MLB.com: D-backs’ current roster ranks No. 22 in latest WAR rankings

After an underwhelming 2020 campaign, the Arizona Diamondbacks are ready to turn over a new leaf.

But if the season started today, not much would be different for the struggling team.

In an MLB.com ranking of every team’s current roster by WAR, the D-backs sit at No. 22 with a 22.7 WAR.

The top five ranked teams are unsurprisingly the ones who were most recently in the playoffs: the Los Angeles Dodgers (44.3 WAR), San Diego Padres (39.8), New York Yankees (38.9), Minnesota Twins (38.6) and Houston Astros (38.5).

In the NL West, the D-backs hit the middle of the rankings, with the Giants falling in at No. 24 and the Rockies ranking dead last among the 30 teams.

So what does this mean for the D-backs?

General manager Mike Hazen said at the end of last season that he doesn’t foresee a “massive overhaul” for the team.

However, we could see them invest in more offensive power this offseason in free agency.

The D-backs had the fifth-worst offense in 2020, according to FanGraphs, and looking toward 2021, only one position player has a projected WAR over 2.0: Ketel Marte.

ESPN predicts the team could look to sign free agent Jackie Bradley Jr. Over his eight years with the Red Sox, Bradley has slashed .239/.321/.412 and also has a Gold Glove to his name.

The D-backs have reason to believe in their starting pitching corps, even after getting off to a rough start in 2020.

Going into next year, though, FanGraphs ranks Arizona’s starting pitchers No. 27 in the league, with Zac Gallen as the only D-back pitcher holding a WAR above 2.0.

It doesn’t bode much better in the bullpen. After trading away Andrew Chafin and Archie Bradley at the deadline last year, the team’s relief pitchers finished 19th in ERA.

Now FanGraphs projects the D-backs to have the worst bullpen in the league with a total WAR of 0.4.

Safe to say the Diamondbacks have plenty of work to do before spring training.

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