Arizona Diamondbacks 2025-2026 Offseason Wishlist

It could be argued that the Diamondbacks might have made the playoffs the last two seasons if they simply could have won the games they were already winning by locking down the ninth inning and getting the 27th out.

This team could’ve been among the best in baseball if it had even converted two-thirds of its missed save opportunities. The Diamondbacks ranked fifth in baseball with 71 save opportunities. They converted only 42 of them, a 59% success rate.

Of course, not every blown save ultimately leads to a loss (and sometimes a team blows multiple saves in the same game), but for argument’s sake, let’s say they converted another 10 of their 29 blown saves into wins. That would’ve put them in the second NL Wild Card spot with 90 wins.

Adding a proven closer would go a long way towards getting Arizona back to the playoffs and settling the bullpen issues. It would also allow Lovullo to set up his bullpen thinking backwards without having to worry as much about matchups. Plus, it’s well known that the manager wants a closer as opposed to a committee.

Unfortunately, this will likely have to come via free agency, as there are not many proven closers available in trades, unless they find a proven eighth-inning man who they have a strong feeling could be the long-term closer.

Potential Free Agent Fits: Devin Williams, Ryan Helsley, Robert Suarez, Pete Fairbanks

Each of these closers comes with a question mark that clouds just how great his future will be. However, they all have plenty of positives that would help the D-backs much more than it would hurt if the team failed to get any of them. Edwin Díaz is not listed here because the Diamondbacks do not have the funds to spend $100 million on a reliever.

Williams had a tough year in the Bronx but has plenty of history that states he’s a great reliever. Plus, the advanced stats for 2025 show that he was not nearly as bad as it seemed. Helsley matches the D-backs’ turn towards velocity from their pitchers, and he has been a trade target of Hazen’s for years.

However, something went horribly wrong in New York, whether it was pitch tipping or something else. Thus, the D-backs will have to be confident that it’s fixable. However, that will also make his price more amenable to a team with potential payroll constraints.

Robert Suarez had a great season, leading the NL in saves, but had a few hiccups. Plus, he’s now entering his age-36 season. Older relievers have not done well in Arizona’s recent history, although they’ve never had one with a fastball like Suarez.

As for Fairbanks, his lengthy injury history will limit his price, but he throws hard and is a proven closer. He would fit in Arizona’s bullpen.

2. Acquire an Ace/No. 2 Starting Pitcher

As mentioned above, Hazen is now open to trading impact prospects for impact talent, something he hasn’t done since 2019. Whether that is something like the Zac Gallen trade in 2019, where he sent No. 1 prospect Jazz Chisholm Jr. for the then-rookie, or trading multiple prospects for a proven elite starting pitcher with multiple years of control remains to be seen.

However, the rotation currently consists of just Nelson, Brandon Pfaadt, and Eduardo Rodriguez. Pfaadt and Rodriguez are meant to be back-end rotation staples, while Nelson is best suited to be a team’s No. 3 starter. Thus, the team needs at least one high-end starter, and preferably two.

That could entail re-signing Gallen, though it’s uncertain if he is a true ace anymore, and they would cost themselves the premium draft pick they would earn if he signed with another team after turning down the qualifying offer.

While it’s unlikely Arizona signs one of the premium starters on the market, stranger things have happened to shake the MLB free agency world to its core. Thus, it can’t be ruled out.

Potential Free Agent Fits: Dylan Cease, Framber Valdez, Michael King

Valdez is an elite groundball pitcher, something that would work out extremely well in front of Arizona’s strong infield defense. Plus, he’s a proven innings eater who has pitched well in Chase Field in the postseason, and he can headline a rotation.

Cease is an advanced stats darling who is the only pitcher in MLB to have five straight seasons of at least 200 strikeouts and at least 32 starts. No other pitchers have a streak like that going for them right now. Thus, he could be the lethal strikeout weapon in the rotation that Arizona has been needing for years. With his durability as well, it would be safer to believe in him lasting the first couple of seasons of any deal before any worries of injury arise.

King could be had at a bit of a discount, considering his injury issues in 2025. However, when he’s healthy and on point, he’s among the best pitchers in baseball.

Plus, there are limited innings on his elbow due to him being a reliever in the past, which increases the likelihood that he wouldn’t suffer an extreme injury. That is something that has to be on the mind of Arizona’s executives following this past season.

Potential Trade Fits: Hunter Greene, MacKenzie Gore, Pablo López, Freddy Peralta, Edward Cabrera, Kris Bubic

Since Arizona is willing to deal prospects, perhaps they would be able to entice a team to give up one of these players. They are all proven top-of-the-rotation caliber pitchers.

Greene would be the No. 1 option, but Gore comes with plenty of promise and a new Nationals leadership that seems to be restarting the rebuild. The same is true for López, in that the Twins are starting a new rebuild. If the right offer comes along, they might be unable to say no.

The Reds badly need offense, something Arizona could offer with many talented offensive weapons in the majors and minors. They might be able to be persuaded to deal their ace, especially with Chase Burns waiting in tow to take over the rotation. Plus, they’ve got a full rotation of strong starters.

This is likely the route Arizona will take.

