Hall: D-Backs Continuing To Pursue First Base, Pitching Help

The Diamondbacks have spent the offseason pursuing pitching while looking for a right-handed hitting first baseman to pair with Pavin Smith. Those remain targets as Spring Training approaches, team president Derrick Hall reiterated this morning.

“There’s enough opportunity out there that we can still see a move or two that can impact our team,” Hall said at a charity golf event on Friday (links via Steve Gilbert of MLB.com and Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic). The team president added the front office is “still trying to find another complementary first baseman, and I think we can still look to improve our pitching, both starting and relievers, but we still have some moves to make. We’re not done.”

None of that comes as a surprise since it aligns with reporting about the team’s plans over the winter, yet it’s notable that a high-ranking executive went on record to predict another acquisition. It seems they’re looking more at supplementary pickups, at least via free agency. General manager Mike Hazen said last week that the team didn’t have the budget space to spend on established high-leverage relievers on the open market. “We still have some room,” Hall said today of the club’s financial picture. “But for a big splash, we’re probably going to have to get creative, or look to move money if we’re going to do something really big.”

Although there aren’t many marquee players available as February nears, Zac Gallen remains unsigned. He rejected a qualifying offer in November and is one of two unsigned qualified free agents, along with Framber Valdez. There’s been some chatter that the Diamondbacks could circle back with Gallen, but that hasn’t seemed all that likely since the club brought Merrill Kelly back on a two-year deal that pays $20MM annually. Even if he settles for a two-year contract with an opt-out, Gallen would probably take them beyond their comfort zone unless owner Ken Kendrick makes an exception for a pitcher with whom he’s familiar.

Hall loosely alluded to the possibility of shedding money on the trade market, but there aren’t many clear ways to do that without subtracting key players from the roster. They cut off Ketel Marte talks and wouldn’t consider trading Corbin Carroll or Geraldo Perdomo. They’re one season into a five-year extension for Brandon Pfaadt. He’s only making $3MM this year, and the rotation is thin enough that they wouldn’t be inclined to sell low on him either way.

They’re not shedding the Corbin Burnes contract midway through rehab from Tommy John surgery. Teams aren’t going to take on any significant portion of the Eduardo Rodriguez or Lourdes Gurriel Jr. deals. No one in their arbitration class is making even $4MM. Ryan Thompson, Kevin Ginkel or Alek Thomas are all coming off down years but play positions of need and wouldn’t move the needle much from a salary perspective.

Hazen suggested last week that they could turn to the trade market for relief help, though the biggest factor will be the injury recoveries for A.J. Puk and Justin Martinez. It’d be easier to find the short side platoon first baseman for cheap via free agency. A reunion with Paul Goldschmidt has made sense all winter. Rhys Hoskins, Wilmer Flores, Ty France, Carlos Santana and Justin Turner are also unsigned.