The Diamondbacks didn’t land the one trade-deadline piece they wanted for the pitching staff, but they did come away with Lars Nootbaar. Even so, the work isn’t finished.
Arizona sits at 63-56 and remains right in the playoff chase, tied with the Phillies for the final two Wild Card spots. The Padres are just one game back, and several other clubs are still hanging around. With 43 games left, the Diamondbacks still have plenty of room to reshape the roster.
One of the biggest boosts is already on the way. Michael Soroka is set to return today against the Rockies, and that should give the rotation a lift.
Before going on the injured list, Soroka put up a 3.07 ERA and 1.08 WHIP with a 79/17 K/BB ratio over his first 82 innings. Then came the 10th IL stint of his career.
Soroka told Sports Illustrated he tried to stay patient through the rehab process.
“Obviously you want to be back immediately,” Soroka said. “But unfortunately, starting pitching, that's kind of the crux of it is that you've got to go build back up too. We've done what we can to get moving and get back and help this team down the road.
“A little bit [frustrating]. I mean, I'm pretty, unfortunately, versed in IL time. I think this is probably going to go down as one of the most minor ones of my career.”
He also praised the team for not pushing him before he was ready.
“They've done a great job keeping that at the front of their mind,” Soroka said. “There are lots of opportunities for teams to just throw guys back out there. They've done a great job making sure that I am ready, so I look to make it worth it.”
Another possible boost is Jordan Lawlar, who could be back later this week, according to Sports Illustrated. Torey Lovullo said the club is being careful with him as he works back from a hamstring issue.
“Yeah, I want to think so,” Lovullo said. “We're getting very close with him, and he's been battling injuries on and off now for a couple of years. If we've got to wait a couple extra days, let's make sure that he's healthy and feels right.
“He's feeling really good. The fact that he's playing back-to-back games day off, and then back-to-back games again tells me a good story.
But let's let him test that [hamstring] out a little bit. I don't know what it looks like beyond tomorrow, but we'll see possibly on the road trip sometime.”
Lawlar has appeared in 12 games this season, hitting one home run with four RBIs while going 4-for-4 in stolen-base attempts.
Lovullo repeated the same message on Lawlar’s progress later in the report.
“We’re getting very close with him, and he’s been battling injuries on-and-off now for a couple of years,” Lovullo said. “If we’ve got to wait a couple extra days, let’s make sure he’s healthy and feels right.
“He’s feeling really good. The fact that he’s playing back-to-back games, off day and back-to-back games again tells me a good story.”
There’s also another arm on the way back into the picture. Martinez, who hasn’t pitched since 2025 after Tommy John surgery, is working through a minor-league rehab assignment and could become a meaningful bullpen option.
Lovullo said Martinez will keep throwing and move his rehab assignment to Triple-A Reno on Tuesday, according to Sports Illustrated.
“He looks great, feels great,” Lovullo said. “He said his outing in Visalia was a little bit more complete the first time.
The fastball command was a little shaky, all to be expected. He's such a great evaluator, so accountable to where he is, that I got excited about his second outing in Visalia.”
Martinez was a proven late-inning piece in 2024, finishing 28 games with eight saves and 91 strikeouts in 72 2/3 innings. If he gets back on track, he could be exactly the kind of bullpen addition Arizona needs as September approaches.
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