Could D-backs make big splash by signing Bregman?

It wouldn't be a Hot Stove season without the Arizona Diamondbacks popping up as an unlikely suitor for a free agent.

USA Today's Bob Nightengale broke the news Tuesday that the Diamondbacks were "kicking the tires" on free-agent third baseman Alex Bregman.

That was a surprise, since the Diamondbacks' main focus all offseason seemed to be strengthening both the starting rotation and the bullpen, and they were thought to not have the finances to be in the market for a free agent like Bregman.

But there is a reason that when people write about the Diamondbacks' payroll plans each offseason, they add the caveat that things could change. That's because managing general partner Ken Kendrick has shown plenty of times in the past that he will increase the budget when he feels there is a compelling reason to do so.

Last year, no one had them in the running for free agent right-hander Corbin Burnes, who, like Bregman, is also represented by agent Scott Boras and lives in the Phoenix area.

Burnes wanted to stay at home and pitch for the Diamondbacks. Boras made that clear to Kendrick, who saw an opportunity to land one of the best free-agent pitchers available to a team that had postseason hopes and turned around and gave GM Mike Hazen the green light to push the Opening Day payroll to a club record of around $195 million.

"We're in a very competitive division," Kendrick said when announcing the Burnes signing. "But I think our fans need to understand that we're very committed to being successful. We've had some recent success, and I think we have the potential to be a championship team. And I think everybody in every city -- and this one in particular -- covets that possibility, wishes for that, hopes for that. And I think our job is to try to do everything we can to put the best team on the field possible that we can afford. And we are stretching the budget. We have done that before, and it won't be the last time that we ever do it."

The Diamondbacks went to the World Series in 2023, and during Spring Training in 2024, when left-hander Jordan Montgomery -- who also was represented by Boras -- remained unsigned, Kendrick again authorized Hazen to exceed the budget to sign him.

The Montgomery signing did not pay dividends for the Diamondbacks, and the jury is still out on Burnes, who was pitching well before tearing his right ulnar collateral ligament and undergoing Tommy John surgery that will keep him out roughly until the All-Star break next year.

But the fact remains that Kendrick and team president/CEO Derrick Hall are committed to winning and, whenever possible, will push the budget to the limit and maybe a little beyond.

So far this offseason, the Diamondbacks have signed Michael Soroka to a one-year, $7.5 million contract with bonuses that could raise it to $9.5 million, and they've agreed to terms -- though not confirmed or announced -- with free agent Merrill Kelly on a two-year, $40 million deal to bring him back to Arizona.

That has lessened their need for starting pitching a bit, but Hazen has long maintained that there is no such thing as having too much pitching. You might remember last year: The Diamondbacks thought they had seven starters towards the end of Spring Training in Burnes, Montgomery, Zac Gallen, Kelly, Brandon Pfaadt, Eduardo Rodriguez and Ryne Nelson, only to watch Burnes and Montgomery go down with injuries, Gallen have a rough first half to the season and Rodriguez struggle during that time as well.

Given that history, along with his comments about never having enough pitching, it's doubtful that Hazen is done acquiring starters, and he still hasn't touched the bullpen yet.

The team has been listening to offers for All-Star second baseman Ketel Marte and are said to be looking at getting significant pitching as a return.

Trading Marte for pitching that is under club control and therefore less expensive could open payroll space for the Diamondbacks to sign Bregman. It's hard to say, again, because the maximum payroll figure is not known.

So maybe the Diamondbacks sign Bregman and trade Marte for pitching help. Or maybe they sign Bregman, keep Marte and trade some of their young prospects for pitching help.

Or maybe they keep Marte, don’t sign Bregman and find another way to add pitching.

With a creative front office and an owner who prioritizes winning over a profit, you never know.