The Arizona Diamondbacks have already lost key pieces from the 2024 squad and added to a 2025 bunch expected to compete for a postseason spot.
D-backs first baseman Christian Walker reportedly agreed to a three-year, $60 million deal with the Houston Astros on Friday. A day later, the D-backs finalized a trade for Cleveland Guardians first baseman Josh Naylor.
The D-backs could use the left-handed thump Naylor provides with designated hitter Joc Pederson reportedly headed to the Texas Rangers on Monday.
Spring training games are a couple months away, and there is a lot more on the D-backs’ plate this winter, but figuring out first base was a major step after losing Walker.
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“I think we’re pretty deep, I like that. I think we have a lot of flexibility,” general manager Mike Hazen said after the Naylor trade. “I think getting this move done … getting this position settled down and identified for us is going to help us sharpen our focus on the next moves we need to make to make the team better.”
Naylor, who has one year under contract remaining, is a different player than Walker as a left-handed power bat, nearly almost years younger (27) and without the elite defensive profile. He has been an excellent hitter for Cleveland since 2022 (.795 OPS) and is coming off his first All-Star campaign.
Over the past two seasons, he and Walker have a nearly identical OPS+ (which compares hitters accounting for ballpark factors with 100 the league average). Walker is at 122, while Naylor produced a 124 OPS+. Walker’s defense boosted his bWAR to 6.4 since the start of 2023, well ahead of Naylor’s 3.9.
Hazen mentioned the team has had trade offers “all over the place” this offseason, still has an eye on the lineup and wants to add to the bullpen. With more activity coming, let’s keep track of the running list of Diamondbacks moves made and players lost:
Diamondbacks 2025 offseason additions and losses tracker
Additions (previous club)
1B Josh Naylor – Trade (Cleveland Guardians)
RHP Seth Martinez – Waiver claim (Houston Astros)
Subtractions (new club)
1B Christian Walker – Free agent (Houston Astros)
DH Joc Pederson – Free agent (Texas Rangers)
INF Kevin Newman – Free agent (Los Angeles Angels)
RHP Slade Cecconi – Trade (Cleveland Guardians)
Free agents
RHP Paul Sewald
OF Randal Grichuk
1B Josh Bell
RHP Scott McGough
LHP Brandon Hughes
Minor league additions with spring training invitations (previous club)
INF Ildemaro Vargas – (Washington Nationals)
OF Cristian Pache – (Miami Marlins)
RHP Jeff Brigham – (Minnesota Twins)
C Aramis Garcia – (Philadelphia Phillies)
SS Connor Kaiser (Colorado Rockies)
from Arizona Sports https://ift.tt/Q134ukM
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