News Summary
The Arizona Diamondbacks finished the 2025 MLB season with an 80-82 record, missing playoffs for the second consecutive year, which has led to disappointment from owner Ken Kendrick. With uncertainties surrounding manager Torey Lovullo’s future and the team’s injuries impacting performance, the franchise faces significant challenges as they prepare for the 2026 season amidst potential roster restructuring.
Arizona – The Arizona Diamondbacks have concluded the 2025 MLB season with a record of 80-82, marking the second consecutive year the team has failed to secure a playoff spot. This disappointing outcome has led to severe disappointment from the team’s owner, Ken Kendrick, who openly criticized the season and expressed that he had never been more disappointed in a season than this one, highlighting the high expectations that were set for the team.
Following the conclusion of the season, the Diamondbacks have yet to schedule an end-of-season review meeting. There are currently no concrete decisions made regarding potential personnel changes within the front office or coaching staff, leaving questions surrounding the future of manager Torey Lovullo. Lovullo has faced criticism from fans and remains uncertain about his job status going into 2026. Despite having a contract for the next season, he admits to not being approached regarding his position.
In the context of in-game decision-making, it is important to note that Lovullo collaborates with other team members when determining roster and lineup decisions. General Manager Mike Hazen has taken responsibility for several issues the team faced throughout the season, although both Hazen and Lovullo remain under scrutiny from fans. Injuries significantly impacted the team’s performance, which struggles were compounded earlier in the season when the Diamondbacks had a 51-58 record leading up to the trade deadline.
As the trade deadline approached, the team underwent a significant transformation, opting to shift towards a younger roster. Despite this, the Diamondbacks stayed competitive and maintained a position in the wild-card race up until the final weekend of the season. However, their postseason aspirations were ultimately dashed following a loss to the San Diego Padres, which officially eliminated them from postseason contention.
During the season’s close, Lovullo faced scrutiny for specific in-game calls, including a controversial decision involving a bunt from player Geraldo Perdomo late in the season. Nevertheless, despite the overall shortcomings, the team demonstrated improvement in the second half of the season, playing better baseball after the trade deadline. Key players were traded during this period, including Merrill Kelly, Josh Naylor, and Eugenio Suarez.
As the franchise enters the 2026 season, they are grappling with injuries affecting key players, bringing further challenges. Lovullo, the longest-tenured manager in franchise history and holder of the record for most wins as a manager, remains at the helm. Comparatively, other teams in similar situations, like the San Francisco Giants, have opted for managerial changes after disappointing seasons, while the Diamondbacks have retained Lovullo.
Overall, the upcoming season is anticipated to be tough, considering the roster adjustments and the ongoing injury concerns. With expectations high and the need for improvement looming large, the Diamondbacks face a crucial period of reflection and potential restructuring as they prepare for the challenges ahead.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
- Azcentral: Torey Lovullo returns for 2026
- Wikipedia: Arizona Diamondbacks
- Arizona Sports: Torey Lovullo Updates
- Google Search: Arizona Diamondbacks 2026 season
- SI: Owner Disappointed with 2025 Season
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Baseball
- MLB: Diamondbacks Eliminated from 2025 Postseason
- Google Scholar: Arizona Diamondbacks
- Yardbarker: Lovullo to Remain Manager
- Google News: Arizona Diamondbacks 2025
Author: STAFF HERE PHOENIX WRITER
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