Due to this, general manager Mike Hazen and manager Torey Lovullo were able to hold onto their jobs and decided to keep nearly their whole staff together. Rather than changing things once again, they wanted to have a normal offseason of developing rapport and plans with the players without having to adjust to a new coaching staff.
Plus, it’s hard to say how much was on the coaches, especially the pitching coaches, as the pitching improved as the season went on, and injuries were not their fault.
Moreover, although the D-backs didn’t do as well as they wanted with a record payroll of around $195 million, the team returns much of the roster that ended the season with a winning record of 29-24 from August 1 to the end of the year. That was one of the better records across MLB and a big reason why they were in the playoff chase until the final weekend.
However, it appears that ownership is not going to return to that record payroll for 2026. Then again, ownership and the front office have said similar things in the past, and then, when an opportunity presented itself, such as signing Jordan Montgomery, Burnes, Zack Greinke, or others, they made the money fit into the payroll and raised their allotment.
Currently, the Diamondbacks have an expected payroll of around $145 million, which leaves them with roughly anywhere from $20 to $50 million to spend. This is especially true since ownership has not offered a firm number for next year’s payroll.
However, the team needs to add at least two starting pitchers after the loss of Zac Gallen to free agency and the trade of Kelly last summer. They must obtain a bona fide closer that can handle the pressures of the ninth inning and take the job for the foreseeable future. Along with that, they need multiple relievers to help rebuild their bullpen after so many injuries and uneven performances, given the lack of proven relievers they currently have on a win-now team.