Inspiration.
Every offseason, the AZ Snake Pit has player reviews for every player who played for the Diamondbacks Major League Team. Those reviews will happen later in this offseason.
If things had happened differently (in a parallel universe), there are several players who played for the Diamondbacks – but it did not happen in this universe. In this universe, they will not have formal player reviews.
Let’s look at some of those players and do mini-reviews.
Last season, in a parallel universe, who might have played for the Diamondbacks?
AJ Puk. If he had avoided injury, he would have added
to a bullpen which was better than it had been in years.
Kristian Robinson. If his batting broke out to the extent that he could not be ignored, he might have been called up to be a designated hitter.
Ty France. Having children takes many years for some couples. If the birth of his children had not happened near the beginning of last season, he might have been open to playing for the Diamondbacks instead of the Padres. In February, the Padres offered him a minor league contract, and his MLB contract was small with an incentive clause. I’m confident that the Diamondbacks would have matched or bettered it because the Diamondbacks needed a first baseman.
Marcelo Mayer. Last offseason, the Diamondbacks discussed trading away Ketel Marte to the Red Sox. The Red Sox refused to trade away Marcello Mayer and a reworked trade did not happen (per Gabe Speier of the Boston Globe). What if the Red Sox had agreed to trade him to the Diamondbacks?
Clay Holmes. Pending medical checks, the Mets had agreed to trade Clay Holmes to the Diamondbacks in return for a prospect. The Mets did not like the medical records of the prospect, and an alternate was not found. What if the prospect had been acceptable to the Mets?
2026 Parallel Universe Player # 1 : AJ Puk
2025 Stats: 8 Games in relief, 3.38 ERA, 4.51 FIP, 12 SO, 2 BB.
Due to injury, in 2026 he played 2 games in AAA, plus 3 games in the rookie league.
Date of Birth: 4/25/1995.
2026 Earnings: $3.1 Million.
2027 Status: Free Agent.
2026 Review.
Due to injury, he did not play for the Diamondbacks Major League Team. In 2025, his strength was a fastball velocity of 96.4 MPH, which was at the 83rd percentile. His 34.3% K was awesome. His 2.84 xERA was better than his actual ERA. In the parallel universe, he significantly improved the Diamondbacks bullpen. He pitched 30 games and added 1.3 bWAR.
In the parallel universe, his performance was about the same as his 2025 season.
Performance Comparison 2025 actual (parallel universe) vs 2026 Diamondbacks. His 3.38 ERA was better than the 4.07 ERA of pitching in relief per FanGraphs. His 4.61 FIP was worse than the 4.01 FIP of pitching in relief. Overall, the Diamondbacks won one additional game in the parallel universe.
2027 Outlook.
He is a free agent. He could play for the Diamondbacks in both universes. He is projected to have an ERA between 3.42 and 3.86. He could make a positive contribution to the Diamondbacks bullpen, especially if his velocity and strikeouts are at 2025 levels.
2026 Parallel Universe Player # 2 : Kristian Robinson.
2026 Stats: 116 Games in AAA, .268/.373/.442 (BA/OBP/ SLG).
Date of Birth: 12/11/2000.
2026 Earnings: Minor League.
2027 Status: Free Agent.
2026 Review.
In AAA, his average exit velocity, hard hit percentage, and barrels per batted ball event were better than the Reno Aces averages (92.4 vs 91.7 MPH, 45.0% vs 38.2%, and 9.1 vs 7.4 B/BBE). However, they fell short of numbers that would have shouted to call him up to the Majors as a designated hitter (perhaps with some playing time in the outfield).
In the parallel universe, his RBIs per plate appearance in Reno was 50% higher (0.18 instead of 0.12). Mid-season he was called up and in the Majors his RBIs per PA was 0.14, which was better than the team’s second half average of 0.12. With 300 PAs, he added 6 runs (about 0.6 bWAR).
Performance Comparison 2026 parallel universe vs 2026 Diamondbacks. In the parallel universe, he increased the team RBIs by 6, which won the Diamondbacks one additional game.
2027 Outlook.
He is a free agent, and I would be surprised if he plays for the Diamondbacks.
2026 Parallel Universe Player # 3 : Ty France.
2026 Stats: 133 Games, .295/.363/.502 (BA/OBP/ SLG), 139 OPS+, 4.5 bWAR.
Date of Birth: 7/13/1994.
2026 Earnings: $1.35 Million plus $0.65 Million incentive.
2027 Status: Free Agent.
2026 Review.
Playing first base for the Padres, his 139 OPS+ was a career best. His defense was outstanding: In 2025, he won a gold glove. In 2026, his 7 outs above average was the second best among first basemen, and his 15 defensive runs saved was best among first basemen.
Performance Comparison 2026 actual vs 2026 Diamondbacks. Comparing wins above average at first base, the Padres had positive 1.9 and the Diamondbacks had negative 2.3. In the parallel universe, the Diamondbacks signed him before the season started. The Diamondbacks won four additional games.
2027 Outlook.
He is a free agent. Because the Diamondbacks do not have a first baseman for next season, and because he is an outstanding first baseman, acquiring him would make a large positive impact.
2026 Parallel Universe Player # 4 : Marcelo Mayer.
2026 Stats: 76 Games, .209/.279/.295 (BA/OBP/ SLG), 62 OPS+, negative 0.1 bWAR.
Date of Birth: 12/12/2002.
2026 Earnings: Pre-arb.
2027 Status: Giants control him through 2031.
2026 Review.
In the parallel universe, the Diamondbacks traded away Ketel Marte for Marcelo Mayer. Ildemaro Vargas played more games as the second baseman to cover the loss of Marte, and Mayer stayed in the minors to continue his development until September.
Performance Comparison 2026 actual vs 2026 Diamondbacks. In the parallel universe, the Diamondbacks lost two additional games.
2027 Outlook.
Marcelo Mayer is on track to be an All-Star. At some point, his performance will reach that level, but maybe not in 2027.
Looking forward, the Diamondbacks will be ok that they kept Ketel Marte. Ketel Marte’s performance will likely bounce back, and his hitting fundamentals are among the best players on the Diamondbacks.
2026 Parallel Universe Player # 5 : Clay Holmes.
2026 Stats: 18 Games Started, 3.29 ERA, 3.63 FIP, 78 SO, 42 BB.
Date of Birth: 3/27/1993.
2026 Earnings: $13 Million.
2027 Status: Free Agent.
2026 Review.
He is a starting pitcher. He pitched exceptionally well (1.86 ERA) until the 15 May game, when a line drive hit his leg and broke a bone. What is extraordinary is that with a broken leg he finished the inning and in the next inning he got one batter out before leaving the game.
When he returned, his 4.25 ERA was good, but less than exceptional.
Performance Comparison 2026 actual (after 7 August) vs 2026 Diamondbacks (after 7 August). In the parallel universe, he was traded to the Diamondbacks at the beginning of August. From 8 August onward, his 4.25 ERA was slightly better than the Diamondbacks average of 4.43. However, he pitched 3 shutouts in the parallel universe. The Diamondbacks won three additional games.
2027 Outlook.
He is a free agent. His projected ERA is between 3.63 and 4.25. My view is that he will pitch much better than projected, albeit not reaching the rarified heights of an ERA of 2. He would be an excellent acquisition by the Diamondbacks.
