With Grichuk back, D-backs focus on relief help

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The Diamondbacks' position-player group heading into Spring Training seems to be set after the team re-signed free-agent outfielder Randal Grichuk on Tuesday to a one-year contract with a mutual option for 2026.

Grichuk will earn a base salary of $2 million in 2025 with a mutual option for $5 million for 2026. There is a $3 million buyout, and Grichuk can earn an additional $500,000 in incentives in 2025.

That leaves just one thing on the to-do list that Arizona GM Mike Hazen put together following last year¡¯s 89-73 finish, and that¡¯s another arm for the back end of the bullpen.

¡°We¡¯ll still stay focused on the pitching,¡± Hazen said. ¡°We still have some work to do on the pitching. But we¡¯ll see, it¡¯s getting late. We¡¯ve done deals [at this late date] in past years; hopefully there¡¯s opportunities. I still think there¡¯s enough in the market right now with teams with unfinished business and having to do stuff that it could present some opportunities for us.¡±

How much more payroll flexibility the team has remains to be seen. After finishing last year with a club-record payroll of around $173 million, the Diamondbacks' current payroll stands at around $199 million.

While a number of top free-agent relievers have signed already, there still are some available via trade. Whether the Diamondbacks match up well with teams who might be willing to part with a reliever is the question.

In addition to some Minor League depth, the D-backs at one time this offseason got a lot of inquiries about center fielders Jake McCarthy and Alek Thomas. No team, as of yet, has come up with enough of a return for Hazen to part with one of them.

¡°I think the offense as a position-player group is probably put together barring trades happening,¡± Hazen said. ¡°Things become available or there might be ways to shift it around, but I kind of like the balance we have now. Rounding out the right-handed side was important for us.¡±

Grichuk was the right-handed-hitting part of Arizona¡¯s designated-hitter position last year, teaming with Joc Pederson to form a potent duo. Grichuk slashed .291/.348/.528 with 12 home runs in 279 plate appearances last season while producing 2.2 bWAR, his highest mark since 2018, when he was with the Blue Jays.

Pederson signed a free-agent deal with the Rangers, and Pavin Smith seems to be the player who will get the first looks at DH against right-handers. Grichuk will face lefties again as DH and could also get some at-bats in the outfield.

¡°I think there¡¯s probably a healthy amount of DHing vs. lefties," Hazen said. "He can certainly spell [Lourdes Gurriel Jr.] vs. lefties and go in the outfield if Gurriel has a day at DH or two. We¡¯ll probably mix and match that around and certainly we know how much of a weapon he was as a pinch-hitter, so there¡¯s going to be plenty of opportunity for that, too.¡±