When speaking with reporters two weeks ago, Diamondbacks general manager Mike Hazen said he’d wait until the season was over before issuing a verdict on whether or not the D’Backs would try to contend next year or look to rebuild. That season-ending meeting has now taken place, as Hazen spoke with media (including The Arizona Republic’s Nick Piecoro and MLB.com’s Steve Gilbert) and acknowledged that “coming off a 52-win season, making up 30 games on our win total is probably going to be somewhat challenging.”
“I’m not going to sell the team short, but I’m also not going to be unrealistic about realizing that we are a 52-win team,” Hazen said. “And you might get tired of me saying that but I’m going to keep saying it because I want us all to remember where we are right now, and it’s easily the worst place that I’ve ever sat, and I’m responsible for it, so it’s even more painful.”
Hazen didn’t officially label the Diamondbacks’ situation as a rebuild, reload, “step back,” or any similar terminology, and also indicated that it might not take too long to get the organization back on track. Hazen spoke highly of Arizona’s young prospects in the upper minors (some of whom are expected to make their big league debuts in 2022), and pointed to this wave of talent as evidence that the organizational pipeline was in good condition. “This isn’t a situation, for me, where we are relying on a series of top-five draft picks to get us back into a position where we should be. That’s my opinion,” Hazen said.
Of course, the critical next step is turning those prospects into contributors at the MLB level. To that end, Hazen gave credit to the division rival Giants as an example of a team that has been able to get the most of its roster, with both younger players and veterans. “I’m not sure that from top to bottom the consistency through which we are executing and helping our players is being done to the level that we should be doing it at,” Hazen said.
In terms of the Major League roster, Hazen said that the bullpen needs to be “rebuilt,” and that “I envision going into Spring Training with a lot of competition” at various positions, including third base. While this doesn’t necessarily mean the D’Backs will be moving veteran players, Hazen said that he has to consider every option in the wake of the team’s struggles over the last two years.
This represents a slight change from Hazen’s perspective back in June, when the Diamondbacks’ plan going into the trade deadline was to explore dealing shorter-term veterans but keeping a core group in place for future building. If nothing else, Hazen’s most recent comments create a bit more possibility that the likes of a Ketel Marte could be traded, though it’s probably safe to assume that Marte wouldn’t be moved for anything less than a huge offer.
Short version: the plan is to suck again.
Yeah. At least they are planning it this time so they can do it in a financially responsible way and a way that’s good for their farm system. They were going to suck anyway. They are the worst team in the league. The first step should be unloading as much of that Madison Bumgarner contract as possible. Try flipping him to the Angels in exchange for eating the last year of Upton’s contract. It would cost Arizona more next season but save them a ton every season after that. The Angels desperately need starting pitching and would probably love to add some while also getting out of paying Upton’s last year. Arizona could also sell it as a homecoming since Upton was their former #1 overall pick. They may even be able to get a decent prospect or 2 since MadBum would actually be an upgrade for them. The deal would really help Arizona free up finances down the line while helping the Angels next season. I’m not sure what those players “no-trade’ status is but if necessary I could even potentially see both of them agreeing to the deal. Upton is familiar with Arizona and knows he likely won’t get much playing time with the Angels during his contract year. MadBum would probably be happy just to go to a better team. Seems like a pretty good trade for both teams to me. What do you guys think?
We’ve seen Upton, no thanks.
Also, remember that the MLBPA is pushing hard for a $100 M spending floor for all teams. Bumgarner helps the Dbacks stay above that floor financially. Plus, the Dbacks pitching can’t rival the Dodgers or Giants starters.. Dbacks need to improve starters, not slide backwards. Although it was the bullpen that sunk the Dbacks this year, because of injuries, the starters were not much better. Dbacks need to add strength to weak areas, not weaken them.
