Right-Handed Bats the Diamondbacks Could Target in Free Agency

The Diamondbacks will be looking for right-handed bats to balance out their lineup. Per John Gambadoro, the team is looking for players who can also play the field. That likely rules out DH-only types such as J.D. Martinez as potential targets. With those parameters in mind, these are the top candidates that the D-backs could target in free agency, ranked from best to worst fit.

OF Lourdes Gurriel Jr.: Gurriel is coming off the healthiest season of his career, with a career-high 3.0 Baseball Reference WAR (bWAR). He's not a big bat in the middle of the order, with just a 108 OPS+ in 2023, but gets the bat on the ball and uses the entire field. With Arizona, his glove will not be an issue as he's coming off his best defensive season with +14 defensive runs saved and in the black for Outs Above Average at zero. With the D-backs, his defense should continue to improve under Dave McKay's tutelage for a couple of years while he still has his athleticism in his early 30s. He could possibly command a three-year deal as a consistent 20 home run, 80 RBI bat in a deep lineup. Gurriel will be the primary left fielder in Arizona, then sliding down to the designated hitter when they want to put a better defensive lineup out. He started 89 games in left field compared to 50 at DH.

RF Teoscar Hernández: Hernández struggled with Seattle, with his OPS+ dropping from 130 in 2021-22 to 106 in 2023. The good news for Arizona is he performed better away from T-Mobile Park, slashing .295/.344/.486 with 14 home runs. He would slot in right field due to his arm, sliding Corbin Carroll over to left field where he's best suited to play. Hernández also brings a 30 home run threat to the lineup to pair up with first baseman Christian Walker in the middle of the order. He'd be a prime candidate to try to sign on a short term deal and try to rebuild his value, such as a two-year deal with a player opt-out or a one-year deal plus a mutual option for 2025.

C/DH Mitch Garver: Garver can absolutely mash from the right side of the plate, but the problem is health. In his career, he's only exceeded 90 games just twice even when accounting for the fact he plays catcher. Without a qualifying offer attached, the only cost will be dollars. If the market is slow on Garver, with teams concerned about his medicals, he makes a lot of sense on a short term deal. He'd split the catching duties with Gabriel Moreno, catching on the days where Moreno needs a break and then serving as the designated hitter when Moreno is in the lineup.

3B Matt Chapman: The market on Chapman's services will be hotter than the actual production he's likely to put. He's a very streaky hitter who can carry a lineup when he's hot, but has a lot of swing-and-miss in his profile, which is carried by his glove. He fits the D-backs need for an everyday third baseman, but is probably the most buyer beware free agent that's going to get a big contract this winter. Arizona would also forfeit their third-highest selection to land Chapman, who rejected a qualifying offer. He's more valuable than the median outcome of what will likely be a Top 35 pick in next year's draft, but a long-term deal that doesn't pan out could very well end this window of contention.

OF Tommy Pham: Like with Gurriel, Pham wouldn't be a bad option to bring back. He'll turn 36 before next season and was a below-average hitter in his short time in Arizona, so a one-year deal could make sense. At the current stage of his career, Pham is more of a fourth outfielder who would get starts against lefties. In his short time with the team, he brought a level of intensity and preparation that the younger players needed to witness and learn from.

UTIL Kiké Hernández: Hernandez can play multiple positions on both the infield and outfield and has typically been used in platoons. He could play the short side of the platoon at shortstop with Geraldo Perdomo or do the same at third if the market for an everyday player proves to be too much. He also gives them some coverage in the outfield in a pinch, but he's better suited to play on the infield with the current construction of the roster.

3B/DH Justin Turner: Last week, Bob Nightengale wrote in a column that Turner was on the D-backs list of free agents. This move would come in a similar vein as the Evan Longoria signing, an aging veteran on his last legs trying to capture lightning in a bottle for one more season. Turner will be 39 next season and has a history of bad knees, so he's not a candidate to play a lot of third base or in the field at all and lacks the bat to be an everyday DH.