Ketel Marte’s new contract extension got here as a little bit of a shock, provided that the star second baseman’s earlier contract already gave the Diamondbacks management via not less than the 2027 season, and sure via 2028 given a membership possibility. Nevertheless, Marte’s newest contract now retains him within the desert via 2031 and places a further $64MM in his checking account, whereas additionally restructuring and spreading out the wage to offer the D’Backs a little bit of shorter-term payroll aid.
Most notably, $5MM of Marte’s $14MM wage for this season is deferred. GM Mike Hazen implied that cash may very well be shortly reinvested again into the staff when it comes to commerce deadline acquisitions.
“This provides us extra room, when it comes to this yr, to see what occurs as we undergo the season,” Hazen advised MLB.com’s Steve Gilbert and different reporters. “We actually made a giant funding at the start of the yr, and this can give us that added flexibility as we transfer via.”
There’s little question Arizona is in all-in mode for the 2025 season, with an estimated $194.7MM payroll that far surpasses the earlier franchise excessive. Contemplating what number of notable gamers (i.e. Zac Gallen, Eugenio Suarez, Josh Naylor, Merrill Kelly, Jordan Montgomery) on excessive salaries are impending free brokers, the D’Backs might be getting some cash off the books subsequent winter, however for now are firmly centered on profitable whereas your entire group is collectively. The Diamondbacks are off to an honest 5-3 begin, although the membership has been overshadowed by the red-hot performances of the opposite NL West contenders, and Marte now seems to be heading to the injured record as a result of a hamstring pressure.
Whereas Marte’s deal was his third long-term pact with the D’Backs, Brandon Pfaadt’s current extension represented his first multi-year contract, because the right-hander is ready to earn $45MM in assured cash over the 2026-30 seasons. Now firmly locked in as a giant a part of the Diamondbacks’ future, Pfaadt nearly didn’t find yourself within the group in any respect, as a result of what Hazen now views as one thing of a “fortunate” flip of occasions.
As Hazen and assistant GM Amiel Sawdaye advised Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic, Pfaadt was one in all three gamers the Snakes had been contemplating with their fifth-round decide within the 2020 draft. That was the yr the draft was shortened to solely 5 rounds as a result of pandemic, making a crunch for each gamers in beginning their professional careers, and for groups in profiting from a drastically decreased draft system. As at all times, golf equipment had been nonetheless seeking to maximize their draft pool budgets, and the D’Backs requested the three gamers on their radar whether or not or not they’d signal for lower than the $360.8K slot worth connected to the 149th general decide.
Two of the gamers balked, however Pfaadt agreed to take a $100K bonus and thus turned a part of Arizona’s group. “I feel there have been 11 picks left after me. It was getting in the direction of the top. We took the chance over any cash quantity,” Pfaadt stated.
The choice has now paid off for Pfaadt in great trend, and now the D’Backs look sensible in hindsight for locating a top quality starter within the fifth spherical. Naturally, Hazen and Sawdaye didn’t identify the opposite two gamers thought-about, although Sawdaye stated that one didn’t make the majors and the opposite did, “however Pfaadt is best.” Sawdaye additionally stated that if the opposite two gamers had additionally agreed to a below-slot worth, the staff might need gone with one of many others over Pfaadt, simply because that they had much less scouting analysis and background work on Pfaadt.
“Generally it really works out in your favor and also you get the precise guys,” Sawdaye stated. “Different instances you look again and also you kick your self. You’re like, ’My god, we handed up on him simply to save cash?’ ”
In some off-the-field information for the Diamondbacks, a invoice supposed to re-direct gross sales taxes at Chase Subject in the direction of ballpark renovations continues to work its manner via the state legislature. Arizona’s Home of Representatives has already okayed the invoice and it’s now beneath evaluation from the state Senate, with the finance committee additionally giving it a inexperienced mild after an modification. Nevertheless, the mayor of Phoenix and Maricopa County officers generally have elevated issues over how a lot taxpayer cash is concerned within the invoice.
The challenge nonetheless has a serious supporter in Arizona governor Katie Hobbs, who stated Wednesday in an interview with KTAR 92.3’s “Outspoken With Bruce and Gaydos” present (hat tip to Alex Weiner for the partial recap) that she would signal the invoice “at this level.” Governor Hobbs acknowledged the tax implications and stated “one factor that we need to be certain occurs within the invoice is that it doesn’t hurt the taxpayers. That’s one of many issues being labored out within the particulars.”
“I feel everybody needs to do what we are able to to maintain the Diamondbacks right here in Arizona, preserve Main League Baseball in Arizona and I feel we’re very near an settlement.”
