The Arizona Diamondbacks are eyeing a return to October baseball in 2026, and they’re not shying away from the challenge. The NL West is as tough as it gets - the Dodgers remain the class of the division on paper - but Arizona has proven they can hang with the heavyweights.
Just ask Los Angeles, who watched the D-backs end their postseason dreams not too long ago. This team knows it has the tools to contend, and they’re making moves to bolster their chances.
One major hurdle they’ll have to overcome early: Corbin Carroll’s injury. The electric outfielder, who’s become the heartbeat of this team, suffered a broken bone in his right hand.
That rules him out of the upcoming World Baseball Classic with Team USA and potentially sidelines him for Opening Day. It’s a blow - no sugarcoating it - but the D-backs are hoping it’s a short-term setback for their franchise cornerstone.
In the meantime, Arizona is reinforcing its bullpen, bringing back a familiar face in Paul Sewald. The veteran right-hander returns on a one-year, $1.5 million deal, reuniting with a club he helped push deep into the postseason just a couple of years ago.
Sewald’s journey has been anything but linear. After making a name for himself with the Mariners, where he emerged as a late-inning weapon, he joined the Diamondbacks in 2023 and 2024 before heading to Cleveland last offseason.
His 2025 campaign - split between the Guardians and Tigers - didn’t quite mirror his earlier success. In just 19 innings, he posted a 4.58 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP.
Not eye-popping numbers, but he still flashed some of that swing-and-miss stuff, striking out 20 and picking up two saves along the way.
Now, Sewald returns to a bullpen that’s shaping up to be a key strength for Arizona. He’ll slot in alongside arms like Justin Martinez, A.J.
Puk, Kevin Ginkel, and Kade Strowd - a group that brings a mix of power, experience, and upside. If Sewald can recapture even a bit of the form he showed in Seattle or during his first stint in the desert, he could be a valuable piece in high-leverage spots.
The Diamondbacks open their season with a marquee matchup against the Dodgers in Southern California on March 26, airing on NBC/Peacock. It’s a fitting start - a chance to measure themselves early against the division’s top dog. And while Carroll’s status will be a storyline to watch, the return of a battle-tested reliever like Sewald adds depth and familiarity to a team that’s hungry to get back to the postseason stage.
The road to October is never easy, especially in a division like this. But Arizona’s not backing down - they’re gearing up.