. The 27-year-old recorded a hideous 6.58 ERA in 2020, but that did come with a better SIERA (4.52) and career-high fastball velocity (94.1 mph). Caleb Smith walked almost eight batters per nine during a brief 14-inning season between Miami and Arizona, yet he’s slated to open the season in the D-backs’ rotation after coming over in the teams’ Starling Marte trade over the summer. Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly are also sure bets, and deservedly so in light of the production they offered in 2020. However, Kelly’s season ended in early September when he underwent thoracic outlet syndrome surgery, which is never an easy procedure for a pitcher to overcome. Nevertheless, having exercised Kelly’s $4.25MM club option at the beginning of the offseason, the Diamondbacks seem confident he’ll bounce back.
The Diamondbacks’ offense didn’t fare much better than their pitching in 2020, as they finished 19th in runs and 26th in wRC+. Right fielder Kole Calhoun may have been their best hitter then, but he’ll miss the start of the season after undergoing knee surgery. Furthermore, before temporarily losing Calhoun, Arizona didn’t do much of anything to improve its offense. Lone free-agent newcomer Asdrubal Cabrera will provide versatility around the infield and give the Diamondbacks a switch-hitter who’s capable of roughly average offense, both of which are pluses, but he isn’t someone who’s going to move the needle much for the club.
To a large degree, the Diamondbacks are betting on rebound efforts and breakouts to lift their offense this year. Center fielder/second baseman Ketel Marte was an MVP-caliber player in 2019, but he was merely ordinary last season. Meanwhile, third baseman Eduardo Escobar and catcher Carson Kelly registered disastrous numbers after impressing in 2019. Calhoun, first baseman Christian Walker, shortstop Nick Ahmed and left fielder David Peralta each put up above-average production last year, though there’s no fearsome presence in that group. The lack of standout talent could leave room for some of the D-backs’ less experienced hitters (e.g., Josh Rojas, Daulton Varsho and Pavin Smith) to establish themselves this season. Rojas has thrived this spring, albeit over a small sample of at-bats, and has a chance to start 2021 as the team’s No. 1 second baseman. Varsho and/or Smith could claim a roster spot with Calhoun on the shelf.
In looking at the Diamondbacks’ roster and division, there’s a strong case general manager Mike Hazen & Co. should have sold, not sit on the fence, during the offseason. PECOTA projects Arizona will win 79 games, which appears to be a reasonable figure and would place them a distant third in the NL West behind Los Angeles and San Diego – both of which are legitimate World Series contenders. Of course, if the Diamondbacks are out of contention as the trade deadline approaches, they could at least shop some of their veterans (Soria, Clippard, Kelly, Cabrera, Calhoun and Escobar, to name several) in an effort to further bolster a farm system that ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel ranks 10th in the game.
How would you grade the D-backs’ offseason? (Poll link for app users)
[polldaddy poll=10769313]
Rebuild time. Dodgers and Padres will own this division for at least the next few years.
Dodgers will control NL west for the next 10 years , Padres are not so much.
You’re right Larry Padres just haven’t done anything to get better right
Yup. In most seasons I’d say never count out the D’backs but this year we can pretty safely. It’s a shame baseball has so many two-team divisions but that’s how it is.
PHX is the 5th most populous city in the US. That fact coexisting with the D-Backs budgeting like closer to a mid-sized market seems like quite the juxtaposition. I’m aware they don’t draw like some teams, but is their TV deal that bad?
@paddy i think az lack of draw is that there team is barley 30 years old and many residents there have there teams and passed them teams down to there kids. it’s hard to pull away lifers of other teams to the new team in your city especially if there success is touch and go.
TV deal pays and we increased payroll a few years after but the Dbacks were one of the first teams to signal a payroll drop for 2021. This owners group likes owning a team, not necessarily winning championships…
Dbacks are rebuilding but their farm is very overrated. Some good OFs but not much beyond that.
The FO refuses to say the word rebuild. However the rebuild was stunted with the trades and then sell off in 2020…and they wonder why there is attendance issues
So a sell of players last year led to a decline in fans? In a year when there were no fans…
I think their offseason would have been more successful if they could have switched leagues with Oakland.
