Arizona Diamondbacks' managing general partner and principal owner, Ken Kendrick, told Arizona Sports radio 98.7 that the team will have a lower payroll in 2027.
"It will not be at the same level. It will be a lower payroll than we had this year."
— The Burns & Gambo Show (@BurnsAndGambo) October 2, 2026
Arizona Diamondbacks' managing general partner Ken Kendrick explained why he anticipates a lower payroll for next year's baseball team. pic.twitter.com/SiVv4U6cvc
"Looking at what our payroll is going to be, I will say the following: It will not be at the same level. It'll be a lower payroll than we had this year," Kendrick said.
The Diamondbacks did not crack the top 10 in MLB team payroll again in 2026, finishing 12th at $232,680,420. That payroll marked the 23rd straight season that the Diamondbacks finished
outside the top 10 in team payroll.
"If you go look at those contracts that are expiring, we have some very significant contracts that are expiring," Kendrick said. "With, unfortunately, players who made little or no contribution to the team. You don't spend the money just to spend the money. You spend the money you think is appropriate to put a winning club on the field.
"And I think we can put a winning club on the field based on some of the high-dollar players going away."
The only impending free agent this offseason (excluding opt-out situations) who made significant money in 2026 for the Diamondbacks is starting pitcher Zac Gallen, who made $16,199,618 in 2026, according to Baseball-Reference.
When the Diamondbacks had a top 10 team payroll every season from 1999-2003, the team had at least 84 wins in each season. On top of that, they went to the playoffs in three of those seasons (1999, 2001-02) and won the World Series in one of them (2001).
In the 24 other years, they have made the playoffs a combined four times and have not won a championship. They have missed the playoffs each of the past three seasons.
"It's going to be very competitive," Kendrick said. "We have a lot of very outstanding young players that deserve a chance to play. They aren't as expensive as some of the veterans, and so I think we will spend less money."
Per Forbes, Kendrick has a $1.2 billion real time net worth.
"But if the fans react to, 'Well, how much are they spending?' And everybody gets to spend our owners' money, and gets to tell us how to spend our money, and we will make the decisions that we feel are appropriate," Kendrick said.
All team payroll statistics per The Baseball Cube.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona Diamondbacks owner reveals how much team will spend in 2027
