Missing the playoffs by a whisker, the Diamondbacks closed at 86‑76. Can they bounce back in 2027? The offseason will focus on upgrades, with manager Torey Lovullo locked in for at least two more years and GM Mike Hazen outlining the plan.
Our add‑list will lean left‑handed, Hazen said. We struggled versus right‑handed arms all year, so that’s a clear target. He also flagged first base and DH as spots that need a serious lift after a dismal 2026 showing.
While Arizona ranked third against southpaws (114 wRC+), it was fourth‑worst versus right‑handers at 92 wRC+. Ten players logged 150+ PA against righties, but only Gabriel Moreno, Geraldo Perdomo and Nolan Arenado posted above‑average wRC+. Corbin Carroll (95) lagged slightly, and the remaining six were subpar.
Arizona often turned to switch‑hitter Ildemaro Vargas at the cold corner, where he logged a career‑high 486⅓ innings and posted +7 DRS and +2 OAA. His right‑handed splits were solid (.321/.347/.500), but as a lefty versus right‑handers he slumped to .216/.271/.309 (59 wRC+). He hit the six‑year service mark and is now a free agent.
The DH role rotated heavily. Adrian Del Castillo, regular second baseman Ketel Marte and Moreno each surpassed 100 PA there. Marte and Moreno were modestly above average, though Moreno’s 107 wRC+ as DH fell short of his 141 overall. Del Castillo posted his worst three‑year line (.193/.246/.309) in 197 PA. Marte’s decline raises questions, yet his 10‑and‑5 no‑trade clause likely keeps him in Arizona.
In my view, the club should prioritize a power‑hitting first baseman, as Vargas is unlikely to return full‑time and Tim Tawa’s 51 games produced well‑below‑average offense. Moreno could get occasional DH days, but a near‑full‑time solution is needed.
Finding left‑handed batters in free agency will be tough. Owner Ken Kendrick has pledged payroll cuts for 2027. Zac Gallen and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. will depart, while a higher‑priced reunion with Michael Soroka is on the table, forcing smart moves elsewhere.
MLBTR’s Leo Morgenstern and Steve Adams previewed the first‑base and DH markets. Jake Bauers, Josh Bell and Nathaniel Lowe emerge as viable lefty or switch options at first. Bauers offers the bigger upgrade and could be signed to a one‑year or multi‑year deal with opt‑outs. At DH, Bell and Joc Pederson stand out, though most remaining candidates bat right‑handed.