Dbacks fan here, I’m extremely disappointed in the offseason. This team isn’t good enough to contend for a Wild Card and no chance with LA and SD. So only thing I can come up with is have some guys comeback from down years and sell at the deadline. Never have been crazy about this group of guys and seeing how SF is average and COL is another who can’t decide what to do we need to gut it and start again. Besides PIT you really can’t see any other teams in the NL punting the season. I just hope the GM and Manager don’t take the fall. I honestly can say I don’t see one untouchable player on this roster.
It sucks because I think the D’Backs are well-run and have talent but you’re right…they’re one of only three or four NL teams who don’t seem to have much of a hope going in to this season.
More than that. The NLW features three no-hopers all by itself. Add the Marlins, Reds, and Pirates, and that’s at least six DOA teams in the NL. The list could easily be expanded to eight or more.
I wouldn’t add in the Marlins and Reds until we’re at least a month or two into the season. The NL Central is too weak and while it was probably an aberration, the Marlins were a playoff team last year, so I can’t write them off before the season starts.
Rox, D’Backs, Giants, and Pirates are the only teams that I think are already dead in the water. And I don’t think the D’Backs or Giants are that bad.
Marlins and Reds are no-hopers?? The Reds might win that division, and the Marlins got in last year (some call it luck, but still). I’m not sure how you got that take. The Reds are probably better than other teams you left out like MIL and WSH.
Completely agree about the Reds. A lot of people on this site think they are hopeless but last year they had a historically bad season offensively that you would think will turn around this year and with Derek Johnson and Kyle Boddy taking care of their pitching staff, I expect to see even more improvement from their rotation and bullpen. Aside from Bauer their only significant loss is Bradley because after watching Iglesias blow game after game the last few years, he was a welcome salary dump. They didn’t do anything to improve the SS hole but a lot of lineups have one bad spot in it so I still think they can contend in the awful NL Central.
for a while thought the reds could compete in the nlc but after seeing the moves they made in the offseason tells me there giving up which is sad was looking forward to having another good team to play other than mil and chc
The same PECOTA numbers that project the D’backs as 3rd place 79 game winners project the Marlins as 5th place 70 game winners and the Reds as 4th place with 79 wins. (What’s hopeless about the Reds is they have three better teams ahead of them, a similar situation to the D’backs). The NLC is the division most likely to see an upset but it still has two clear favorites. I don’t think a month or even two into the season is going to tell us much since anybody can be in first place after only 25 or so games.
Even though I’m a Braves fan, I have to disagree re the Marlins. They made the playoffs in the shortened season last year despite the ragtag group of players due to the coronavirus. They have envious young pitching both in the majors and in the upper minors. They also have a few solid position players. Will they make the playoffs this year? Possibly but probably not. Will they be a competitive team? Definitely.
…and a PECOTA of 70 wins and a last place projection. Maybe they outperform this projection and get close to breakeven and finish in 4th place, or if some sort of miracle occurs, in 3rd. Kind of the working definition of a no-hoper, if you ask me.
I’ll make it real simple, they sucked last year they’ll suck this year & they’ll suck in 22. Next team review please.
That’s not a riddle.
Nor was yours a pun. What’s your point?
We’re failures.
lol
Lolol…. classic
I mean, what does the grading really tell us when they did exactly what the CEO said they were going to do?
@bbpun-I saw the brutal exchanges you had on the Yankee review post. Good to see you firing right back at them.
A man’s gotta have a code, right Mr. Nygma?
Not a good off season but not a ton they could have done. Madison is going to be there, Gallen is a stud, and most of the second free agent tier was about as risky as Weaver.
Really, hoping for some rebound from those two guys makes about as much sense as paying and Odorizzi or Happ.
I think the commentary on Smith is out of context. Looked much better after the trade.
Feel like MLB Trade Rumors is churning these Offseason Reviews out quickly this year. Probably easier since teams overall didn’t spend much this offseason.
The Madison Bumgarner signing was just stupid. Why would you give this dude 5 years and $85 million? All these teams supposedly so deep in analytics. What analytics told you to give this guy $85 million at his age coming off of injuries?? Are these guys still employed by the organization?? To brilliantly pivot out of paying Goldschmidt and into foolishly paying Bumgarner …..
