Dbacks season over time to make difficult decisions

By Asif Malik OLD Town Writer

The Arizona Diamondbacks season is over getting eliminated on game 162 losing to the Padres 9-4 on Sunday while the Philadelphia Phillies also beat the Tampa Rays to capture the national league wild card spot with a 7-3 win on Sunday this white elite season surge in highly unstable starting rotation including down years and injury stands for multiple key arms ultimately cost Arizona’s return to October baseball.  This marks the third consecutive season.  

The Diamondbacks will miss the playoffs. So with the  overall summary of 2026 the final record was 86 -76 which was a six win improvement over the 2025 campaign.   They did finish in third place behind division winning Los Angeles Dodgers and the second place the San Diego Padres.

With the season concluded the front office faces crucial decisions regarding roster and future manager Torey Lovullo who’s contract is expired has expired.   We will monitor Torey Lovullo’s managerial decision job status plus free agency decisions.

Added Notes from other writers

• Diamondbacks’ Slade Caldwell: Undergoes back surgery

  Caldwell underwent back surgery in mid-September, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reported. He will be out four-to-six months.

  Caldwell, the Diamondbacks‘ first-round pick in 2024, has really struggled to hit for power as a professional. In 465 plate appearances at High-A Hillsboro this season, Caldwell hit .213/.361/.304 with six homers and 26 stolen bases, tallying an .091 ISO. While the ongoing back problems may give him an out in terms of his 2026 stats, Caldwell has dropped out of most prospect lists. 2027 will be a crucial year in his development for the Diamondbacks.

  Diamondbacks’ Corbin Burnes: Expected to be fine after rest

  Rotowire  10 hrs ago

  Burnes said Monday that the right shoulder injury which landed him on the 15-day injured list during the final weekend of the regular season was fatigue-related and he expects to be fine after rest, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.

  Burnes had his Tommy John surgery rehab interrupted by a teres major strain in June, and his season ended prematurely due to what the Diamondbacks labeled as shoulder inflammation. However, it sounds as if the veteran hurler will be able to have a normal offseason after resting for a bit. Burnes allowed nine runs with an 8:4 K:BB over 10.1 innings in three starts for Arizona in 2026.

• Diamondbacks’ Michael Soroka: Lasts 4.2 innings in no-decision

  Soroka did not factor into the decision Sunday, allowing three runs on three hits and two walks over 4.2 innings against the Padres. He struck out four.

  Soroka worked two scoreless innings before surrendering runs in each of the next three frames, including a solo homer to Gavin Sheets in the fourth. In four outings since returning from right shoulder inflammation, the right-handed hurler posted a 3.48 ERA, 0.73 WHIP and 23:5 K:BB across 20.2 innings. With the Diamondbacks falling short of a playoff berth, Soroka will end the 2026 campaign with a 9-5 record, 3.41 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 114:29 K:BB over 116 innings (22 appearances).