SCOTTSDALE — The Arizona Diamondbacks have assembled a team they expect to compete in a stacked National League after facing the horrors of watching their 2024 season end on TV.
Manager Torey Lovullo has vivid memories watching the New York Mets and Atlanta Braves shake hands on the field after splitting a postseason-clinching doubleheader.
This is an urgent year in many respects for the Diamondbacks given the roster construction and how close they’ve come to winning a World Series. Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly, Josh Naylor, Eugenio Suarez and Jordan Montgomery are all in their walk years, while Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Randal Grichuk have options for 2026.
“I think where it’s structured on our team looks a little different than it has in the past in terms of who the guys are that are in that spot,” general manager Mike Hazen said on Thursday. “I hope it’s reflected in the level of urgency we had with what we did this offseason, from Ken (Kendrick) all the way down to what we did in the front office.
“Not that next year is not important. By no means. I do think that we wanted to make sure this team had the capabilities to be the very best version of that, that included adding depth, that included rounding out our position player group. That’s going to include rounding out our bullpen. There’s some reflection of that, that this season is important to us. Every season is important to us, but this season is important to us.”
The Diamondbacks quickly traded for Naylor to replace Christian Walker at first base despite his one year left under contract. When ace pitcher Corbin Burnes expressed interest in joining the group, the club spent more money than it had budgeted for to make it happen, then brought back Grichuk to round out the lineup.
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And the work is not done, as Arizona wants to add a potential closer. Hazen said this will most likely be done in free agency, as trades at the start of spring training can be difficult. The payroll will reach another record high, sparked by expanded fan interest in the team last year and the urgency to continue pushing forward.
Lovullo said elevated payroll and expectations don’t come with more pressure than there already is, necessarily. The vibes have been typical for the start of spring training. But there are high standards that will be drilled in.
Better pitching and defense, especially, are expected to lift the Diamondbacks after last season.
“We know the landscape in the National League is gonna be very difficult,” Hazen said. “So, we’re well aware of the challenge we’re going to face, but I think we have the talented squad to keep up and compete in the best way possible.”
There is more talent in the NL than a year ago. The Dodgers went all in on building a dynasty, the Mets added superstar Juan Soto, the Braves will get 2023 MVP Ronald Acuña Jr. and ace Spencer Strider back from injury and the Cubs traded for former Astros star Kyle Tucker.
The NL was strong last year as well, and the Diamondbacks were amongst its best teams for much of the second half before a faulty finish.
It took time for Hazen and Lovullo and many players to get past what ended their seasons last year. Leadership hopes that sting will counteract as a motivator for a team filled with internal competition.
“That was heartbreaking,” Lovullo said on Wednesday. “What I told myself is I got to be better in certain areas, and I expect everybody around me to be the same way so we don’t put ourselves in that type of situation. It’s been something that has driven me. It will continue to drive me.”
“I still remember it,” pitcher Brandon Pfaadt said on Wednesday. “We were all sitting in the locker room and couldn’t really do anything about it. But that just shows every game counts, especially some of those games early on last season we shouldn’t have lost. But you got to think of the games that we came back and won, as well. So, every game counts.”
Diamondbacks face decisions to manage roster
Pitchers and catchers officially reported for spring training on Wednesday, although many players have been working at the facility much longer. Full squads will officially report on Monday.
A theme at the start of camp is that the Diamondbacks have some difficult choices to make in six weeks when the season starts, which is a positive.
The rotation has a surplus, and it seems the Diamondbacks prefer a five-man set up. Backup roles for infield and catching will be determined in camp. The bullpen always breeds competition, as the closer role is undefined unless Arizona makes a move.
The lineup has very few holes or question marks at this point, even with close to MLB-ready prospects who may have to wait for opportunities. Hazen mentioned the challenge that comes with prioritizing winning over development.
“There’s been times here where we’ve prioritized development, and as painful as that is, it’s necessary for the long term,” Hazen said. “I think development is going to happen with opportunity that is certainly going to be there for a lot of our younger players, but this is about winning, and that will be the priority and the focus.”
The D-backs have a young core to continue building around beyond 2025, but the uncertainty of several core players going forward naturally amplifies this moment to a certain degree.
The expectations and standards are high, but as Lovullo told the club, “You got to go out and execute,” which starts with work in spring training.
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