In 2023, the Diamondbacks won 84 games and went on a magical run to the World Series. Since then, the team -- with relatively the same core group of players -- has recorded win totals of 89, 80 and 86.
That has been good enough for the Diamondbacks to be in contention for a postseason slot down to the final weekend of the season. But it hasn't been good enough to get them in, which is why Arizona could look to shake things up this offseason.
"I just think at the stage where we're at, given that we've fallen short of the playoffs the last three years [with] the group that went to the World Series with," Arizona general manager Mike Hazen said, "I just think I need to be open to making adjustments to what the roster looks like."
That process of exploring those possibilities began in earnest this week at the GM Meetings in Las Vegas, where the Diamondbacks generated buzz for the second offseason in a row because of one their players: Ketel Marte.
Last offseason, the Diamondbacks listened to offers for Marte into January before deciding that none was to their liking, so they elected to keep him on the roster. At the time, it seemed that would end any further trade talks involving the veteran second baseman as he was set to earn 10-and-5 rights in April -- meaning he would need to approve any future deal.
Then came last August, when Marte didn't show up for a game against the Red Sox at Fenway Park. That led to a brief stint on the restricted list and then the injured list.
When Marte returned from the IL, he apologized to his teammates. Everyone agreed to move on as Arizona was in the middle of the National League Wild Card race.
Now, though, it seems the team will look again at the possibility of moving Marte. But it will be a more complicated process, and not just because of his 10-and-5 rights.
Given that the unexcused absence was not the first for Marte, the Diamondbacks will likely have to lower their asking price from last season. Then there is the complication of Marte having to approve any transaction, which could further shrink the market.
With a payroll just north of $200 million last season, the Diamondbacks have publicly stated that the figure is likely to go down in 2027. The team has about $170 million already committed for next year.
Marte's contract is very reasonable for a player of his stature. He is owed $87.5 million over the next five seasons, including $12 million next year, with an additional $3 million deferred.
Figuring out "where that's going to settle" with regards to a possible Marte trade, Hazen said, will inform a large part of the rest of the team's offseason. So it will try to figure that out first.
It's possible that a Marte trade would help the Diamondbacks fill other needs.
Restocking the middle of their bullpen -- with Kevin Ginkel, Jonathan Loáisiga and Ryan Thompson departing via free agency -- is one of the things on the list. The Diamondbacks also want to get better against right-handed pitching, which could mean adding a left-handed-hitting corner infielder. And though Arizona has five veteran starters in its rotation, adding to the starting pitching depth is also a desire.
"I think we're going to need to upgrade the pitching; we're always going to need to upgrade pitching," Hazen said. "I think everybody does.
"We lost the middle part of our bullpen. The back end of our bullpen is good, but the middle part of our bullpen needs help. And we weren't very good against right-handed pitching this year, so we need to continue to focus on whether the outcome is in the form of a left-handed hitter or just improvement against right-handed pitching. That was something that really cost us as we went through the year."