I was all but certain that AJ Preller was going to sign MadBum last year. Glad I was wrong.
Bums gonna have quite the comeback
Might Josh Reddick be of some help here? He’s still available.
O/T just slightly:
RIP Norm Sherry
The catcher who turned Sandy Koufax’s career around.
79 is a no brainer under bet.
Soria, Swarzak, Buchter, Devenski, Clippard… That could be a solid bullpen with a little regression and/or luck. If they even hit on 2 of them with a few good months, they have a really solid lot of potential trade chips at the deadline.
The Giants will take Madbum back at 50 cents on the dollar.
If that happened, the Dbacks would pass the Giants in the standings.
They tried to rebuild and stay competitive simultaneously. Unfortunately, Major League Baseball doesn’t work that way, especially when two division rivals are stepping on the gas pedal. If you’re going to rebuild, then rebuild. Don’t sign a washed-up Madison Bumgarner.
They are not rebuilding. Mike Hazen has said that clearly in interviews: “we are not rebuilding”. You can agree or not on whatever approach they have, but it is not a rebuild.
Dbacks players have embraced the role of underdog this year. I look for a rebound to a better team than the 2019 team. The prospect system is just starting to yield results this year, with Varsho and Smith. Look for Aguilar, Martin, Bukauskas, Green and Duplantier (all pitchers) late in the season, and then the outfielders start showing up next year. Solid team getting better.
Hey, DBacks have some interesting talent approaching/entering majors. What’s the deal with the Varsho kid? Is he going to be legit? Looks like they’re playing him in the OF because of Kelly, correct?
I’m a biased DBacks fan, but the FO has stated that they see him as a catcher plays other positions, not an outfielder that catchs. In the minors, he’s been a contact bat with (nearing) average power, plus speed, and good footwork and hands. The only problem is his arm, he’ll never a GG candidate because it’s not even average. Obligatory mention that he’s the son of Gary Varsho. I’m personally super excited for him, not just for fantasy baseball.
P.S. anyone that plays fantasy baseball, take a look at Tim Locastro’s ZiPS and tell me that you wouldn’t want that on your team for the steals (and OBP if that’s your league).
The D-backs need rebounds from several guys – MadBum, Marte, Escobar, etc. And they need a surprise or two from the youngsters. I’m not saying it can’t happen, but even if everything goes right, the D-backs are fighting the Braves or Mets for the second wildcard as SD or LA will get the first NL WC slot. Alas, the D-backs don’t appear to be at the level of their playoff competition.
SD may not be as good as last year, half their team had career years not likely this year.
I was speaking with a colleague in the Diamondbacks front office this winter. When I asked him how it was going, he responded, “Baseball is boring and cheap right now.” He wants to win. He works night and day trying to win. With all that being said, Diamondbacks fans can hold the Diamondbacks ownership mostly responsible for this off-season’s lackluster dealings.
Money wasn’t really going to fix their issue for this year. They have a core that they absolutely need to see rebounds and progress from before they can be competitive and then they also play in the same division as the Dodgers and Padres.
A year ago Mike Hazen looked like the genius GM who was going to avoid a complete tear down rebuild even after letting Corbin and Pollock walk away for just comp picks. He seamlessly replaced Goldy w/ Christian Walker who put up identical numbers in the first year. Ketel Marte broke out and things were looking up.
Fast forward to now and you’ve got a different story. They dealt prospects for Marte. Ownership got cheap and they got lesser ones back. Wasted a ton of money on Bumgarner. Though if you were paying attention to baseball—you should’ve known MadBum was going to slide down hill. That was a little extreme but you paid a guy for the past. D’backs will have to pray he’s a as good as Jake Odorizzi for 2.5x the cost. They’d be really lucky if he can even do that anymore.
Funny how some people talks about a brilliant GM for a while and then a bad signing and now he’s just a bad GM,you can only do so much with a small market team,specially when you have the over ridiculous dodgers payroll and now SD
SD will sell off again in the future, not in for the long haul.
Wow.. i wasn’t aware the dbacks were such a trash fire. Major “gets” are older than me, decent players are all looking to either rebound or get healthy.
At least they’re blowing it all up. Get rid of Ketel and see you in 2026.
Lot of teams would be interested in him; Mets for one, they need a good CFer.