The Arizona Diamondbacks’ evaluation of new players now begins after the trade deadline, as some of those players are already on the big-league roster. And look for more of those players to be called up as the team integrates the new players to see what they can do throughout the last 48 games.
Diamondbacks Will Evaluate New Players for Remainder of Season
Several Veterans
Several veterans were traded at the deadline as the Diamondbacks looked to add youth. This group included outfielder Randal Grichuk, pitcher Merrill Kelly, first baseman/outfielder Josh Naylor, and infielder Eugenio Suárez. In return, the Diamondbacks received nine players, eight of whom are pitchers. According to General Manager Mike Hazen, pitching was the top priority. Pitchers Shelby Miller and Jordan Montgomery were also dealt, but no players were returned—the trade was more about freeing up money for Arizona.
Tyler Locklear
The only non-pitcher picked up is first baseman Tyler Locklear. He will get several starts to show what he can do. Locklear, the eighth-ranked prospect in the Seattle Mariners organization at the time of the trade, was hitting .316 with 18 home runs at Triple-A. He can drive the ball to all parts of the field, but still needs that MLB plate discipline. Getting that experience this season will only help him in the future. Locklear hit his first home run as a Diamondback this past Monday.
Tyler Locklear gets his money’s worth on his first homer for the @Dbacks, also his first of the year in the Majors: pic.twitter.com/bMr9f7OFHs
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) August 5, 2025
Evaluating the Acquired Pitchers
The Diamondbacks will look at several of their acquired pitchers who will see time with the big-league club. With numerous bullpen arms currently on the injured list or out for the year, there will be many chances to step up, not only to gain experience but to prove themselves at the big-league level.
Two Pitchers to Consider
Two pitchers who definitely will be getting a chance in the bullpen are right-hander Juan Burgos and left-hander Brandyn Garcia. Burgos might get a look at being a closer. He has a two-seam fastball that hits 98 mph. With a slider and cutter, he gets those ground-ball outs.
Garcia has already appeared in one game with the Diamondbacks and gave up three runs in 1 1/3 innings. Now at Triple-A, he will undoubtedly get another chance. He was moved to the bullpen full-time in 2024 and shows a two-seam fastball in the 96-98 mph range. Look for him to be a seventh and eighth-inning arm.
Under the Radar Trade
Randal Grichuk went to the Kansas City Royals for right-handed pitcher Andrew Hoffmann. Hoffmann has the opportunity to showcase his abilities immediately, since Arizona has already included him on the major league roster. He is described as a “herky-jerky” pitcher who doesn’t bring a lot of velocity, but his delivery and movement on his pitches will find the strike zone. His fastball is around 93-94 mph. He also brings a low-80s sweeper slider for that swing and miss. His fastball is around 93-94 mph. He also brings a low-80s sweeper slider for that swing and miss.
Pitching Youth Movement
The Diamondbacks acquired several promising young pitchers, which will bring a youth movement to the team. Both Kelly and Miller were over 30 years old at the time of the trade, and Zac Gallen is 30. Gallen is a free agent at the end of the season and could leave the team. The organization needed young, quality arms for the future, especially with ace Corbin Burnes and bullpen arms A.J. Puk and Justin Martinez out for most of the 2026 season.
Rest of the Season
The Arizona Diamondbacks’ evaluation of new players begins with a focus on retooling and developing their younger players. This organization wants to recapture the aggressive style of pitching and play that led them to the World Series in 2023. With the team’s playoff picture looking dismal this season, they’re looking at setting themselves up for next season. Focusing on the new players gets them started on next season’s transformation.
Main Photo Credit: © Joe Rondone/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
