The Diamondbacks are ready to address one of their biggest issues, as they are willing to trade their top prospects to bring in new bullpen pitching.
For what seems like a decade, Arizona has long flagged the bullpen as a liability, but the 2025 campaign elevated that challenge into a strategic storm. The Diamondbacks’ closers have struggled to hold leads, turning late-game moments into heartbreak for a fanbase that believes in the power of the bats. The injuries sustained to A.J. Puk and Justin Martinez truly sent the bullpen into a tailspin, though that wasn’t it. The supporting cast never caught on, as guys like Anthony DeSclafani, Jalen Beeks, Kyle Backhus, and Jake Woodford just couldn’t show up for Arizona. Now, MLB’s Steve Gilbert mentioned that the D-Backs are willing to trade top prospects for more talented arms out of the bullpen.
How the Diamondbacks plan to address it is by getting high-level talent to contend now, while parting ways with their top big-name prospects. One of the big names that could be on the move is Jordan Lawlar. Once the face of the farm system in Reno, Lawlar stands at a crossroads. Known for plus defense and promising offensive upside, he also carries durability flags and inconsistency at the plate. D-Backs fans could have a hard time imagining watching this explosively young talent become trade bait, though it could be necessary.
The strategic impact is stark. Do the Diamondbacks commit future assets by trading Lawlar and other top prospects to finally fix the bullpen and make a run now? Or do they double down on youth, accept short-term bullpen pain, and trust development? This could signal how mid-market clubs are now balancing pitching investments versus farm system currency.