The Arizona Diamondbacks finished 86-76 and still watched October from home. That’s the kind of season that leaves a front office with more questions than answers: enough progress to feel encouraged, not enough to feel comfortable.
The 2026 campaign was the club’s third straight year missing the playoffs, but it did come with a clear step forward. Arizona won six more games than it did in 2025, and that mattered in a division shared with the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers. The gap is still there, though, which is why this offseason looms so large.
One of the biggest decisions centers on Ketel Marte. There’s no debate about his importance to the lineup, and his three-year stretch from 2023 through 2025 backed that up in a big way.
Over 1,780 plate appearances, Marte hit .283/.368/.519 with 89 homers and 77 doubles. He made two All-Star teams, finished third in the 2024 NL MVP race and established himself as one of the best second basemen in baseball.
But 2026 changed the tone. Marte hit .249/.316/.432 with 22 homers and 31 doubles in 624 plate appearances, a clear dip from his usual standard.
His August unraveled, too: he missed a game in Boston, was placed on the Restricted List and later landed on the Injured List. Between the down year, the maturity issues and the fact that he’ll earn his 10-5 rights in April, moving him won’t be simple.
Even so, Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reported that the Diamondbacks will again explore trades for Marte this offseason.
First base is another spot that needs sorting out. Arizona thought it had a long-term answer when it acquired Tyler Locklear from the Mariners before the 2025 trade deadline, but that plan never really took hold.
Locklear struggled in 31 games that year, which pushed the Diamondbacks to bring in Carlos Santana as a short-term fix. Even then, production at the position remained shaky, with only an unexpectedly strong month from Ildemaro Vargas helping the group at all.
Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reported that Nolan Arenado could factor into the mix at first base. Arenado would still be the Diamondbacks’ primary third baseman, but some time at first could help keep him healthy. Locklear also has a chance to earn a longer look after putting up a .278/.357/.444 line with a homer and three doubles in 42 plate appearances in 2026.
Then there’s the pitching staff, which may be the area that needs the most repair. Arizona’s bullpen was a problem all season and may have cost the team a playoff spot.
The club does have a strong late-inning trio in Brandyn Garcia, Justin Martinez and Juan Morillo, but five relievers are set to hit free agency. The rotation isn’t settled either, with Michael Soroka and Zac Gallen also headed for free agency.
There could be even more movement after 2027, since Eduardo Rodriguez and Merrill Kelly could also become free agents if they don’t reach their vesting options. Getting Corbin Burnes back should help a lot, but Arizona still needs younger arms to emerge. Mitch Bratt and Kohl Drake are among the pitchers who have to show they can be real major league options.
In Other News...
Diamondbacks Defense Just Earned Rare Recognition Across The Field
Arizonas defense got a rare kind of spotlight this week, with three Diamondbacks earning National League Rawlings Gold Glove recognition for their work in the field during the 2026 season. Gabriel Moreno, Geraldo Perdomo and Corbin Carroll all drew the honor, giving the club a strong showing across the diamond and underscoring how much value it got from run prevention as much as run production.
Moreno added another Gold Glove to his rsum behind the plate, while Perdomos work at shortstop and Carrolls play in right field were both rewarded for the first time in their careers. Utility man Ildemaro Vargas was also in the mix as a nominee, a reminder that Arizonas defensive depth extended beyond the headline names and gave the team a broader group of players worth watching as awards season rolled on. [Read more 🡒]
Diamondbacks Could Face A Tough Price For Jake Bauers Bat
Jake Bauers turned heads with a breakout season for Milwaukee in 2026, a year that put him firmly on the radar as he heads toward free agency. After a sharp jump in his production from the previous season, he suddenly looks like more than a depth piece, which is why his market is drawing attention from teams that can use another left-handed bat, including the Diamondbacks.
Arizona is in the mix alongside several other clubs, and that alone suggests this could become a costly pursuit if the bidding gets serious. The question now is whether the Diamondbacks are willing to pay for a player whose best season has changed the conversation around his value, because early projections point to a deal that would require real commitment and a crowded market could push the price even higher. [Read more 🡒]
Druw Jones Is Giving Diamondbacks Fans Another Reason To Believe
The latest round of Minor League Gold Glove honors offered another reminder that Druw Jones is still making his mark on the defensive side of the game, even as the Diamondbacks continue to watch his development closely. The 2026 winners were announced this week, and the group included nine players from across the minors, with each honoree coming from a different organization.
Jones was among the names recognized after another standout season in the field, adding to the sense that his glove remains one of the most reliable parts of his profile. For Arizona, it is the kind of development that keeps the long view in focus, especially when a prospect keeps stacking up defensive accolades while the rest of his game continues to take shape. [Read more 🡒]