The Arizona Diamondbacks shocked the Major League Baseball community last year by winning the World Series by falling short of the Texas Rangers in five matches and completing their 84-win time.
For one of the several times in recent history, middle management used that finish as motivation to invest money in the offseason:$ 161.5 million on five completely agents, the third- highest total in MLB, finishing it off with the signing of remaining- hander Jordan Montgomery, which was announced Friday.
They have a team payroll of$ 165.6 million, 14th in MLB as compared to$ 119.3 million last year, good for only 21st. Obviously, they are starting to make more income.
” There are many silos of profit, and our income is dramatically different than it was”, Ken Kendrick, the team’s lengthy- time managing partner, said without citing a figure. ” Ticket sales, tea sales, endorsements, national income. All are away. Nearby broadcast revenue is only a small portion of it.

The D-backs had money to spend despite losing$ 60 million in local television revenue as a result of their RSN deal.
To explain Kendrick’s level, the D- backs ‘ local profits increased from$ 273 million in 2022 to$ 331 million in 2023, rising from tied for 21st to 16th, according to Sportico’s most recent estimates of MLB teams.
” Our revenues became more robust”, Kendrick said. ” And as I’ve said over the years, if the revenues are there, we’re going to invest in the team”.
The NL West is a tough division. MLB teams spent$ 2.9 billion on 214 free agents this offseason, according to figures compiled by Spotrac. And the three NL West teams — the Los Angeles Dodgers ($ 1.09 billion ), San Francisco Giants ($ 323 million ) and the D- backs — spent more than half of it ($ 1.6 billion ).
” It’s the toughest division in baseball”, Rockies owner Dick Moncrief said this week.
His club predictably stayed out of the spending, signing two very lower- level free agents for$ 3.5 million, the least of MLB’s 30 teams.
The long-time owner of the Rockies bemoaned how it’s a two-tiered market in baseball, especially when it comes to teams with still powerful and money-producing regional sports networks. The Rockies and the San Diego Padres are no longer negotiating RSN deals with MLB, and they are now streaming their games from production to sales to broadcasting.
In response, the Padres sliced more than$ 100 million off their record$ 256 million 2023 payroll and spent only$ 17.5 million on free agents this winter.

The D- backs are the anomaly, infusing money and new talent into a pennant- winning team. The D-backs know they have two fertile resources to make up for the lost local television revenue: ticket sales, concessions, and merchandise at the stadium, which have all increased, according to Kendrick, and streaming television subscriptions purchased directly by fans and indirectly paid by cable providers who distribute the games.
He claimed that a change in television viewing habits, particularly in the 11th-largest market for Phoenix TV, has contributed to the loss of RSN money.” It’s model is directly affected by a decline in cable customers across the landscape,” Kendrick said.
But it’s offset now by video streaming. ” A year ago, we did n’t have any customers”, he added. ” This year starting on Day 1 we have 20, 000 new customers. That’s the point. It’s a new way of delivering goods to make up for some of the loss.
To get there, they had to parlay last season’s interest and keep the team competitive on the field. Local fans have embraced it, selling out eight straight home games during the season opener, including seven last year during the World Series and playoffs.
Home attendance, which was a 21st in the league at 1.9 million this past season, could ascend to 2.5 million.
” We’d like to think we can get to that level”, Kendrick said. ” It’s hard to predict. Obviously, playing well is going to be a factor. However, the selling of season and individual tickets is on track.
During the four-game opening series against the Rockies, the promotion schedule is also increased by numerous giveaways and a ring ceremony. The New York Yankees play three games on Monday, which always brings back fond memories for D-back fans of a different generation. The Yanks defeated Arizona in seven thrilling games in 2001, their only World Series title.
Additionally, the team has invested a lot of money in new LED lights and an upgraded sound system. When all of that is combined, Kendrick gave baseball operations the green light to spend money.
General manager Mike Hazen remarked,” It’s difficult to understand when it’s time to push the buttons to ensure that happens.” ” But no doubt, putting the best team on the field at all times, a young, exciting winning team, it increases the excitement in the city”.