Dbacks Notes and recap

Waldschmidt could break camp in a starting outfield role for the Diamondbacks in 2026, Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports.

Diamondbacks general manager Mike Hazen talked with reporters on Saturday after the team traded outfielder Jake McCarthy to the Rockies. The GM did not rule out the possibility of a prospect breaking camp in a starting role in the big leagues. Although Hazen didn’t name names, he was likely referring to Waldschmidt, the club’s top prospect. The McCarthy trade, along with the status of Lourdes Gurriel (knee), who could miss the first half of the season, leaves some questions in the outfield. Waldschmidt, who played all three outfield positions in stints at High-A Hillsboro and Double-A Amarillo in 2025, would need to be added to the 40-man roster.

Lawlar is expected to play center field in addition to reps in the infield during spring training, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.

After seeing Lawlar’s struggles at third base last season, the Diamondbacks gave him center field reps during the Dominican Winter League but not a ton, according to Gilbert. As such, the organization will give him a serious look there this spring. There’s a need in the outfield after Arizona traded Jake McCarthy to Colorado for right-handed pitching prospect Josh Grosz. That move, along with Lourdes Gurriel (knee) possibly missing the first half of the season, leaves the outfield in a state of uncertainty. Corbin Carroll will hold down right field while Alek Thomas is likely to start in center field against righties. Beyond that, Lawlar is in the mix along with Blaze Alexander, Jorge Barrosa, Tim Tawa and possibly top prospect Ryan Waldschmidt.

The Rockies traded Grosz to the Diamondbacks on Saturday in exchange for Jake McCarthy

Grosz spent all of 2025 at the High-A level, posting a 4.67 ERA and 1.30 WHIP across 125.1 innings between the Yankees’ and Rockies’ affiliates. The 23-year-old righty will likely aim to reach Double-A at some point in 2026.

The Diamondbacks will not trade Marte this offseason, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

The Diamondbacks have fielded trade interest in Marte throughout the offseason, but general manager Mike Hazen indicated recently that there was a soft deadline at which point the club would no longer consider offers, and evidently it’s reached that point. Marte slashed .283/.376/.517 with 28 home runs in 2025 and is owed $102.5 million over the next six seasons. He’ll be back at second base for Arizona to begin 2026.

Smith (quadriceps) signed a one-year, $2.25 million deal with the Diamondbacks to avoid arbitration Thursday, Jack Sommers of DBacks on SI reports.

Smith missed nearly the entire second half of the 2025 season due to a combination of oblique and quadriceps injuries. He’ll likely begin the 2026 campaign on the strong side of a platoon at first base, assuming he returns to good health.