Kendrick: D-backs’ salary may drop, and the club still intends to compete in 2026
D-backs sold on the 2025 trade deadline, most notably shipping Josh Naylor and Eugenio Suarez Go to Seattle by trading individually and trading Merrill Lynch Kelly To the ranger. Despite effectively waving the white flag for 25 seasons, Arizona gathered in the last two months and won the playoffs until the final weekend of the season. Owner Ken Kendrick chatted with John Gambadoro and Dave Burns of Arizona Sports, 98.7 FM about the hot effects of his team, decided to keep manager Torey Lovullo for his tenth season, and his prospects for the club next year (YouTube links to the full 16-minute interview). Most notably, Kendrick admits that payrolls may drop, but that doesn’t mean that the Rattlers are entering rebuilding or moving out of singles mode.
When asked about the payroll, Kendrick said, “We won’t spend at the same level.” “…We’re not only paying 26 people on the active roster. We have a 40-man lineup. The money we’re spending on a 40-man lineup this year is 220mm…. Will we spend $220 next year? Am I not? I think we’ll have a big salary.
The 2025 season was driven by last year’s surprise signing Corbin Burnespushing the Rattlesnake to the salary of the charter. The 2023 playoff playoffs will likely give the team some additional spending capital, which is not the case this year, but Kendrick has repeatedly thanked the fans for their commitment to the team and their performance. He noted that the 2.4 million tickets sold this year were the highest since 2008, giving the club a more competitive ability in the subsequent seasons rather than checking out after the deadline.
“Although we don’t have the playoff money, we’re getting a considerable income from the fans who are playing games,” Kendrick continued. “What I say, I’ll continue to say, the money we get from the income we get, we’re going to reinvest in the team. We’re in a good position. Financially, financially, through the next season, that number is the same. It probably won’t. It probably won’t? I think that will allow us to get a very competitive person and I’m not going to be a very competitive person who we are, and my competitiveness is our year now.”
Returning to the playoffs, the snake will have no shortage of jobs with established goals. Burnes will miss most or all of the 2026 season due to Tommy John’s surgery. Relief aj puk and Justin Martinez On a similar boat. Zach Gallen It’s a free agent. Kelly made a mid-season deal and would be a free agent anyway. The pitchers will need significant help to reassemble the playoff-level roster.
Currently, the only starter who can be safely listed as a employee next year is Eduardo Rodriguez,,,,, Brandon Pfaadt and Ryne Nelson. Rodriguez and PFAADT both released ERAs in the 5.00 North era when they both made trouble with home runs throughout the year, although experienced Rodriguez ended with a considerable 4.09 ERA at least after the trade deadline. Nelson was outstanding all year round, earning a 3.39 ERA at the MLB level with a 3.39 ERA in the 2025 competition.
General Manager Mike Hazen cited rotations, bullpens and solidified the defense around the diamonds, a top priority this offseason (via 98.7’s Alex Weiner link). According to Hazen, pitching help needs priority, but D-BACKS obviously plans to focus on running prevention.
Can reunion with Galen be part of it? It’s possible. The long-term Arizona Ace struggled with tough situations throughout the first four months of the season, but he finished the game brilliantly, throwing 65 innings at 3.32 ERA after the deadline (although the strikeouts were less than we used to seeing from him). Gallen is open to his love for the organization and his roots in Arizona. When asked about the future of right-handers, Kendrick praised Gallen, adding that he would not say it was a “a real-life area” and that the parties could reach a deal to bring Gallen back next year.
Whether it’s a reunion with Gallen, a party with Kelly, or bringing new rotations through free agency or trade, the D-backs will have to add at least one starter in the offseason, which could be two. Many of the organization’s highest pitching prospects will either take a step back or be injured in 2025. In addition to the help of major league employees, it also needs to be strengthened. The bullpen is also a difficult problem, if not a bigger dilemma. It wasn’t easy for Hazen and his staff.
While discussing the decision to keep Lovullo, Kendrick pointed to the injury he was navigating — six D-backs pitchers underwent surgery this year — adding that Lovullo decided to trade Lovullo during the deadline. He noted that the decision came from himself, President and CEO Derrick Hall and General Manager Mike Hazen. But, it Once was Lovullo maintained the team spirit and coached the club.
“I don’t think one of our fans would think we might be on the verge of the playoffs on August 1,” Kendrick said.[Lovullo] It does manage all these games. ”
Even with spending cuts, the snake may have room to manipulate during the offseason. RosterResource puts its 2025 payroll at $188mm and performs a $212mm competition balance tax calculation. Both are below Kendrick’s 220mm figure, although the Rattlesnake has removed a bunch of money from the book by the deadline, so those numbers will be higher before the trade.
Entering 2026, RR lists salary for only 107mm and CBT quantity is $142mm. These figures do not include players whose clubs are eligible for arbitration, but there should be some dry fans there, depending on how much salary will be reduced.
