Diamondbacks owner Ken Kendrick has already publicly indicated that his team’s payroll will decline from the franchise-record $200MM set in 2025, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the front office is handcuffed in terms of its ability to pursue additions this winter. General manager Mike Hazen recently pushed back on the idea that he might have to subtract some salary via trade, telling Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic:
“I don’t really feel that way, honestly. That’s not the impression I have. Are we going to be doing what we did last offseason? Probably not. But I don’t think I have zero wiggle room or avenues to pursue players.”
RosterResource currently projects the Snakes for about $143MM in 2026 payroll, and that’s before potential non-tenders among the arbitration class. Injured lefty A.J. Puk, who underwent UCL surgery this summer, is projected for a $3.3MM salary (via MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz) but might not even pitch next season in his final year before free agency. Righty Kevin Ginkel ($3MM projection) posted a 7.36 ERA in 25 2/3 MLB innings. Outfielders Alek Thomas ($2.2MM projection) and Jake McCarthy ($1.9MM projection) both had well below-average seasons at the plate; McCarthy, in particular, was one of the 20 worst hitters in MLB, sitting with the 18th-worst wRC+ mark among the 348 hitters who tallied at least 200 turns at the plate.
Assuming some of that group departs, the Diamondbacks will find themselves with a $135-140MM projection for next year’s Opening Day payroll. Even if ownership plans to scale back payroll by as much as $25MM — and that’s just an arbitrary number for illustrative purposes — Hazen could reasonably have as much as $40MM to spend on next year’s payroll alone.
All of this pushes back somewhat against the notion of a potential trade of star second baseman Ketel Marte. Hazen has already called trading Marte or any of his star hitters “unlikely,” although because he’s acknowledged that he’ll hear offers as a matter of due diligence, some optimists have clung to the idea that Marte might be available. Trading him would bring a haul of talent, but it’d also just create another hole which needs to be filled.
Arizona’s shopping list this winter is lengthy, to say the least. Hazen & Co. will need to add at least two starters to a rotation that currently consists of Ryne Nelson and a pair of pitchers who struggled badly in 2025: righty Brandon Pfaadt and lefty Eduardo Rodriguez. Corbin Burnes underwent Tommy John surgery in June and will miss most or all of next year. Zac Gallen is a free agent. Most of the organization’s top pitching products heading into 2025 pitched poorly and/or suffered an injury this past season. The bullpen needs a nearly complete overhaul.
In a separate piece, Piecoro suggests that reunions with Gallen and fellow righty Merrill Kelly (whom the D-backs traded to the Rangers back in July) seem unlikely if the two indeed command the type of $17MM+ annual values many (MLBTR included) have predicted for both pitchers. There’s no firm indication that either is squarely off the table, to be clear, but the D-backs need to add at least two starters and relievers apiece, and that’s to say nothing of the infield corners or the bench. Young sluggers Tyler Locklear and Jordan Lawlar could get looks at first base and third base, respectively, but neither has proven himself in the majors. Lawlar has also been getting a look in center field, which stands as another potential area of need after Thomas struggled so much with the bat in 2025 (and really, in his overall parts of four MLB seasons to date).
Hopefully they have some flexibility.
Arias,Tolle and Campbell for him! Redsox Will have a very good 2B
interesting.
Your farm system is now worse than the Houston Astros and San Diego Padres.
They’ll have to take a shot on a few pitchers. Could really use someone at 1B. Should be enough $ to do that. This looks like a reset year anyway. I’d consider moving Marte if offers are strong.
Maybe reunite with Christian Walker? The Astros would likely trade with them.
Stros would have to eat probably half of that.
Nom. They’d probably do that 10MM each year.
Locklear will get a long look at 1st
If he can hit.
I doubt the Dbacks are really in the market to bring back a 35 year old 1B when they’re rebuilding though.
Why would they be willing to trade prospects though?
They believe they can compete
They might say that people publicly. but I seriously doubt they’re going to be trading for 35 year olds. They know Burnes isn’t pitching this year. Gurriel comes off the books next year. They have some outfield prospects that are getting close to ready. 2027 is a more realistic competitive season and I doubt they’re going to bank on 36 year old Walker giving them a whole lot.
I think it’s far more likely that they end up dealing Marte than acquiring a guy like Walker
The Diamondbacks are coming
apart
CLE should trade Cantillo or Messick for marte. Would need to add more but that is a good start and exactly what ARI needs
I think you offer both and Arizona still hangs up the phone laughing.
Cantillo would be piece #4 or 5 in a Marte deal.
That’s a lot of pieces. And rightfully so. Maybe totalling piece 6 and 7. Kids are saying that quite a bit.
Maybe MLBTradeRumors can finally get off the Padres nuts about having no money to spend and start talking about the Dbacks not having money to spend.
Is Zac Gallen coming back to Arizona?
Cubs
Thank God.
Given Arizona is cutting I wonder if they’d want to package Marte with Burnes to slash around $50 mil a year off the payroll? Burnes is out for at least half of 2026 thanks to TJ surgery but some teams have shown a willingness to trade for guys like that (Jays with Bieber last year). I suspect smart clubs will investigate just how desperate Arizona is to clear out payroll this winter.
