Diamondbacks exec points to Corbin Carroll's $111,000,000 deal as an example of front office stepping out of comfort zone

The Arizona Diamondbacks have stepped out of their comfort zone in building a successful team, said D’Backs assistant GM Amiel Sawdaye.

During an appearance on the Baseball Isn’t Boring podcast published on Tuesday, Sawdaye spoke with host Rob Bradford regarding the need for teams to go beyond their traditional means of operation to find the best players for their teams.

Sawdaye said:

“I agree that getting uncomfortable is part of it, especially when you’re signing big free agents.”

The comments underscored the Diamondbacks’ massive free-agent acquisition this offseason, Corbin Burnes. Sawdaye highlighted how crucial team ownership is in allowing executives to step outside their comfort zone.

But beyond Corbin Burnes, Sawdaye pointed to Corbin Carroll’s $111 million contract as an example of how the D’Backs went on a limb.

Sawdaye stated:

“We believed in Corbin Carroll … We signed Corbin Carroll to a $100 million contract, you know. I think he had less than one hundred plate appearances before we signed him. It was the largest contract at the time for a player that had that amount of plate appearances. That was a little bit uncomfortable.”

Check out Sawdaye's comments starting at the 24:05 mark:

The move paid off, with Carroll providing solid offensive numbers over the past two seasons, making an All-Star appearance in 2023.

The team hopes that Carroll can once again play a key role in helping the them return to the World Series to capture their first title since 2001.

Hometown appeal helped Diamondbacks land Corbin Burnes

In a piece published in The Athletic on Jan. 3, notable insider Ken Rosenthal explained how the Diamondbacks’ hometown appeal helped the team land Corbin Burnes this offseason.

Burnes had been highly sought-after by a number of clubs including the Toronto Blue Jays and the San Francisco Giants. However, Burnes, who makes his home in Scottsdale, Arizona, did not want to pass up the chance to play near his hometown.

As such, the Diamondbacks became the unlikely winner of the Corbin Burnes sweepstakes. But as Rosenthal pointed out, it wasn’t the first time the D’Backs used their hometown appeal to land big free agents.

Rosenthal named Eduardo Rodriguez and Madison Baumgarner as two players who chose the D’Backs due to their ties to the Phoenix area.