Two More Reunions Should Help the Diamondbacks Run it Back

The Arizona Diamondbacks experienced one of the more disappointing seasons across baseball in 2025. After signing the best starting pitcher on the market and trading for one of the best first baseman in the game before the season, expectations were high for a team that had reached the World Series in 2023.

Unfortunately, things derailed quickly. Corbin Burnes threw just 64 innings before going down with Tommy John surgery while Ketel Marte played his fewest amount of games since 2021. On top of the injuries, Zac Gallen — typically a frontline starter — turned in the worst season of his career.

This resulted in Arizona dealing two of their best hitters at the deadline and finishing three games back of a wild-card spot. In most cases, changes are absolutely necessary after such a disappointing campaign. However, with two familiar faces to the Diamondbacks on the open market, a reunion makes a little more sense.

3B Eugenio Suárez

The Diamondback’s former third baseman is undoubtedly the second-best free agent available at the hot corner this winter. Alex Bregman — the best third baseman in the class — is likely going to be out of their price range. While they could always surprise us, like they did with Burnes, Suárez appears to be the much likelier outcome.

Now, of course, Arizona could go with Jordan Lawlar at third base and finally give the prospect the run he deserves. However, even though he’ll be more expensive, Suárez is the much more appealing option if they’re looking to bring a stronger sense of certainty to the position while pushing to contend in 2026.

No part of the Diamondbacks’ disappointing season falls on the shoulders of Suárez. In 107 games with the team leading up to the deadline, he accumulated 3.1 fWAR, drove in 81 runs, and blasted 36 home runs, which was the third best tally in the National League up to that point.

While he may not replicate that level of production in what will be his age-35 season, Suárez has been one of the more underrated power hitters in baseball for the better part of a decade now. With his market being on the cooler end this winter due to age and regression after the deadline, Arizona could look to bring him back on a fairly team-friendly deal.

RHP Zac Gallen

Now, Gallen may be one of the more undervalued arms on the market. Yes, he’s coming off the worst season of his career and his 4.83 ERA in 192 innings could take part of the blame when talking about the biggest reasons Arizona missed the playoffs.

However, leading up to this season, Gallen had been one of the more consistent starters in the National League for a handful of years. Heading into 2025, the righty had thrown 815 innings at a 3.29 clip with just under 900 strikeouts (885) since his debut in 2019.

Gallen has also thrown 767.2 innings since the start of the 2022 season, giving him the third-most in all of baseball during that stretch. While the 2025 numbers might not be pretty, he’s always been extremely available — a rare feat among pitchers in today’s game.

With our Ryan Finkelstein predicting him to sign a a two-year deal with an opt-out after 2026, there’s not a ton of risk in bringing him back. If anything, the odds are in the Diamondbacks’ favor.

He could return to a place he’s extremely familiar with and turn in another Cy Young-worthy season. If he doesn’t, they’d only on the hook for one more season before he’d hit the open market again at age 32.

Burnes is expected to return to action in middle-to-late July from his Tommy John surgery. If Gallen can hold down the top of the rotation until then and the Diamondbacks can stay afloat the National League West, they could be in a nice position heading into the dog days of summer.

Final Thoughts

With rumors of Ketel Marte trades swirling around the media, the Diamondbacks’ best option is keep the band together. If they bring back Suárez and Gallen while keeping Marte, they have the roster that was expected to contend heading into 2025.

Running it back with the same team that finished below .500 is usually not the best direction to go as a front office. However, in this instance, it looks like it could be the safest one for Mike Hazen and Co.

In a market full of uncertainty, bringing back familiar faces on shorter-term, higher annual value contracts makes the most sense. Not to mention, fans always go for a reunion, especially when it’s guys who have been extremely productive for them in the past.

With Spring Training right around the corner, the clock is ticking for Arizona to pick a direction this offseason. Will they reunite with the familiar faces, or will they bring some new energy to the desert?