I don’t think putting them in the same package will get much takers. The payroll is too much. And Arizona is trying to compete.
Reducing payroll in the NL West while trying to beat the Dodgers and Giants … doesn’t add up. Either cut payroll drastically and rebuild or compete, middle ground equals years of 500 clubs hoping to get lucky.
Arizona is definitely in a retool. They aren’t going to full on rebuild w/ Carroll and Perdomo there. They have a couple OF prospects knocking on the door. They’ll need to have luck finding pitching the next 2 years though.
Slade Caldewell
They gave Burnes that sweet contract that includes no trade so unless he wants to leave he ain’t going anywhere.
Arizona is trying to compete. I’m not sure if you got me right, but to clarify, I meant Burnes and Marte combined is a lot of money. And Arizona is trying to compete is pretty clear.
Marte isa huge bargain
I still don’t understand what you mean
Okay I need to read more carefully.
I think we bring Kelly back over Gallen unless he unexpectedly takes the QO. I’d also like to see a Goldy reunion tour w/ Pavin at 1st. Maybe a guy like Devin Williams if his market sags, on a 2 year front loaded deal with a player option..
Full trust in Hazen and Torrey.
Let the signings begin!
I still remember what Pavin Smith did to us. Cycle of homers, maybe missed one?
Dbacks had a top5 offense the last two seasons. I can’t imagine Marte gets traded. They’ve underperformed as a team and pitching. Roughly $40mil to spend sounds good to me. I’m hopeful for a bounce back season. Jays had a down year in ‘24, they trusted their stars, and look what happened. I’m not saying WS, but I expect them to be competitive again.
Anyone else tired of all these teams crying poor.
They raised their payroll a few years in a row and missed the playoffs this previous. That’s just realistically how most teams operate outside of CA and NY.
Arizona and Seattle are revenue sharing teams that SPEND!
Not really. To a limited point, when their window is open, which most teams will. Still a third of what the Dodgers spend.
I’m comparing them to the Rays. The Rays are trying to compete without spending. They’re not Milwaukee.
@seam
Why are you comparing any team to LAD when discussing spending? There are at most 3 other teams able to spend like they do and they don’t. Compare Arizona and Seattle to other teams in their brackets. Most teams aren’t owned by multi hundred billionaire corporations.
Maybe you could argue a team like the Cubs is a fair comparison given the size of Phoenix, but that disregards the fact that a lot of the Phoenix market is still dominated by LA.
I usually like comparing “midmarket” teams that spend to 4 teams: Rockies, Angels, Brewers, Rays. Two of those teams spend horribly and have become the poster children for how not to run/own a baseball team while two spend lightly but intelligently and have become poster children for how to compete against the Dodgers, Mets, Yankees of the world.
I think when you use those, Arizona and Seattle fall between the markers: spend fairly freely when appropriate, but can’t afford to eat sunken cost bad decisions.
Raise your hand if after the DBacks swept the Dodgers in 2023, you declared that the DBacks “had the Dodgers’ number” or whatever
Don’t be shy. You weren’t then
I mean… they went out and got a unanimous now four-time MVP and his buddies, so you could at least say they spooked the Dodgers lol
Don’t forget the 2025 World Series MVP of their repeat performance and 2025 Cy Young finalist. Purchased the same offseason. In 2023, the Diamondbacks did have the Dodgers’ number. Even in 2025 they played them well despite getting trashed with injuries.
MLBTR definitely looks poorly at rookies. How will they ever know what Locklear and Lawler can provide if they never play them? Surprisingly, every player was once a rookie. Some even became all stars, once they were given playing time.
How do you know those are the guys who will become stars, as opposed to the guys right behind them who will never get their chance because you keep running Lawlar and Locklear out there?
As a longtime Phoenix resident, I have to smile at Kendrick. Two things are driving what he’s saying.
They are interchangeable.
The upcoming CBA and lockout.
And..
Ongoing Maricopa County battles over maintenance responsibilities at Chase Field.
Either way, he’s gonna lose money.
( He’s just trying to “lose”as little as possible.)
Still say D-Backs need an owner with deep pockets and a willingness to spend beyond one player like Bum and Bourns if he really wants the team to win. Until then I am not attending any D-Back games. Doubt Kendrick will care, but I will.
Bad take. Kendrick is not the issue. The economics of Arizona are what they are. He gives Hazen resources.
Imo, the Dbacks are reducing payroll a bit coming down off record highs as opposed to slashing payroll. I think the Dbacks re-sign Kelly and aquire a couple of depth SPs that can start or pitch in long relief. They will also aquire a high leverage RP and give last years trade deadline RP acquisitions a long leash. Finally, imo, they will pick up a low cost RHH 1B to pair with Smith and cross their fingers that Lawler, Alexander, Tawa and Waldschmidt can produce at a major league average clip (.690 – .720 OPS) while providing positional versatility. As a side note, Perdomo, Carroll and Marte need to continue to rake and Gabby needs to be healthy enough to play 125-135 games.