They could target a top-tier prospect pitcher as well, doing a prospect-for-prospect trade. The names that could fit for such a move include Nolan McLean, Jonah Tong, Payton Tolle, Bubba Chandler, Hurston Waldrep, Andrew Painter, Troy Melton, and Jaxon Wiggins.

Most likely, though, the Diamondbacks will acquire an experienced pitcher, as these prospects or rookies would be highly valued thanks to their years of control.

3. Sign a Mid-Tier Starting Pitcher

As is already known, the D-backs need one more middle-of-the-rotation starting pitcher, at a minimum, to field an MLB-caliber rotation. While they could trade for one, there are dozens that could be acquired, and it’s far too hard to know for certain who is available.

However, they should have the money to be able to sign one of the pitchers below to complete their rotation and give them a strong chance to make the playoffs again.

Potential Free Agent Fits: Merrill Kelly, Zach Eflin, Chris Bassitt

It’s widely known that Kelly is eager to finish his career with the Arizona Diamondbacks, although it remains to be seen if he will give them another team-friendly discount as he did once before. There figures to be more than enough interest in the 37-year-old that the D-backs might be forced to pay up.

The Arizona native is one of the best pitchers in the team’s history and loves playing for his hometown club. He even said that he would be more than happy to return despite them trading him.

Meanwhile, Bassitt, who helped lead Toronto to the playoffs, is a proven mid-rotation pitcher that can eat up innings, something Arizona needs. Eflin is a high-upside veteran who is hoping to bounce back from a season marred by injury.

4. Sign a Right-Handed Bat (INF or OF)

The Diamondbacks struggled against left-handed pitching last year. They have many left-handed batters and will be missing crucial right-handed bats such as Locklear and Gurriel to start the year. They need at least one right-handed bat who can preferably play either third or first base and also DH.

They could use two, as they need a right-handed bat in the outfield too, and this could work out well. If they added two, they could shift Blaze Alexander to a super-utility role and have a near-even split of right and left-handed batters in the lineup on any given night. They need at least one though.

Potential Free Agent Fits: Paul Goldschmidt, Kazuma Okamoto, Ty France, Austin Hays, Eugenio Suárez

Two of these would be fan-favorite reunions in Goldschmidt and Suárez. Goldschmidt could work in the lefty-killer role platooning at first base and DH, while being a valuable clubhouse leader. A proven veteran who knows what it takes to make the playoffs would be valuable for Arizona’s dugout. He could finish his career where it started and put the icing on the cake ahead of what will be a future number retirement ceremony at Chase Field.

Meanwhile, Suárez could play either third base or first base and look to continue his home run barrage that he started with Arizona the last two years. He was a perfect fit for Arizona’s lineup and could be again if the dollars match up. Although his defense leaves something to be desired, he’s a power bat that can crush left-handers and serve as clubhouse moral support.

The prize of this group would be Okamoto though. The 30-year-old can play first or third and become a core piece of the puzzle for Arizona. The Diamondbacks have long been trying to break into the Japanese market. This could be the gate that opens the floods.

Plus, Okamoto’s power and contact ability fit within their offensive system. He doesn’t strike out often, walks enough, and makes plenty of contact. Those are the three hallmarks of hitting coach Joe Mather’s philosophy. Okamoto would be the ideal player to sign, so it should be no surprise that Japanese reporters are saying that Arizona has interest in him.

There is one player out there who would make Arizona’s lineup one of the top three or so in the league. That is Pete Alonso, who has raked at Chase Field throughout his career and could take over first base or DH permanently. It would be expensive, but perhaps it’s not out of the world of possibility, as MLB insider Jeff Passan thinks it’s possible and a move the team should consider making.

5. Fix the Bullpen Beyond a Closer

The Diamondbacks need to add a few relievers beyond just a closer to fix their bullpen. They have a couple of major league pieces and some minor league options, but no truly proven arms. While Martinez and Puk will return, there’s no guarantee as to how they’ll play, and there will be months of games before they return.

So, Arizona needs to get a couple of veterans to round out its bullpen. That way, they can have a potentially loaded bullpen come the trade deadline when Martinez and Puk return. This could be accomplished via free agency or trade.

Potential Free Agent Fits: Tyler Rogers, Taylor Rogers, Hoby Milner, Luke Weaver, Danny Coulombe, Brad Keller, Jalen Beeks

Each of these guys is a proven reliever with years of track record, except for Keller, who is more of a high-upside roll of the dice after a breakout year. They all provide various angles of attack and strong off-speed pitches to challenge hitters.

Some of them could be reunions, while others could fit in quite well among the team’s current bullpen options. Keller, especially, would be a fit with his high velocity and should be capable of recording some save opportunities as needed.

As for trades, there are a hundred or so relievers who could be dealt. It’s hard to say exactly who would be available or fit, but they would be cheaper to acquire than a closer, so this could be the route Arizona takes. Or, the D-backs could sign a bunch of cheaper vets closer to spring training to see who is the next Shelby Miller for them, as in 2025.

Wishlist Honorable Mentions

• Sign a utility infielder, à la Ildemaro Vargas
• Sign a right-handed hitting backup outfielder