The Arizona Diamondbacks gave fans a season to remember in 2023. They clawed their way into the playoffs as a Wild Card team and rode that underdog momentum all the way to the World Series. While they ultimately fell to the Texas Rangers, the run reignited belief in the franchise and set the bar higher heading into 2026.
But since that magical October, the road back to contention hasn’t been smooth. The Diamondbacks have missed the postseason in back-to-back years, and now, with spring training on the horizon, the front office is trying to thread a tricky needle-keeping the core competitive while reshuffling key pieces.
An Active Winter in the Desert
Arizona didn’t sit idle this offseason. The front office made several notable moves, headlined by a blockbuster trade with the St.
Louis Cardinals for eight-time Gold Glove third baseman Nolan Arenado. That’s the kind of splash that signals win-now intent.
With Arenado anchoring the hot corner, the swirling trade rumors around Ketel Marte have cooled significantly. For now, it looks like the Diamondbacks are committed to keeping Marte in the fold.
The team also brought back a familiar face in Merrill Kelly, re-signing him to a two-year deal after trading him to the Rangers last season. That move adds a steady veteran presence to the rotation, but it came alongside the departure of outfielder Jake McCarthy, who had shown flashes of potential.
Arizona also added catcher James McCann and right-hander Michael Soroka on one-year deals. McCann gives them another experienced backstop, while Soroka-if healthy-could be a low-risk, high-upside addition to the rotation. But that “if” looms large.
The Zac Gallen-Sized Hole
The biggest question mark remains at the top of the rotation. Zac Gallen, the ace of that 2023 World Series run, is still a free agent.
That’s a massive void-both in terms of production and leadership. Gallen was the heartbeat of the pitching staff, and without him, there’s no clear-cut No. 1 to carry the load every fifth day.
Sure, Soroka has talent, and Kelly is reliable, but neither offers the dominance or consistency that Gallen brought. If the Diamondbacks can’t bring him back-or find a comparable replacement-they’re going to be leaning heavily on a rotation that lacks a true stopper.
The Bigger Picture in the NL West
All of this comes in the context of a loaded NL West, where the Los Angeles Dodgers continue to operate in a different financial stratosphere. That’s part of what has some around the league scratching their heads. The Diamondbacks have made moves, no doubt-but are they enough?
They’ve added a future Hall of Famer in Arenado and retained key contributors like Marte and Kelly. But they’ve also lost depth and still haven’t addressed the top of the rotation. In a division where the margin for error is razor-thin, those gaps could be the difference between playing deep into October or watching from home.
What Comes Next
There’s still time before Opening Day, and the Diamondbacks aren’t done yet. But the direction they’re heading in feels like a balancing act-trying to stay competitive without fully committing to a big-spending arms race. It’s a gamble, and one that hinges on internal development, bounce-back performances, and perhaps a few more moves before the season begins.
For a fanbase still riding the high of 2023, the hope is that the front office has found the right formula. Because if the pitching doesn’t hold up, even Arenado’s glove and Marte’s bat might not be enough to push this team back into the postseason spotlight.