Diamondbacks’ GM Mike Hazen takes a look back on the 2025 season
After just missing the playoffs, Arizona Diamondbacks general manager Mike Hazen put his assessment of the season into words.
The Diamondbacks are heading into the winter meetings primarily seeking to acquire pitching.General manager Mike Hazen notes that high demand and a competitive market have driven up the price for pitchers.
Active behind the scenes but largely unable to get any deals done, the Diamondbacks head into the Dec. 7-10 winter meetings in Orlando still on the hunt for the same thing they have sought since last trade deadline: pitching.
“I don’t know that the winter meetings will solve all the problems or be the timeframe when all your to-dos get done,” Diamondbacks general manager Mike Hazen said. “We’re in all the markets right now. I know it’s probably been more activity on the free agent market than the trade market to date, but I’m sure both will be moving in the next two weeks.”
Most active, so far, has been the free agent relief market, in which Devin Williams, Ryan Helsley, Raisel Iglesias and Phil Maton all have found landing spots, among others. None has come cheap — and all but Maton are coming off down years, which might not be the most encouraging development for a Diamondbacks team that is not believed to have significant spending power.
Diamondbacks could be targeting Pete Fairbanks
Among the relievers still available is right-hander Pete Fairbanks, with whom the Diamondbacks have been engaged in discussions, according to a source.
Fairbanks, who turns 32 this month, is coming off a season in which he logged a 2.83 ERA with 27 saves in 32 chances for the Rays. Still, the Rays declined an $11 million option on him at the start of the offseason, making him a free agent.
Fairbanks has been tied to a number of teams in various reports, including the Tigers, Marlins, Blue Jays and Dodgers. The Athletic reported earlier in the week that he could be nearing a decision, speculating that he could get a deal in the same price range as the two-year, $28 million contract Helsley landed with the Orioles.
Iglesias re-upped with the Braves for $16 million on a one-year contract. Williams received a three-year, $51 million deal from the New York Mets. Maton got two years and $14.5 million from the Cubs.
“It’s to be expected,” Hazen said when asked if he had been surprised by the price of pitching, which includes the seven-year, $210 million deal starter Dylan Cease received from the Blue Jays. “It’s the hardest thing to acquire. It’s why it’s so valuable.
“It’s why at the deadline last year, when we had access to players, and teams were pushing in, we prioritized getting as much pitching as we could.”
High prices for pitching; Ketel Marte’s value
Hazen said the number of teams trying to improve their clubs for next season — rather than rebuilding — has made it more difficult to plug the holes he has on his staff, which includes two rotation spots in addition to bullpen upgrades.
“Looking across the landscape of the game, the competitiveness has continued to improve in terms of the teams that are aggressively acquiring players in the offseason to push in,” Hazen said. “And that’s creating (a different dynamic).
“I think it’s a good thing for the game. It makes it tougher for us sometimes, but I think it’s a good thing for the game. I think we’ve continued to see that trend.”
He said the market for teams willing to acquire prospects for veteran pitching “hasn’t been as robust,” but he still believes there are a handful of teams willing to make such deals. The Diamondbacks are open to trading from their collection of young position players/prospects, including infielder Jordan Lawlar, who has ranked among the best prospects in the majors in recent years but has struggled in brief major league stints.
Despite all that — the high prices in free agency and the limited number of teams seeking prospects — Hazen didn’t think any avenues had been closed off for the Diamondbacks to land pitching.
“We’re still out and competitive, I think, in all the areas to acquire players,” he said. “I wouldn’t rule out (anything). We’re going to be involved in everything.”
That likely will include more talks about star second baseman Ketel Marte, whom the Diamondbacks are willing to consider moving in the right deal. It seems an open question whether the Diamondbacks will receive an offer compelling enough to pull the trigger.
“We’re getting attention for all of our good players,” Hazen said, when asked about Marte’s market. “It is what it is. That’s what happens. I’m still more (of the opinion) that we’re going to be adding to this team externally (as) the most likely outcome.”
The Diamondbacks’ only move so far this winter was last month’s re-signing of veteran catcher James McCann on a one-year, $2.75 million deal to be the backup to starter Gabriel Moreno.
Whether anything gets done in Orlando remains to be seen. Deals can get done at the winter meetings, but more often talks drag deeper into the offseason before any action takes place.
“We’ll see how that goes,” Hazen said.