Munetaka Murakami got here into the offseason as one of many extra intriguing names on the free agent market. He slotted in at No. 4 on our annual Prime 50 MLB Free Brokers record. Regardless of Murakami’s prolific energy in NPB, the reported curiosity across the younger slugger was minimal because the winter progressed. The White Sox and Pink Sox had been among the many solely identified suitors. Murakami finally went to Chicago on a modest two-year, $34MM deal.
The Diamondbacks had been among the many groups desirous about Murakami, experiences John Gambadoro of 98.7 Arizona Sports activities. Gambadoro added that the previous Japanese star was “one of some of the Asian gamers” the Diamondbacks had been contemplating. He didn’t point out some other names, however the free agent market contains a number of notable gamers making the leap stateside, together with Tatsuya Imai and Kazuma Okamoto. MLBTR’s Anthony Franco predicted Okamoto would signal with Arizona within the aforementioned Prime 50 FAs piece.
Arizona’s connection to Murakami is sensible given the state of the membership’s nook infield spots. First baseman Josh Naylor and third baseman Eugenio Suarez had been dealt to Seattle in separate offers on the commerce deadline. That left Pavin Smith and Tyler Locklear (who came to visit within the Suarez commerce) to deal with nearly all of the primary base reps. Blaze Alexander stepped in as the first third baseman.
Prime prospect Jordan Lawlar is slated to step in on the scorching nook in 2026, however first base is a query mark. Locklear had surgical procedure on each his left elbow and shoulder in October. He’s a candidate to start the season on the injured record. That leaves Smith and utilityman Tim Tawa as the present choices at first base. Arizona completed with the Fifth-lowest OPS on the place final season. With Murakami off the board, the membership might look to pursue at the very least a right-handed complement to Smith, and maybe an improve altogether.
On the pitching aspect, Gambadoro talked about he expects the workforce to look into the nearer market. Arizona might be with out high closers Justin Martinez and A.J. Puk for almost all of the season. Each relievers had Tommy John surgical procedure in June. The present nearer combine is an uninspiring group that features Andrew Saalfrank, Ryan Thompson, and Kevin Ginkel.
Arizona’s bullpen ranked twenty fifth in xFIP and twenty eighth in SIERA final season. The membership had a whopping 17 pitchers file saves in 2025. Shelby Miller led the best way with 10 saves. He was dealt to Milwaukee on the commerce deadline. The Diamondbacks had 4 saves within the closing month of the season, they usually went to 4 completely different pitchers (Jake Woodford, Taylor Rashi, Kyle Backhus, John Curtiss).
Martinez and Puk received’t be out eternally, so Arizona doesn’t want a long-term answer. The reliever market is starting to skinny out, however there are nonetheless a handful of choices with closing expertise obtainable. Seranthony Dominguez, Ryan Pressly, or Chad Inexperienced might make sense as short-term closers who’ve been setup males previously. Arizona’s Opening Day nearer will probably slot in behind Martinez and Puk as soon as they return, so expertise within the seventh and eighth innings could be helpful.
Elsewhere within the NL West, former Giants infielder Jae-gyun Hwang introduced his retirement (h/t to J.P. Hoornstra of The Massive Lead). Hwang had spent the final eight seasons with the KT Wiz of KBO. He’d been in skilled baseball since 2007.
Hwang made the leap to MLB in 2017 after a decade in KBO. He signed a cut up contract with the Giants in January that yr. Hwang posted first rate ends in Triple-A, hitting .285 with 10 house runs and 7 steals throughout 98 video games. He was up and down a few instances with the big-league membership, with unimpressive outcomes. Hwang went 8-for-52 in 18 video games with the Giants. He did launch a house run for his first MLB hit, taking Kyle Freeland deep in his third profession at-bat.
Hwang was outrighted off the 40-man roster in September 2017. After his lone season with the Giants, the Wiz lured him again to KBO with a four-year, $7.9MM deal. He was a well-above-average hitter all through the settlement and remained productive on the plate for the remainder of his profession, together with a 94 wRC+ as a 37-year-old in his closing season.
We at MLBTR want Hwang one of the best in his future endeavours past baseball.
Photograph courtesy of Matt Marton, Imagn Photographs
