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AZ Snake Pit

An unofficial Arizona Diamondbacks community and blog

Latest Entries

Do broken hamate bones sap player power?

The news that Corbin Carroll had suffered a broken hamate bone in his hand was not the way the D-backs wanted to start spring training. I guess the good news – if there is any – is that the injury happened at the beginning of the pre-season, minimizing the amount of regular season time lost. […]

Which spring story-lines are you following?

We move into week three of the daily questions, and the focus this week will be on ‘Spring Training: Optimism and Delusion’. We all know the perils and cliches of the pre-season. Players will show up, in the best shape of their lives. Pitchers will be working on new pitches. Here’s our bingo card. But […]

MLB

Arizona Diamondbacks news, 2/16: Gallentine’s Weekend

Team news [Arizona Sports] Zac Gallen turned down multiyear deals to bet on himself with Diamondbacks – He opted to return to a comfortable place and bet on having a better season before entering free agency again. “We did have multiyear offers out there, which was nice from the security standpoint,” Gallen said. “I’ve always […]

Implications of the Zac Gallen Signing

Gallen’s back, just in time for Galentine’s day. Knee jerk reaction? DBacksEurope: It is probably true that Gallen improves the 2026 rotation. 2025 first half Gallen was probably a worser version of the pitcher that he actually is, but we’ve seen Zac becoming increasingly worse and frustrated over the past few seasons, to an extent […]

Arizona Diamondbacks claim RHP Grant Holman

The Arizona Diamondbacks have claimed RHP Grant Holman off waivers from the Athletics. The 25-year-old Holman was originally a 6th-round pick by (then) Oakland in the 2021 draft, and made his major-league debut in August of 2024. He has made a total of forty appearances in the big leagues since, with an ERA of 4.66, […]

How will ABS change baseball?

This year, we are going to see the first appearance at the major-league level of ABS. That’s the Automated Ball-Strike challenge system, coming to MLB after extensive trials in the minors. It’ll also be getting tried out at spring training, so players can get used to it. Basically, each team has two challenges on an […]

MLB

What would make you check out on the 2026 season early?

We’ve all been there. Probably, as D-backs fans, more often than we would like. You reach a certain point in the season, look at the standings and realize that this is not going to be the Diamondbacks’ year. Maybe you keep watching games; maybe you watch fewer of them; maybe you switch over to just […]

AZSnakepit Fantasy Baseball 2026

It’s me, ISH95, your Entertainment Manager for AZ Snakepit! I will be commissioner of the Minor League for Fantasy Baseball, for what I believe is the 20th season of the Snakepit leagues. Getting started a little late this season, so without further ado, let’s jump right into the specifics! That’s all there is to it! […]

Zac Gallen re-signing with Arizona Diamondbacks

As first reported by Steve Gilbert, Zac Gallen is returning to the D-backs on a one-year deal. The amount involved is $22 million, which is basically the same amount as the qualifying offer Gallen declined at the start of the winter. However, Ken Rosenthal reports that approximately $14 million of that is deferred. It’s a […]

2026 Arizona Diamondbacks Roster Dark Horse: Dylan Ray

Dylan Ray might be ahead only of Jose Fernandez, in terms of being the least well-known player on the 40-man roster. Ray was a fourth-round pick in 2022, after barely thirty collegiate innings, and it has been an up-and-down struggle since. Of the four “real” levels at which he has played, High-A ball is the […]

Who is responsible for team success?

A lot of factors go into a baseball team. Obviously, it begins with the players on the field – the ones who actually play the game. But above and below them is an interconnected web of factors which, eventually, leads to a win total for the season. Baseball, more than any other major game, is […]

MLB

How can the Arizona Diamondbacks replace Andrew Saalfrank?

