The D-backs Have Dilemma Filling Right Hand Bat Need

Despite a projected record payroll in 2024, the D-backs still need to add a couple right-handed bats to their lineup.

The Diamondbacks have made known their desire to add a right-handed bat or two since the beginning of the offseason. The departures of free agents Lourdes Gurriel Jr, Tommy Pham, and Evan Longoria leave a big hole in the lineup against left-handed pitching. 

Mike Hazen has said that filling the need for a right-handed bat could be done either with the DH spot or in some type of hybrid between an outfielder that would also DH. This is similar to the way he used Gurriel and Pham.  Hazen was also asked if he would feel comfortable in going with an all left-handed outfield. While he answered in the affirmative, that would seem to be an undesirable outcome. 

Below is a table showing the primary Diamondbacks starters as of today's current roster.  The numbers are covering the last two seasons.  wRC+ is a league and park adjusted offensive metric.  100 = league average, with the amount over or under a percentage of the league average. 

Diamondbacks Starters Last Two Years Splits / Jack Sommers

Looking at this table, one can see immediately what the problem is. There are three hitters, Geraldo Perdomo, Pavin Smith, and Alek Thomas, who've been borderline unplayable against left-hand pitching.  Then you have Jake McCarthy, who despite having respectable overall numbers over the last two years, hit so poorly in 2023 that he was demoted to Triple-A twice.  Going into the season without a right-handed hitting outfielder that is at least somewhat above league average cannot be a part of any viable plan to get back to the post season. 

It's really quite clear that the team needs both a DH and an outfielder that can handle left-handed pitching.  Accordingly the team has been linked to numerous free agents and trade targets as they've scoured the market trying to fill these holes.  J.D. Martinez and Justin Turner are two players that have been rumored to be among the D-backs targets. While either one would be a welcome addition as the full time DH, neither can play the outfield.  There is a lot of competition for their services, and they won't come cheaply, both likely getting over $12-15 million for 2024.  Martinez is likely to be the more expensive of the two

The D-backs were also linked to Randy Arozarena in trade rumors. He would fill the need in right field, but would extract a high cost in both prospects and dollars. Slated to make $9 million in 2024, his salary will escalate in arbitration beyond that to about $14 million in 2025.  Should the D-backs somehow manage to sign one of the aforementioned DH targets, while still trading for Arozarena, that would require the team being able and willing to add $25-30 million more to the 2024 payroll.  As much as the owner insists he's willing to spend, that doesn't seem likely. They're already up to about $128M.

Looking at a list of potential right handed hitting free agent outfielders does not make the situation much clearer. 

Right Hand Hitting Free Agent Outfielders / Jack Sommers

Starting off at the top, Jorge Soler has also been linked to the D-backs in trade rumors. He is listed here among outfielders somewhat generously. While he's played some outfield each of the last couple of season, he's a very poor defender. The majority of his time has been spent at DH. Soler is projected to get $16 million a year on a multi year deal. If the D-backs signed Soler, he'd need to be relegated to DH most of the time and the team would still be without a viable right-handed hitting outfielder.

Teoscar Hernández crushes lefties and holds his own against righties, and is a marginally below average defensive outfielder. He's Also projected to get $15 million per year. If he were signed to play right field, then the D-backs would be without the funds needed to sign or trade for a viable DH. 

The same issues apply to former D-back Lourdes Gurriel Jr. He is looking for a multiyear deal and is projected to earn between $12-14 million per year.  Gurriel also may wish to sign with a team that has Spring Training in Florida, as his family is all in Miami. Therefore attention must turn to one of the lower priced options for outfield that might allow the team to also squeeze in enough room to sign a DH as well. 

Randall Grichuk hits lefties very well, and is at least a league average defender, but he is unplayable against right hand pitching. If he were willing to accept a strict platoon role, only starting against lefties and being pinch hit for against righties, then he could be an option.  The same comments can be applied to Harrison Bader, who is a better defender than Grichuk, but does not have the same power against lefties.  These two players project to make $8-9 million on one-year deals.  Pham is somewhat similar in this profile, although he is only slightly below average against right-handed pitching. The issue with him is he wants to sign with a team that will play him full time, which the D-backs probably wouldn't promise. 

Finally you have Adam Duvall and Hunter Renfroe. Duvall is still capable of playing corner outfield defense, and hits lefties for power. He's had issues keeping his batting average up the last couple of years however and will be 35. Hunter Renfroe is similar to in some regards, but he has moved from team to team and may not be the type of guy they wish to introduce to the clubhouse. 

There could easily be an under the radar trade target that is either pre-arbitration or in the early stages of arbitration that the team could acquire. That would cost prospects, but not much money. Who that might be is impossible to even speculate on with any degree of confidence. Unless ownership is taking payroll well above $150 million, spending dollars on a DH and prospect capital on an inexpensive outfielder may be what the team ultimately needs to do in order to achieve their goals. Stay Tuned.