Hazen Confirms D-backs Search for Right-Handed Outfield Bat

Last week a report from MLB Insider Mark Feinsand came out that the Diamondbacks were in the market to adding a right-handed hitting outfielder to their lineup. General manager Mike Hazen confirmed the report, but had nothing additional to report about that.

"There's still players in the market. Ken [Kendrick] has told me to continue to improve the team any way that we can within the bounds that we have, so we're still out there actively trying to do that."

Arizona is already projected to have a payroll north of $140 million for  2024, shattering the previous record of $132 million from the 2018 season. Including potential buyouts, the D-backs have already added $49.8 million to their payroll this offseason hoping to ride the wave of a successful 2023 season. 

The D-backs are slated to play Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Corbin Carroll everyday in the outfield, while Alek Thomas will get the bulk of the playing time in center field vs. right-handers. With Carroll and Thomas both left-handed swingers, the ideal fourth outfielder for the team would be a right-handed bat. The domino effect is Jake McCarthy, another left-handed hitting outfielder, would be bumped off the roster and likely optioned to Triple-A Reno.

The three free agent players named in Feinsand's report were Randal Grichuk, Tommy Pham, and Adam Duvall. Arizona Sports radio host John Gambadoro reported that Pham is holding out for a potential everyday role, which further complicates the market. That may also be true for both Grichuk and Duvall as well. 

Full squad workouts are set to begin Monday, February 19th, so there could be movement on that front over the next 72 hours. Watch this space for more updates.