PHNX Arizona Diamondbacks Podcast

Spring Training games are officially here, and MLB is kicking off Cactus League play with four matchups to get the 2026 season rolling. If you can’t make it out to Salt River Fields, we’ve got you covered on how to watch every inning and what to look for as the roster battles begin. Speaking of roster battles, we’re breaking down the biggest question in camp: who’s actually starting on Opening Day...

The Diamondbacks stunned everyone by bringing back Zac Gallen, suddenly giving the Snakes SIX legitimate starting pitchers heading into Spring Training. So who’s the odd man out? If you ask Michael Soroka, it won’t be him. We break down Soroka’s comments about staying in the rotation, why internal competition could elevate this entire staff, and what it means for the D-backs’ fifth starter battle....

Jordan Lawlar enters this season with everything on the line. Once viewed as a cornerstone of the future, Jordan Lawlar now faces a true prove-it year as a member of the Diamondbacks. With expectations rising and opportunities no longer guaranteed, what does Lawlar need to show to solidify his place in Arizona’s long-term plans as an outfielder? We also dive into the latest updates from Spring Tra...

Spring Training rolls on for the Arizona Diamondbacks, but a massive labor cloud is already forming over all of Major League Baseball. Reports that Tony Clark, former D-back and chief executive of the Major League Baseball Players Association, is stepping down amid multiple scandals have sent shockwaves through the league as all of baseball prepares for the upcoming CBA battle. We break down the i...

Zac Gallen is officially back at Spring Training with the Arizona Diamondbacks, and suddenly everything feels right again. We hear directly from Gallen on reuniting with the D-backs, why returning to Arizona made sense, and why he believed it would be either him or Merrill Kelly returning but not both. Speaking of the Mainstay, Kelly reacts to being named the Opening Day starter and what it means...

In a move we have been anticipating, the Arizona Diamondbacks are running it back with another one of their aces. According to Steve Gilbert, the D-backs are bringing back Zac Gallen on a one-year deal for the 2026 season. We break down the reported terms, react to what this means for the rotation and the payroll, and discuss why keeping Gallen in the Valley for at least one more year could be hug...

After the Arizona Diamondbacks lost Corbin Carroll to a hand injury, the outfield picture suddenly looked pretty thin—but could help be on the way sooner than expected? We break down whether Lourdes Gurriel Jr. has a real shot to be ready by Opening Day, including tracking his progress this offseason and a firsthand look at Gurriel taking batting practice and running the bases at Salt River Fields...

The Arizona Diamondbacks are reportedly lining up another reunion with a familiar pitcher…and no, it’s not Zac Gallen. According to a report from Steve Gilbert, the D-backs are bringing back reliever Paul Sewald on a one-year deal for the 2026 season. We break down Sewald’s return, why this isn’t quite the “Paul reunion” fans were hoping for, and how the fanbase is reacting. Plus, we have the late...

We’re just two days into Spring Training and the Diamondbacks are already dealing with major injury news. According to [MLB.com](http://mlb.com/)’s Steve Gilbert, Corbin Carroll has suffered a broken hamate bone in his right hand, an injury that will sideline him for significant time and force him to miss the World Baseball Classic. We break down what this means for Carroll, the latest from the cl...

The baseball offseason is FINALLY over as pitchers and catchers reported to Spring Training in Scottsdale on Tuesday. We’re on the ground at Salt River Fields breaking down how the Diamondbacks’ biggest stars looked on Day 1 and how Torey Lovullo plans to get this team up to speed quicker than in past camps without overworking his players. We also hear from Mike Hazen on Andrew Saalfrank’s injury...

While we were trying to celebrate baseball being back, we received unfortunate breaking news in the form of an Instagram post of Andrew Saalfrank in a hospital bed. According to Steve Gilbert from [MLB.com](http://mlb.com/), the Diamondbacks reliever will miss the entirety of the 2026 season after having shoulder surgery. We react to the news and discuss what Arizona is going to do to replace one...

Things didn’t exactly go our way this week. The Diamondbacks added veteran first baseman Carlos Santana instead of franchise legend Paul Goldschmidt to fill their gap at first base, the Ketel Marte trade rumors came back from the dead, and the Snakes traded friend of the show and known snake-thief Blaze Alexander to the Orioles. So Derek and Damon take turns blaming each other during a very busy w...

