Tuesday, February 11

Welcome to the D-backs Beat newsletter! I’m Steve Gilbert, and I’ve been writing about the D-backs since 1998. Let's get right to it …

The Diamondbacks' position-player group heading into Spring Training seems to be set after the team re-signed free-agent outfielder Randal Grichuk on Tuesday to a one-year contract with a mutual option for 2026.

Grichuk will earn a base salary of $2 million in 2025 with a mutual option for $5 million for 2026. There is a $3 million buyout, and Grichuk can earn an additional $500,000 in incentives in 2025.

That leaves just one thing on the to-do list that Arizona GM Mike Hazen put together following last year’s 89-73 finish, and that’s another arm for the back end of the bullpen.

“We’ll still stay focused on the pitching,” Hazen said. “We still have some work to do on the pitching. But we’ll see, it’s getting late. We’ve done deals [at this late date] in past years; hopefully there’s opportunities. I still think there’s enough in the market right now with teams with unfinished business and having to do stuff that it could present some opportunities for us.”

How much more payroll flexibility the team has remains to be seen. After finishing last year with a club-record payroll of around $173 million, the Diamondbacks' current payroll stands at around $199 million.

While a number of top free-agent relievers have signed already, there still are some available via trade. Whether the Diamondbacks match up well with teams who might be willing to part with a reliever is the question.

In addition to some Minor League depth, the D-backs at one time this offseason got a lot of inquiries about center fielders Jake McCarthy and Alek Thomas. No team, as of yet, has come up with enough of a return for Hazen to part with one of them.

“I think the offense as a position-player group is probably put together barring trades happening,” Hazen said. “Things become available or there might be ways to shift it around, but I kind of like the balance we have now. Rounding out the right-handed side was important for us.”

Grichuk was the right-handed-hitting part of Arizona’s designated-hitter position last year, teaming with Joc Pederson to form a potent duo. Grichuk slashed .291/.348/.528 with 12 home runs in 279 plate appearances last season while producing 2.2 bWAR, his highest mark since 2018, when he was with the Blue Jays.

Pederson signed a free-agent deal with the Rangers, and Pavin Smith seems to be the player who will get the first looks at DH against right-handers. Grichuk will face lefties again as DH and could also get some at-bats in the outfield.

“I think there’s probably a healthy amount of DHing vs. lefties," Hazen said. "He can certainly spell [Lourdes Gurriel Jr.] vs. lefties and go in the outfield if Gurriel has a day at DH or two. We’ll probably mix and match that around and certainly we know how much of a weapon he was as a pinch-hitter, so there’s going to be plenty of opportunity for that, too.”

The Diamondbacks signed veteran utilityman Garrett Hampson to a Minor League contract with an invite to Spring Training last week, and he will compete for what appears to be the one bench spot open on the roster.

Hampson, 30, has spent parts of seven seasons in the big leagues and to say he is versatile is an understatement, as he has played every position except for catcher, even making one pitching appearance for the Royals last season.

“Somebody who can be versatile would be very important,” Hazen said of the final bench spot. We are going to need someone who can move around the infield; if they can go to the outfield, that’s a bonus, kind of a two for one. I think it’s more that we’re going to need someone who can move around the infield, second, third, short and then the outfield at this point.”

In addition to Hampson, Grae Kessinger, who was also signed to a Minor League deal, and Blaze Alexander are also among the top candidates for a utility-type role.

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