D-backs More Likely To Acquire Starting Pitching via Free Agency

General Manager Mike Hazen discussed the pitching market in depth at the Winter Meetings

The Diamondbacks have continued to have meetings with potential trade partners, and in some cases second meetings. They're not close to making any trades at the moment however. When asked if he was more likely to fill the starting pitching needs via free agency, Hazen responded in the affirmative. 

 "I would say that's probably the more likely scenario for us. But, we'll see, we're very much engaged in the trade market too, but yes I would think free agency seems more likely at this point."

Getting a pitcher that would be considered over a No. 1 starter such as Zac Gallen is not going to happen, as no such pitcher on the market currently exists according to Hazen. That said. Hazen told us they were engaged all over the free agent market and is not ruling out signing an upper tier pitcher. 

"We're involved in the entirety of the free agents in the starting pitching [area]. I don't know where that's all going to land, there's a lot of competition out there" 

The trade market challenges have arisen due to teams asking for a top tier prospect in exchange for a pitcher that only has one or two years of control.  Think pitchers such as Corbin Burnes, Tyler Glasnow or Dylan Cease.

"It definitely makes it more challenging to make some of those trades. You trade a guy for a year and then you look up and you've traded away a stud player for six years for one year."

At the same time there is a sense of urgency. He is acutely aware that both Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly are free agents after 2025.  The D-backs are in the middle of a contention window and Hazen spoke about the opportunity for the franchise in the immediate future. 

"Next year is incredibly important to us. So is the year after that. I have to factor that in too. It's not about holding players for control purposes. I don't really care about that.  It's about do we think this guy is going to be an elite player."

"So the urgency is that we made it to the world series last year, trying to replicate that season. That's the ultimate urgency.  Having some mind where the nucleus of our team is from a control standpoint, yes that adds [to the sense of urgency]."

On the one hand Hazen won't rule out making a trade for a high impact player utilizing one of his upper tier prospects.  At the same time he seems reluctant to do so, for fear of giving up an impact player who can be with the team for six years.  He did point to the fact that last year they gave up the second best player on the team in Daulton Varsho to acquire Gabriel Moreno. 

"As we've seen in the past, in order to get good players in this league you have to give up good players too. You're not going to take advantage of anybody. So if you want to go get good players, you have to give up good players. Now there's a line that you draw and say no, and we've said no to a ton of trades." 

Thus the free agent market is looking more attractive to Hazen.  Another point Hazen brought up the fact that signing a free agent only costs you money, but doesn't cost you prospects. Then, during the season there is no free agent market, and so the only way to add an impact player to your team later is by trading prospects at the trade deadline. If he is able to hold on to them now and improve the rotation via free agency, then he will have that added flexibility later. 

The elephant in the room, and the question that Hazen is not able to answer directly or publicly at the moment is just how much payroll flexibility he has. It's been reported elsewhere, and on the pages of this website as well, that sources indicate he still has $20 million left to spend in his budget. It doesn't seem like that's enough money to add a significant starting pitcher and address any of the other laundry list of items he has. Those include a right handed bat and a backup catcher. If the number is really that low it would seem to preclude Hazen from signing a pitcher near the upper tier of remaining starters. Yet he insists he is "engaged" in all areas of the market and won't rule out top tier signing.  Time will tell where they end up on this spectrum.