So, if everything is true that I have heard, read and seen the Diamondbacks are wanting to keep this season’s payroll about the same as their payroll from last season. So far, the inactivity of Arizona is the most telling. By this time last year, the Dbacks had already traded for Eugenio Suarez and signed free agent pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez, with the city being a buzz feeding off the momentum of a World Series appearance. This year, the team fell apart toward the end of the season where you kept thinking they were going to go on an extended winning streak and make the play-offs again, but it just was not in the cards.

So, let’s switch from cards to dominos. Yes, a few of baseballs dominos have fallen over the course of the last couple weeks. But the Dominos specific to the Diamondbacks have yet to fall. Let me see if I can give them a little nudge.

As mentioned above, if Arizona wants to keep the payroll for this season about the same as it was in the 2024 season, then according to RosterResource they have roughly $24M or so to play with. But, they could almost double that with one move. This is why I think it is the first Diamondback Domino that has to fall.

Last year Jordan Montgomery signed a 2 year 47.5M contract with the Diamondbacks just a few days before the regular season. Jordan was paid $23.75M last season and will be paid $22.5M this season. If they could somehow off load some of Montgomery’s salary, suddenly they could have $30–40M to play with. But, how do they do that?

Well, I believe they need to find the right team. They honestly need to find a team that was just like them last year. A team that made the play-offs, a young hungry team that feels by adding one more experienced pitcher that they too can make it to the next level. I think I have a team, and a trade that makes sense.

Now, the Diamondbacks don’t want to pay a significant chunk of the Montgomery contract. That would be foolish. If they were going to do that, they may as well just hang onto him and roll the dice. For example the Cincinnati Reds just paid Nick Martinez the qualifying offer, that sum was $21.05M. Nick is 34, Jordan is 31. Martinez has a career WAR of 8.7 while Montgomery’s is 11.2, ERA is 4.09 to 4.03 in favor of Jordan as are the K’s 544 to 788. Honestly, this is why I am hesitant to trade Montgomery. He had a bad year last year, blame it on his late signing, his fighting with his agent, or whatever. But you are selling low. If I don’t find a good trade that makes sense, I would hold my breath and hold onto him until the trade deadline.

But, I do think I have the right team. That team is the Detroit Tigers. The Tiger’s 2025 payroll is only $95M and furthermore, they only have 3 players on their current 25 man roster who make over $10M. With that being said the Tigers could absorb the salary, but they need a little something to sweeten the pot. The Diamondbacks have 3 catchers on their 40 man roster and 3 more catchers at #28, 29 and 30 of their top 30 prospects. Catchers are hard to come by, I would give Detroit their pick of either AA Catcher Christian Cerda, A Catcher Alberto Barriga, or Rookie Level Catcher Ivan Luciano. But the Diamondbacks need an affordable young piece back, especially if the player has Arizona ties and the Tigers have seemingly soured on him.

In return Arizona gets former Sun Devil and 1st baseman Spencer Torkelson. Much like Montgomery, Spencer had a bad year last year. But, in 2023 he had 34 doubles, 31 home runs and 94 RBI’s. He is currently 25 years old, is not arbitration eligible until 2026 and won’t be a free agent until 2029. You could take pressure off him by making him the right-handed compliment to the left-handed Pavin Smith at 1st base. And we all know how much Torey Lovullo loves platoon splits. Not to mention between the two of them they might have $4M invested at 1st base. They might even have to pay a few million of the contract still, but if it is me, I am not paying more than $5M of the $22.5M.

Alright, there it is the first Diamondback domino to fall. There are a few other dominos that will fall as well, which means there will be a few other articles. But comment below and give me your feedback on your opinion of this article.

Photo Credit; Peakpx, AZCentral.com, Arizona Sports

Stat Credit; Roster Resource, MLBTradeRumors.com, MLB.com

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