The Diamondbacks completed twenty seventh of 30 groups in rotation ERA (4.79) final season, as an absence of manufacturing from the beginning pitchers was one of many chief the reason why Arizona fell simply wanting the playoffs. Regardless of these latest struggles, nevertheless, the D’Backs nonetheless obtained “vital curiosity from golf equipment on the lookout for starters” in the course of the GM Conferences final week, in keeping with Will Sammon and Patrick Mooney of The Athletic.
It actually isn’t a shock that any crew with any stage of on-paper pitching depth is getting hits on their starters, although this stage of curiosity signifies that a lot of the league may view Arizona’s 2024 rotation efficiency as one thing of a fluke. In any case, Merrill Kelly and Eduardo Rodriguez every missed nearly all of the season with damage, Zac Gallen spent a couple of month on the injured listing, and Jordan Montgomery simply by no means appeared settled after lacking Spring Coaching and solely signing with the D’Backs on Opening Day. Past this veteran group, youthful and extra controllable starters like Brandon Pfaadt, Ryne Nelson, and Yilber Diaz additionally had respectable showings as they had been known as on to cowl innings rather than their injured teammates.
Sammon and Mooney didn’t specify which names drew any explicit consideration from commerce suitors, although it could be protected to guess that Rodriguez’s commerce worth is pretty low, contemplating his injury-plagued yr and the $66MM remaining on his contract via 2027. Past E-Rod, any of Arizona’s different pitchers might be seen as commerce candidates relying on the membership’s personal plans, or if one rival crew views a specific starter as a key match.
The truth that the Diamondbacks have “extra choices and extra high quality,” Sammon and Mooney write, offers them a leg up in commerce talks. The Pirates are one other crew stated to be drawing curiosity of their pitchers, although since Pittsburgh’s arms are principally of the youthful selection, the Pirates may enchantment to groups in a little bit of a rebuild stage quite than groups on the lookout for a win-now piece for 2025. It will also be assumed that the Bucs have pitchers (i.e. Paul Skenes, Jared Jones) who aren’t going anyplace, whereas the D’Backs will be extra broadly open to no less than listening on any of their starters.
Naturally, a crew that obtained so little from its rotation in a single season received’t be so fast to deal away from its beginning depth the following yr. Nevertheless, Gallen, Kelly, and Montgomery are all slated to be free brokers subsequent season, so the Diamondbacks might be open to transferring a starter they don’t consider might be a part of the long-term plan. Montgomery specifically has been a topic of commerce rumors since proprietor Ken Kendrick criticized his crew’s resolution to signal the southpaw, and whereas Montgomery unsurprisingly exercised his $22.5MM participant choice for 2025, that doesn’t imply the crew and pitcher may nonetheless half methods through commerce.
Buying and selling long-term rotation staples like Gallen and Kelly could be a harder resolution for the D’Backs, but transferring a veteran arm could be preferable than transferring one of many controllable youthful pitchers. Arizona may deal away a youthful arm as a part of an all-in strategy to 2025 whereas their established stars are nonetheless round, although that clashes with the extra measured fashion of GM Mike Hazen. Pfaadt, Nelson, and Diaz might be counted on for bigger roles if any of the upcoming free brokers signal elsewhere subsequent winter, and extra boldly transferring a pitcher like Gallen now would give the D’Backs a giant return.
By way of the wants the Diamondbacks have to deal with, Sammon and Mooney observe that the crew is on the lookout for a high-leverage reliever who can maybe step right into a closing position. Arizona’s bullpen was additionally a weak hyperlink final yr, and figures to be extra of a spotlight than a rotation that (on paper) might be high quality if everyone seems to be wholesome. Some offensive assist additionally appears mandatory with Christian Walker, Joc Pederson, and Randal Grichuk all at present on the free agent market.