Arizona Diamondbacks Fill Offense With Grichuk, Turn To Pitching

The Arizona Diamondbacks put another piece of the band back together Tuesday.

Outfielder/designated hitter Randal Grichuk and the team agreed to a one-year, $5 million contract with a mutual option for 2026, returning as the right-handed hitting side of their 33-homer DH platoon a year ago and filling out the offensive side of the roster.

“This was a natural fit for our team,” Arizona general manage Mike Hazen told reporters Tuesday. “He was a major piece to what we did last year offensively. I think it continues to build out the depth of the roster for us.”

Grichuk hit .291 with 12 homers and an .875 OPS in 279 plate appearances in his first season with Arizona last season, when his playing time was split about evenly between DH and the corner outfield spots.

He was particularly productive against left-handers, with six homers and a slash line .319/.386/.528 in 163 plate appearances.

Grichuk, represented by Excel Sports, has a $5 million option with a $3 million buyout for 2026. He also will receive $250,000 for each of 200 and 275 plate appearances, and has a $250,000 trade bonus.

He is expected to be used about the same way this season, although a potential DH partner has not been determined. The D-Backs lost Joc Pederson to Texas via free agency in the offseason.

Position Group in Place

With Grichuk, the the D-backs have returned every position player starter from their 89-73 team except Pederson and first baseman Christian Walker, who signed a three-year, $60 million free agent contract with the Houston Astros.

“The position player group is probably put together, barring trades happening,” Hazen said. “I kind of like the balance we have right now rounding out the right-handed side was important for us.”

Other work remains as spring training nears.

D-Backs Look To Address Mound Logjam

The D-Backs have an excess of starting pitching even after trading right-hander Slade Cecconi to the Cleveland Guardians for Josh Naylor, and managing general partner Ken Kendrick said something could be done there.

“We still have some work to do on the pitching, but we’ll see,” Hazen said. “It’s getting late but … I still think there’s enough in the market right now with teams, with unfinished business, and having to do stuff that they could present some opportunities for us.”

Newcomer Corbin Burnes and Zac Gallen will head a rotation that will include some combination of Merrill Kelly, Eduardo Rodriguez, Jordan Montgomery and Brandon Pfaadt. All have had levels of success.

Montgomery accepted a $21.5 million option for this season after a sub-par 2024, and moving away from that salary would help the bottom line. A potential trading partner has not been found.

“We probably have too many starting pitchers,” Kendrick said at Burnes’ introductory press conference two weeks ago.

“We may do something about that. You could argue that we have eight starting pitchers, but nobody can really effectively manage eight starting pitchers. Maybe the Dodgers, because they have about half their guys hurt all the time. And I don’t mean that as a criticism. It’s just the way it’s been.

“We can’t afford to do that over time. You can’t get the guys enough work when you have too many. It’s not a healthy situation for the pitchers. So we have some moves to make. This is not like where we were the last day of spring training a year ago.”

The D-Backs signed free agent Montgomery two a two-year contract the second day of the 2024 season after Rodriguez was diagnosed with a left shoulder strain late in the spring.

Adding to the bullpen is always a consideration, Kendrick said. Right-hander Justin Martinez ended the season as the D-Backs’ closer.

“Can you add a really talented guy to your bullpen?” Kendrick said. “Well, you can always add one if you can find them. We may do that. We’re in a pretty good spot, I think. But so is our competition.”

The D-Backs had discussions with Kirby Yates’ representatives before Yates signed a one-year, $13 million free agent contract with the Dodgers last week.

Grichuk and Other DH Options

Grichuk for his part, returns to an offense that led the majors leagues with 886 runs last season, when it missed the postseason by losing a tiebreakers to the Atlanta Braves and New York Mets.

The D-Backs have other DH options on the left side. Naylor will be the regular first baseman, but he could serve as DH on the days that D-Backs’ manager Torey Lovullo wants to keep his left-handed bat in the lineup.

Switch-hitting Ketel Marte also could be used there to get a day off his feet. First baseman/outfielder Pavin Smith is a candidate, as is backup cacher Adrian Del Castillo. Both are left-handed hitters, and both had positive splits against righties.

Grichuk has been increasingly effective against lefties in the last two seasons while extending his 12-year career. He had a .995 OPS against lefties with the Colorado Rockies and Los Angeles Angels in 2023.