The news on Monday that the team had lost reliever Andrew Saalfrank for the season, after shoulder surgery, was not exactly the way the Diamondbacks wanted the week of pitchers and catchers reporting to start. Since debuting as a September call-up in 2023, Saalfrank has posted a 1.79 ERA, and was better even than that […]

Arizona Diamondbacks bringing back Paul Sewald

Well, this is certainly something. Former D-backs’ closer Paul Sewald, an integral part of the bullpen which reached the 2023 World Series, is apparently coming back to the team. Steve Gilbert was the first to report the deal, confirming it is a major-league contract, rather than a minor-league one with an invite to spring training. […]

What’s good and bad about spring training?

It has to be said, the bonus months of baseball in Arizona are definitely a plus. When the rest of the country is still digging itself out of snow-drifts, the state becomes a mecca for all the MLB teams in the Western half of the country. It’s like having an All-Star Game in your backyard. […]

MLB

Arizona Diamondbacks 2026 Non-Roster Invitees, Part 4

This is the final batch of right-handed pitchers. I’d not be surprised if one or more of these ended up in our Opening Day bullpen, and there is a non-zero chance every one we talk about here, sees some MLB action over the course of the 2026 campaign… Jonathan Loaisiga (43) With eight years of […]

Rank the division

There is, I suspect, very little doubt about the top and bottom of the division. The Dodgers are prohibitive favorites – around 7-1 on at the sports books – to win the NL West for the thirteenth time in the past fourteen years, as well as the fifth season in a row. At the other […]

Corbin Carroll breaks hand

Well, this sucks. News out of Salt River Fields this morning, that Corbin Carroll suffered a broken hamate bone in his right hand, during live batting practice. This is going to cause him to miss significant time in spring training, and almost certainly on into the regular season. We do not know yet how bad […]

Are there Arizona Diamondback untouchables?

One of the major topics of discussion this winter was Ketel Marte. Despite signing a long-term extension last April, it became apparent that the team was prepared to listen to offers for the player, before he gained full 10/5 trade veto rights this season. Now, in the end, nothing came of it. No other team […]

Is Kade Strowd the Best Offseason Acquisition?

Inspiration. The Diamondbacks traded away Blaze Alexander.  Many months ago, I saw the possibility that he might outperform Jordan Lawlar.  Was it my tendency to root for the underdog?   Now, my view is that the two were going to be worlds apart.  Therefore, the loss by trading him away was small. The big question:  Will […]

SnakeBytes 2/10: Everything Old Is New Again

Diamondbacks News Report: D-backs’ Andrew Saalfrank out for season after shoulder surgery by Tyler Drake [Arizona Sports] ‘I want to be here’: After offseason of uncertainty, Marte happy to still be with D-backs by Steve Gilbert [DBacks.com] “It’s baseball, I understand the business side of it and how it works,” Marte said. “There were a […]

Which offseason decision makes you nervous?

We stand on the very edge of spring training. Tomorrow sees pitchers and catchers report to Salt River Fields, as the pre-season gets under way. Before you know it, Opening Day will be here. While there is still time for changes to take place to the roster, it does feel like most of the heavy […]

MLB

Arizona Diamondbacks News, 1/9: It’s baseball time!

Team news Diamondbacks renew partnership with 12 News to broadcast 11 over-the-air games in 2026 season – The Arizona Diamondbacks and 12 News KPNX, TEGNA’s NBC affiliate in Phoenix, today announced a renewed local broadcast distribution agreement that will bring 10 Diamondbacks games over-the-air to fans during the 2026 season. In addition, 12 News will […]

2026 Arizona Diamondbacks Roster Dark Horse: Mitch Bratt

We already discussed one part of the return for Merrill Kelly in this series, when we covered Kohl Drake. Bratt was also received from Texas for their short-term loan of Kelly. While he is three years younger than Drake, having turned 22 in July, and is less likely to reach the majors this year, Mitch […]

MLB

Are the D-backs actually trying to contend?

Week two of these daily questions gets under way, with the (vague) theme this week being rosters, expectations and reality checks. Arizona enters 2026 coming off a sub-.500 season, and signed just one of MLB Trade Rumors Top 50 Free Agents. And that was Merrill Kelly, who was here for most of the season anyway. […]