As we start off another week, I wanted to take a peek back at last Wednesday’s news conference to introduce right-hander Corbin Burnes. We had extensive coverage of the event, but there are still some leftovers in my notebook as well as some takeaways, so we’ll get started there.
The Diamondbacks aren’t done
While they checked one big expected thing off their list by acquiring first baseman Josh Naylor from the Guardians to replace Christian Walker last month and shocked everyone by shelling out $210 million for Burnes, there are still things to do.
“We still have work to do,” Arizona general manager Mike Hazen said.
Managing general partner Ken Kendrick echoed Hazen’s statement after the press conference, citing the loss of free-agent designated hitters Joc Pederson and Randal Grichuk.
“I mean, you can look at our team and say, well, last year we had a great DH combo, and right now we don't,” Kendrick said. “Well, would you like to figure out how to do that? You would. Can you add a really talented guy to your bullpen? Well, you can always add one, if you can find them. And we may do that.”
A backend bullpen piece and possibly another bat seem to be on the wish list.
How they make it work financially will be interesting
After Kendrick laid out some areas they could add to, it was pointed out to him that then they would likely be adding to an already record payroll of about $194 million.
“I wouldn’t say that I would bet on that one,” Kendrick said.
So would the Diamondbacks end up moving some money -- say, Jordan Montgomery and his $22.5 million deal for 2025 or maybe the three years and $60 million left on Eduardo Rodriguez’s deal? Could they move that money with both players coming off down seasons?
That will certainly bear watching in the coming weeks.
Their financial situation is in good shape
There was some concern when the Diamondbacks lost their television deal with Diamond Sports Group during the 2023 season that it could impact their ability to spend on payroll.
That doesn’t appear to be the case, and they have their unexpected run to the World Series in 2023 in large part to thank for that because that furthered their ticket sales.
Kendrick also talked about some of the other influences that have helped over the last couple of years, including selling a patch on their uniforms to Avnet and the fact that they now get revenue from concerts that are held at Chase Field, which they didn’t in the past.
There’s also the opening of a sportsbook at the ballpark that has added to the bottom line.
“It’s not uber-lucrative, but it’s brand-new money,” said Kendrick. “So when you add A, B and C together and then you subtract D, meaning the regional [TV revenue], you come out ahead. Every dollar that comes in, we’re going to reinvest it in ballplayers and not in the ownership, and we will always do that. The good fortune for us is the team in the last couple of years has performed well. Our fans have come out and supported us. Our revenues have increased. We’re anticipating them continuing to increase.”
A June flight paved the way for Burnes
Last June, Burnes boarded a private jet from Baltimore following a night game to fly home to Phoenix to be present for the birth of his twins.
But as we all know, air travel isn’t always smooth and Burnes wound up being forced to land in Colorado Springs due to a mechanical issue.
Scott Boras, Burnes’ agent, scrambled to get him on an early-morning flight out of Denver that allowed him to witness the births.
And it was another reminder of how much he wanted to pitch in Arizona.