Diamondbacks News
D-backs Face Tough Decisions After Frustrating 2025 Season by Michael McDermott [D-backs Under Review]
Due to restrictions in payroll, especially with the sheer volume of players who are certain to open
2026 on the 60-day injured list. Corbin Burnes, Justin Martinez, and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. combine for $46.363 million in guaranteed money. A.J. Puk’s final year of arbitration could push that total over $50 million, should Arizona tender him.
If the 2026 payroll drops to $150 million or less, that’s a significant chunk that isn’t contributing to the club. That in itself will make building a cohesive roster in the offseason without getting creative.
Top 3 Takeaways From D-backs’ Disappointing Season’s End by Alex D’Agostino [SI]
Takeaway 2: Diamondbacks Aren’t Satisfied
A no-brainer, perhaps, but it was clear in gauging the player’s responses that 2025’s end was not simply a positive story of an underdog team falling just short. There were expectations, and no one appeared satisfied with sitting at home after 162 games.
“It sucks. Not too much to say; we didn’t do enough,” Corbin Carroll told reporters after Arizona was eliminated Friday.
Corbin Burnes’ D-backs Return Might be Sooner Than Expected by Alex D’Agostino [SI]
Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo’s status for 2026 decided by Nick Piecoro [AZ Central]
“That’s great for Torey,” right-hander Zac Gallen said. “I’ve loved playing for Torey the past seven years. I think what a lot of people outside of this space, outside of the world of baseball, don’t understand is what it is to be a manager. It’s not always the Xs and Os.
“There’s a lot of managing personalities, a lot of managing the things people don’t necessarily see or take in behind the scenes. I think Torey does a really good job of that.”
Torey Lovullo deserves 10th season of managing Diamondbacks after powerful admission by Dan Bickley [Arizona Sports]
It was his admission that most of the decisions made in Arizona are by think-tank committee, and that Lovullo only has a seat at the table. Which means he has very little power and very limited influence.
Lovullo wasn’t complaining, and I’m guessing the working conditions are now similar in many MLB cities, even if they are a marked change in baseball’s traditional power structure and hierarchy. But Lovullo doesn’t have power over his starting lineups. He has zero autonomy until the game begins. He has no ability to ride a hot streak, lean on his gut instincts or bench a player just to send a message to the group.
Understand that, and the picture becomes much clearer and kinder to Lovullo.
If the Diamondbacks mostly need their manager to build deep relationships with players and take multiple arrows for those with a seat at the table, well, they’ve already got the perfect guy.
D-backs No. 14 prospect Jones named MiLB Defensive Player of the Year by Joe Trezza [MLB]
The No. 2 pick from the 2022 Draft hasn’t developed into an impact offensive player quite yet, but he remains a special defender in center field — much like his father, Andruw. Using his plus-plus speed, plus arm and strong instincts, the younger Jones (AZ No. 14) also covers a ton of ground and makes tremendous grabs, often turning the routine into something spectacular on the defensive end. If any one play illustrates that, it might be the amazing home run robbery he pulled off at High-A Hillsboro in May.
Around the League
54 Outs to Freedom: Padres vs. Bubs NL Wild Card Preview by Michael Baumann [FanGraphs]
Speaking of monster two-way players, this series is going to be a national coming-out party for Pete Crow-Armstrong. PCA is, for my money, the most exciting all-around athlete in the league. He has 30-homer pop and 80-grade speed. He powers up in big moments and he plays center field like Nightcrawler. He has the greatest “Holy crap, did you see that?” potential of any player in a series that is also going to involve Fernando Tatis Jr. — I can think of few higher compliments.
Bruce Bochy out as Texas Rangers’ manager [ESPN]
“Bruce Bochy is one of the greatest managers in baseball history and he will forever hold a place in the hearts of Ranger fans after bringing home the first World Series title in franchise history in 2023,” Young said. “Boch brought class and respect to our club in his return to the dugout and we will always take pride in being part of his Hall of Fame career. We are grateful for everything he has given to the organization over the past few seasons and hopeful he can continue to impact the Rangers for many years to come.”
Miller’s postseason debut fueled by dominant stretch since trade by AJ Cassavell [MLB]
Since his arrival, there’s an argument to be made that Miller has been the best reliever in baseball. Or, maybe there’s no argument at all. Miller has posted a 0.77 ERA, while punching out an absurd 54 percent of the batters he’s faced. In early September, he became the second player in Padres history to record an immaculate inning, throwing nine straight sliders and getting nine straight strikes — the last eight of which were swings and misses — in the eighth inning against the Orioles. And, oh yeah, he throws a 103-mph fastball, too.
Twins Fire Rocco Baldelli by Anthony Franco [MLB Trade Rumors]
This year, they hovered around contention for a while but fell behind the rest of the American League pack. Their trade deadline selloff ended up being more extensive than anticipated. They flipped controllable relievers Jhoan Duran, Griffin Jax and Louis Varland. They also sent Carlos Correa back to Houston in a salary dump deal. Minnesota limped to the end of the season with a 70-92 record.
Since that selloff, the Pohlads have decided not to sell the franchise after all. Instead, they have lined up minority investors who are reportedly going to help the franchise pay down its $500MM debt load.
Taking all that into consideration, it’s hard to know how much blame to assign to Baldelli. Evaluating managers from afar is always a tough business, but that’s especially true when the club is actively trying to cut payroll, which naturally gives the manager less talent to manage.
Giants Fire Bob Melvin by Steve Adams [MLB]
Melvin is one of the most decorated managers in the game today — and in MLB history. He’s currently 20th all-time in managerial wins. A three-time Manager of the Year who’s won that honor in both the American League and National League, the 63-year-old Melvin has 22 years of managerial experience and a winning 1678-1588 record. That includes an 853-764 record in 11 seasons as manager in Oakland, despite perennially operating clubs that had one of the game’s lowest payrolls (if not the lowest in a given season). He was 161-163 in his two seasons at the helm on the other side of the Bay.
As the Giants slipped down the stretch, Melvin’s job status became a source of increased speculation. Just yesterday, USA Today’s Bob Nightengale suggested that, in the wake of a playoff miss, Posey might look to move on from Melvin and try to bring his own former manager, Bruce Bochy, back to San Francisco. Bochy’s contract in Texas is up and, as with Melvin, there’s been plenty of speculation regarding his future following a second straight disappointing season in Arlington.
Question of the Day
Paw-dre Fan
I know the Padres’ “sherbet” uniforms aren’t the most popular here on the ‘Pit, but my wife liked them from the moment she saw them. While at the Padres-Diamondbacks game this last weekend, she stopped short of buying one of those jerseys for herself, but she did buy one for our pup. I think she looks better in it than Mike Shildt does.
