With the World Series now in the rearview mirror, the Arizona Diamondbacks, like all MLB teams, will face some roster decisions in the near future that will impact their chances of winning the 2024 Fall Classic.
Arizona's run to the World Series was arguably unexpected. However, with wins over the Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadephia Phillies in the final two rounds of the postseason, the Diamondbacks proved they belonged in the spotlight as the National League champion.
Can they make a return to the World Series in 2024? It's possible, but they will have to do it without these three players who were parts of the 2023 squad.
Evan Longoria won't return to the Arizona Diamondbacks
It took 15 seasons for Longoria to get back to the World Series, first getting to the Fall Classic with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2008 before making it back with Arizona in 2023. Neither trip, however, resulted in the three-time All-Star earning a ring.
Longoria was 1-for-3 in Game 5, capping off a disappointing postseason where he batted just .167 with no homers and four RBI. The 38-year-old Longoria told The Athletic (subscription required) that, in his mind, there was a "70 percent chance" that he would retire before this season. However, Arizona came with a one-year, $4 million contract and retirement was pushed off. However, it seems likely that Game 5 could be the last game of Longoria's career, meaning he could very well walk away from the game this offseason with two trips to the World Series, but no championships.
Tommy Pham won't return to the Arizona Diamondbacks
Acquired in a trade with the New York Mets at the MLB trade deadline, Pham went 0-for-3 as Arizona's designated hitter on Wednesday night, a disappointing end to what has been a solid postseason for the 35-year-old outfielder/DH.
Pham has proven that he can help a team not only get to the postseason, but succeed when they get there. That's a quality that plenty of teams will want to bring into their clubhouse. Having played for seven teams in his 10-year career, sticking around in one place for long has never been a strength for Pham, and that trend will continue this offseason.
With a salary from 2023 at $7.5 million, Pham will likely come at a decent price for any team looking to add a veteran to their roster. Pham will be looking to earn his first ring, and will find an opportunity to do that with the Minnesota Twins. After all, Pham doesnt need to be a starter for a team, but he can certainly be a capable fill-in when needed.
Lourdes Gurriel Jr. won't return to the Arizona Diamondbacks
One of the key pieces of the trade between Arizona and Toronto that changed the season for both squads, Gurriel earned his first All-Star Game nod and played in a career-high 145 games. A slash line of .261/.309/.463 with a career-high 24 home runs came at a good time for the 30-year-old, who is finishing up a seven-year, $22 million with a player opt-out for this offseason. He's in line for a major payday and will be a hot commodity this winter.
Gurriel made an impact in Arizona, both at the plate and in the field. His 14 Defensive Runs Saved were the most of any NL outfielder and second in all of baseball to only Cleveland's Steven Kwan. In his one season with the Diamondbacks, Gurriel proved himself to be a difference-maker on both sides of the diamond, and that will only boost his value this winter.
Look for Gurriel to ink a multi-year deal with the San Francisco Giants this offseason, staying in the division and becoming a problem rather than an asset for the Diamondbacks.
