Diamondbacks owner Ken Kendrick has plenty to think about, and not much of it looks good.
The franchise that once carried a feel-good sheen has drifted into a mess of questions, especially after a stretch in August that saw pitchers cycle in and out through “Designated for Assignment,” which is code for “don’t let the door hit you on the way out.” Injuries have hit both the big league club and the farm system, leaving Max Kepler - a player who isn’t even postseason eligible - as the best option available.
There’s also the issue of Druw Jones, the 2022 first-round selection and second pick overall, who is now in AA Amarillo. He’s hitting .263 with 5 home runs and 28 steals. The argument here is simple enough: if Jones had become something by now, the club might not be reaching for desperate answers.
First base has been its own source of frustration. Tim Tawa has emerged as the best first baseman of the season after the team cycled through more names that produced little or nothing. The piece of this that stands out is not just Tawa’s steadiness, but how long the search dragged on before the organization settled there.
The offseason pitching additions have not delivered much beyond consuming payroll, and that has left the team stuck in the same conversation again: can this group really keep fighting just to become the team in the Wild Card?
That’s why the bigger issue may be what Kendrick does next. The belief is that he is going to fire someone; the only real question is who. Owners do not watch a Ketel Marte story unfold without asking whether the right people are in place to handle difficult situations.
Right now, the organization is being described as stale and moldy, like a loaf of bread left out in the summer heat. And for 2026, the question is whether Kendrick chooses a fresh voice in the dugout and GM chair once the lockout is over.
A stadium renovation and a new name for the ballpark could also be part of a broader reset. What would not work, according to the source of this frustration, is pretending that status quo or “run it back” should be the message when the Hometown 9 takes the field.
The comparison being drawn is telling: the Houston Astros fired GM Dana Brown earlier this week while in the middle of a first-place battle in the American League West. So the final question in Arizona is a sharp one - how long of a fuse does Mr.
Kendrick have here in Arizona? …
In Other News...
Merrill Kelly Just Put A Frustrating D-Backs Loss In A New Light
Merrill Kellys postgame comments added a fresh layer to an already frustrating night for the Diamondbacks, one that ended with him allowing three earned runs and five hits. After the game, Kelly pointed to Cubs third-base coach Quintin Berry and accused him of relaying signs, drawing a sharp distinction between players trying to pick up information and a coach getting involved.
For Arizona, the issue goes beyond one unpleasant loss. Kelly said sign stealing is part of baseball, but he made clear he does not view a coachs role the same way, which is the kind of complaint that tends to linger well after the final out. It left the Diamondbacks with another layer of irritation to sort through, even as the larger concern remains how to move past a game that felt costly on the field and messier afterward. [Read more 🡒]
Starling Martes Return Carries Big Stakes For Arizonas Playoff Push
Starling Marte is edging closer to rejoining the lineup, and the timing could matter plenty for a Diamondbacks club trying to keep its postseason push on track. Manager Torey Lovullo said Marte is on schedule to come off the 10-day injured list early next week, with a possible return as soon as the series opener against the Phillies after being sidelined by left knee inflammation.
Marte has already been cleared to take batting practice, but Arizona is still proceeding carefully rather than rushing him back. Lovullo made clear the plan is to make sure Marte is healthy and ready to play before putting him back in the mix, a sensible approach with the stretch run tightening and every healthy bat carrying extra weight. [Read more 🡒]
Ketel Marte Nears Return As Diamondbacks Face A Bigger Question
Ketel Marte is expected to come off the 10-day injured list early next week, a welcome sign for a Diamondbacks club that has been waiting to get one of its most important hitters back in the mix. Marte landed on the shelf last Thursday because of inflammation in his left knee, and since then he has been rehabbing at Arizonas spring training complex while the team has tried to keep moving without him.
Torey Lovullo confirmed the update and also touched on Martes recent stretch away from the club, which included time on the restricted list for personal reasons before the knee issue added another layer to the absence. For Arizona, the timing matters because Martes return should help stabilize the lineup, even as the larger question remains how quickly he can get back to being the player the Diamondbacks have leaned on so heavily. [Read more 🡒]