Diamondbacks Winter Transaction Possibilities

Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images

December 4, 2025

The Arizona Diamondbacks Winter transaction possibilities for the 2026 season are vast. They went 80–82 in 2025 and missed the playoffs, so this winter is extremely important if they want to contend for a playoff spot. As of December 4, 2025, they’ve already made two small moves, signing veteran catcher James McCann to a 1-year deal and re-signing Tommy Henry, a possibly a late-season twenty total innings guy out of the bullpen coming off Tommy John surgery, but the big decisions are still in front of them.

Diamondbacks owner Ken Kendrick has already said payroll will probably be a bit lower than last year. A year in which they set a franchise record on payroll. Right now they’re sitting around $140 million in committed contracts, and most reports say the 2026 payroll should end up somewhere in the $170–180 million range. That means the D-backs can spend some money, but they’re not likely to chase the biggest, most expensive stars. But, $30-$40 million is enough to get 3 solid players to fill the needed holes. For purposes of this article, we’ll use $35 million as the spending cap. We’ll also assume they are going to fill third base from within. Jordan Lawler and Blaze Alexander might be tested sharing the hot corner, so no third base free-agent signing or trades are discussed here.

The Big Need: Pitching Without Breaking the Bank

The Diamondbacks pitching was decent last season. Their team ERA was around 4.50, ranking in the bottom third of the majors. For anyone who watched the this team all year, they know the bullpen was the major weak spot. On top of that, they most likely will lose Zac Gallen in addition to losing Merrill Kelly, Josh Naylor, and Eugenio Suarez to trades during the season. And Ace pitcher Corbin Burnes is expected to miss a good chunk of 2026. Because of that, look for the Diamondbacks Winter transaction possibilities will be focused on the mound.

Reuniting with Merrill Kelly (about 60% chance)

There is a pretty good chance that Merrill Kelly will come back on a short, one or two-year deal in the $12–15 million range, and he has openly stated he’d love to be a Diamondback again. He didn’t pitch great after being traded, having his worst ERA and WHIP in the last five years with the Texas Rangers. That is going to hurt his market value a little. Two years for $28 million seems reasonable and takes up $14 million of the available $35 million.

Signing/Trading for at least one mid-rotation starter (about 70%)

Names like Brady Singer or Zack Littell are the type of pitcher the Diamondbacks could afford: not an ace, but a dependable starter who can throw innings. It feels very likely they grab at least one pitcher in that price range. Singer has thrown over 150 IP for five straight years, although his ERA and WHIP are usually pretty high. But, he’s only 29, so that probably makes him too costly at about $13 million for 2026. Zack Littell might make a bit more sense. Littell has pitched over 100 innings in both seasons (2024 & 2025) he’s been a starting pitcher.

Zach Littell

Next season, at age 30, Littell will no doubt surpass his previous earnings, which has never exceeded $5.72 million in a single season. Almost every year he has posted better stats than Singer, and this improvement might make him a bargain deal. The Tampa Bay Rays, who traded him to the Cincinnati Reds last year, want him back, but because the team rarely spends heavily, they will likely offer him a one-year contract worth around $10 million. TheDiamondbacks could lure him away from that for two years for $20 million since they have a better chance at getting into the playoffs. Littell fits what the Diamondbacks need. Take off another $10 million from the available budget, laving $11 million to go.

Fixing the Bullpen on a Budget

Most experts call the bullpen the team’s biggest problem from 2025, so it almost has to be addressed. The problem is that the closer market has exploded. Ryan Helsley just got two years and $28 million from the Baltimore Orioles, and that kind of contract probably scares the Diamondbacks away from top-shelf closers. Instead, look for them to hunt for “value” relievers.

Bullpen Predictions

Some have already linked them to a possible reunion with Luke Weaver, a pitcher who could work multiple innings and even close if needed. This kind of move is cheap compared to star closers and matches the front office’s style. Weaver had a WHIP of under 1.10 in the last two seasons he’s been a full-time reliever. That’s exceptionally good, but he’s also thirty-two years old in 2026, which will probably limit his earnings. He’s probably a steal at $10 or $11 million a year for two or three years. It would be a great signing for the Diamondbacks to bring him back, and the $11 million would fit perfectly into the remaining budget.

Trade Talk: Outfielders and Ketel Marte

The Diamondbacks have a crowded outfield, and several reports say Jake McCarthy is an obvious trade candidate. He’s fast, plays good defense, and is still in his arbitration years, which makes him attractive to other teams. There’s also buzz about the Diamondbacks talking to the Pittsburgh Pirates and other clubs about swapping bats for pitching.

At the same time, Ketel Marte’s name keeps popping up in national rumor lists. Some outlets say teams like the Chicago Cubs, Anaheim Angels, New York Yankees, and Philadelphia Phillies have checked in, and that the Diamondbacks at least listening. But his contract is team-friendly and he’s still a star, so it would take a huge offer.

Trade predictions:

Trading Jake McCarthy for pitching help (about 70%)
This feels like a classic “both sides get what they need” move. Arizona deals from outfield depth to shore up the rotation or bullpen.
Trading Ketel Marte (about 5%)
There’s real smoke here, but it’s still a long shot because the Dbacks would demand a massive return. Unless a team gives up multiple young, controllable pitchers and draft picks, Arizona probably keeps its All-Star second baseman.

The Goldschmidt Dream and Other Big Ideas

First base is a question mark for 2026, and a lot of people keep circling the same name: Paul Goldschmidt. Multiple outlets have called the Diamondbacks a strong fit and even predicted him as their Opening Day first baseman. At age 38, Goldschmidt is likely looking at a short, one-year deal in the $10–12 million range, which actually fits the “don’t break the bank” plan better than a superstar in his prime if they don’t get the pitching they are looking for. Justin Turner is also a decent option. He’s going to be 41, but he’s only two years removed from an .800 OPS season with the Boston Red Sox. He can probably be had for one year at $10 million if given the opportunity to start at first base.

Signing Paul Goldschmidt on a 1-year deal (about 30%)
Signing Justin Turner on a 1-year deal (about 45%)
Landing a true “mega star” like Arenado or a top-five free agent (about 5–10%)

Big Picture

So, what should fans expect from the Arizona Diamondbacks Winter Transaction Possibilities? Most likely, the Diamondbacks will try to rebuild their pitching staff with smart, medium-sized moves. They could welcome back a familiar face like Merrill Kelly, Luke Weaver, or Paul Goldschmidt, and use trades from their outfield depth to add more arms. If they hit on a couple of those moves, they can get better without spending like the big-market clubs.