That floor isn’t going to happen. The MLBPA would have to agree to a $180 million luxury tax and they never will. Arizona is punting next year as they should. They should also be trying to free up as much money as possible for 2023 and beyond. Trading MadBum would help accomplish that. It doesn’t matter whether Upton is any good next season. It only matters that the Diamondbacks get to save money after that and expedite their timeline to actual contention. They could even release Upton if they wanted. It would still help them. At the end of the day it’s a salary dump. That’s how the Braves rebuilt so fast. They were acquiring terrible expiring contracts like Adrian Gonzalez, Matt Kemp and Scott Kazmir and then just cutting most of them. It’s best to spend your money on bad contracts the seasons you won’t contend so you don’t have to during the seasons you will contend. Keeping MadBum around at his price point is just plain bad for Arizona. Get out from under that deal as soon as possible. The salary basement is not going to happen. Arizona needs to free that MadBum money up so they can spend it more wisely on years they may actually stand a chance. Whether Arizona fans want Upton or not is irrelevant. Just cut him if you insist and the trade still helps your team contend sooner. My guess is if any team turns the trade down it would be the Angels. They know they can walk away from Upton after next season. MadBum would be a payroll cancer for years to come.
Justin Upton has a no trade so unless the dbacks agree to a extension with Upton he ain’t leaving LA unless the angels cut him loose.
Going to be hard to catch SF and LAD for a while. Literally won half as many games
At the very least, I don’t see the Giants being nearly as dominant next year. Seemingly everything broke right for them this season; several players had career and/or resurgent years, and I wouldn’t bank on that happening again.
Not to say they can’t compete in ’22 — they’ll still have a talented club — but I’d bet they fall closer to earth.
Of course, Amy team that wins 107 games has plenty of things break their way. 90+ wins would be a really good accomplishment for SF next year.
Trading veterans this off-season should begin with trading SS Nick Ahmed. Anyone need a SS? Ahmed has 2 more years left on his contract at $7.875 M and $10.375 M. He is near elite defensively with an adequate bat.
The Dbacks have #9 Prospect Geraldo Perdomo to replace Ahmed. Perdomo had brief call ups to the majors at the beginning and end of this season. He had a disastrous 2/3rds of a season, but went crazy good the last 1/3, and then hit well in his late season call up.
Josh Rojas has some experience at SS and Ketel Marte was originally a SS, so there is some major league depth there and that makes Ahmed expendable.
Any of those 3 would be an upgrade bat over Ahmed. Perdomo is the best glove in the organization and both Rojas and Marte are good enough defensively to warrant the offensive upgrade.
Jake McCarthy looked fairly promising in his first taste of the big leagues. Great speed and glove, hit an opposite field homer in a lefty vs lefty match up.
geg42. Agree about McCarthy. He and Thomas will allow the Dbacks to move Ketel Marte back to 2b where he wants to be and where his health will improve. CF was too hard on his body.
Alex Thomas, the #3 Prospect, had an absolutely monster year in AA and AAA. He doesn’t need much more seasoning, if any at all, before he’ll be patrolling CF for the Dbacks for many years to come!
The suck will continue for a couple of more years in the desert. There isn’t much here to trade away except Marte so no help coming via trade and we all know the managing partner for the Dbacks isn’t going to pony up to stay out of the basement either. However come 2025 or ’26 things could be different…..
Mykungfu….if you look closely at the Dbacks, it’s their bullpen that truly makes the team suck. As you know, bullpens are the most volatile part of the team. Bullpen can suck one year and be above average the next year, and Vice versa. So, with the emergence of 3 or 4 young players on the offensive side, plus several top prospects coming next year, and a healthy year from the starting pitching staff, if the Dbacks can solve their bullpen woes, I don’t think they’ll suck in 2022. Realistically, they can’t make up a 30 game deficit in one year to overtake the Dodgers, but I expect them to be around a .500 ball club in 2022.
There is a possibility we have something in a few prospects but they still need time. Maybe by 2024 this team will actually compete for the NL West but as of now there isn’t a lot ready for the main roster. I might be wrong and you could be right that they are closer with the right move or two. However I just don’t see this team making up 30 games to get to .500 ball nor do I see them gaining +50 games to compete for div title anytime soon.
Mykungfu I guess he never “ pony up’d” for Grienke and others with 130 million payroll. No they won’t throw stupid $$$ like some but when the need arises the D-Backs have always spent. Get a clue and make a comment on something you know about.
LoL Yep
Yeah there has been some spending but not smart spending. Like if you spend on an ace SP but don’t increase the overall payroll and wind up with a third of roster payroll in one or two player(s), that isn’t smart. Or at least it hasn’t worked yet for them….You would be better off asking Goldy how good is it being paid and provided a quality supporting roster to win a championship than messing with my kung-fu