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As free agency gets underway, the Arizona Diamondbacks are among the teams still searching for solutions after falling short of a championship. The club must find ways to upgrade its roster while navigating potential financial restrictions.
Below are three pressing questions the Diamondbacks must answer during this free agency period and beyond.
1: How much money are the Diamondbacks actually willing to spend?
The financial aspect of Arizona's offseason is paramount. Comments from owner Ken Kendrick suggest the Diamondbacks will operate with a lower payroll in 2027 than they did this past season, though the exact figure remains unclear.
This is not the first time Arizona has signaled a reduced payroll. Ahead of 2025, the general expectation was that the team would cut costs, but the Diamondbacks instead signed Corbin Burnes to a franchise-record contract and entered the year with a lofty payroll. To Kendrick and company's credit, they have not shied away from making moves even when looking to reduce expenses.
However, if the team genuinely aims to lower total payroll in 2027 by a significant margin, additions will have to come cheap—perhaps via trade rather than free agency. It's simply a matter of how far the team is willing to go to invest in an improved roster.
2: Where will the Diamondbacks add to their lineup?
The most obvious hole in Arizona's lineup is at first base, but general manager Mike Hazen may not specifically target a first baseman. The Diamondbacks' offense struggled at times in 2026, and their .636 first base OPS—produced by a handful of different players—ranked dead last in MLB.
First base options are somewhat thin this offseason. With news that veteran third baseman Nolan Arenado might take some limited reps at first base, it's possible Hazen opts for a more under-the-radar bat—perhaps someone with positional versatility, or a pure designated hitter with a platoon at first.
3: Where will they find affordable rotation depth?
The Diamondbacks will need to restock their bullpen after several players became free agents. More importantly, they are also lacking serious rotation depth.
As it stands, the D-backs have five starting pitchers: Eduardo Rodriguez, Corbin Burnes, Ryne Nelson, Brandon Pfaadt, and Merrill Kelly. Beyond that group, there is little promise from their rookie pool. Kohl Drake, Mitch Bratt, and Jose Cabrera all struggled heavily in their major league action this year.
No team makes it through 162 games with the same five starters. And there's no guarantee pitchers like Burnes, Kelly, and Nelson bounce back—or that Pfaadt and Rodriguez will keep up their success.
With a limited budget, starting pitching is a tough area to add to. Michael Soroka served that purpose in 2026 on his one-year deal worth up to $9.5 million. Arizona got a 3.41 ERA over 116 innings from him for a very reasonable amount of money. But Soroka declined his mutual option and will require a heftier paycheck to return.
Perhaps investing in him is truly the best way to solidify the rotation, but if that can't be managed, the affordable options could be thin.
An Arizona native, Alex D'Agostino is the Publisher and credentialed reporter for Arizona Diamondbacks On SI. He previously served as Deputy Editor for Arizona Diamondbacks and Arizona Cardinals On SI and covered both teams for FanSided. Alex also writes for PHNX Sports.
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