The Diamondbacks made a surprise move on Thursday, trading utility infielder Blaze Alexander to the Baltimore Orioles for reliever Kade Strowd and prospects Wellington Aracena and Jose Mejia, according to multiple reports. We break down Arizona’s return, examine what this move means for the D-backs’ bullpen heading into 2026, and debate whether this trade could end up being a mistake by the front...

The outlook for the Diamondbacks’ 2026 season isn’t exactly optimistic after FanGraphs released its latest playoff odds. But can this organization prove the projections wrong with the moves they made this offseason? We break down why the D-backs may be better positioned than the numbers suggest, plus why Corbin Carroll landing on Shredder’s Top 10 list only scratches the surface of his true value....

The Arizona Diamondbacks have made their long-anticipated move at the first base position by signing a former All-Star! No, not that former All-Star… 16-year veteran Carlos Santana has agreed to a one-year, $2 million deal with the D-backs in what will effectively close the door on every Snakes fans’ dream: Paul Goldschmidt. What are the pros and cons of the Santana signing and should Mike Hazen h...

We thought the Ketel Marte rumors were done and dusted, but it appears they will never say die with MLB Network’s Jim Bowden telling Foul Territory he still expects a Marte trade to get done at some point. Bowden also mentions the Red Sox, Yankees, Tigers and Phillies as potential options. Is this actual information or more reckless speculation? And at this point of the offseason, what would a Ket...

The Arizona Diamondbacks have had a fairly quiet offseason in comparison to the last couple, with large investments into Corbin Burnes, Eduardo Rodriguez, Jordan Montgomery and more. With pitchers and catcher reporting around the corner, Mike Hazen's team still has quite a few holes to fill. What's the most dire of these needs? Starting pitching help? Back end bullpen arms? A first baseman not nam...

The Diamondbacks have tackled several offseason needs, but national analysts still gave the team a lukewarm grade. We break down why the lack of bullpen upgrades is the main culprit, and how Arizona could fix it by adding two key relievers. We also explore the D-backs still being in the mix for a reunion with Zac Gallen and Geraldo Perdomo’s rise as a top-10 MLB shortstop. Plus we take a look at t...

Diamondbacks fans have always known how valuable Merrill Kelly is, but now the rest of MLB is catching up. After being named to MLB’s 2026 All-Underrated Team, we break down where Kelly truly stacks up among the league’s best starters and why he continues to be one of baseball’s most quietly dominant pitchers. We’re also joined by D-backs pitching prospect Kohl Drake, who opens up about his journe...

The Diamondbacks offseason is still full of question marks. Are the Snakes done making moves, or is another blockbuster addition on the horizon? Jesse Friedman from Snakes Territory joins the show to discuss if Framber Valdez still being available means the D-backs would once again have a chance at adding one of the best available starting pitchers to their roster for the third consecutive year. A...

The Diamondbacks are reportedly in the market for another first baseman…or are they? We dive into a full-blown conspiracy theory that the D-backs may have already solved their first base problem when they traded for Nolan Arenado. With videos, quotes, and a little detective work, we lay out the case for Arenado being Arizona’s surprise answer at first. We also break down Ketel Marte once again bei...

Zac Gallen’s days in the desert might not be over just yet. According to recent reports, the Arizona Diamondbacks have emerged as the frontrunners to bring the Milkman back for the 2026 season. We break down what a reunion could look like and what it may take to get Gallen to return to the Valley. We also dive into the Snakes signing another Perdomo, Yu Darvish’s brief retirement, and Ryan Waldsch...

On this edition of PHNX D-backs After Dark, the Dodgers continue to live in Derek and Damon’s heads rent-free, but that’s only because of the way their players structure paying rent and other finances. We have more on Kyle Tucker being paid $1 million with a $64 million signing bonus, why taxes play the biggest role in this structure, and what a member of the California State Senate is trying to d...

The Diamondbacks missed out on landing MacKenzie Gore via trade, so what does that say about where this rotation really stands? Did the Snakes do enough to seriously pursue a frontline starter? Plus, the spotlight is back on first base as we debate what the D-backs’ plan actually is at the position and whether an internal option or a late-market move for Paul Goldschmidt or Ryan Mountcastle makes...

The Diamondbacks addressed their rotation this offseason by reuniting with Merrill Kelly and taking a calculated gamble on Michael Soroka. But would a bold move for MacKenzie Gore completely reshape the outlook for the 2026 starting staff? Even though he was traded MOMENTS after we ended this podcast, we break down what Gore would bring as a true frontline starter and what a realistic trade packag...