After missing the playoffs for a third straight year, the Arizona Diamondbacks have a lot to figure out this offseason. 

The Diamondbacks made it to the World Series for just the second time in franchise history in 2023, but fell in five games to the Texas Rangers. Much like their opponent, the Diamondbacks have failed to recapture the type of magic that helped catapult them to that point, but they do not have a ring to show for it.

Arizona has finished with winning records in two of the three seasons since then, including in 2026, but the National League West Division and the league at large have proven to be too competitive. 

Now, with manager Torey Lovullo receiving a two-year contract extension and owner Ken Kendrick making comments about reducing payroll, it is difficult to envision what future success will look like for the Diamondbacks.

Arizona has itself to blame for missing the playoffs once again.

In the waning weeks of the season, they were in a battle with the San Diego Padres to secure the third and final spot in the National League Wild Card race for a ticket to October. From Sept. 11 to Sept. 20, the Diamondbacks were afforded a nine-game homestand that they could have used to propel themselves firmly in the Wild Card picture.

Instead, Arizona lost two of its three series at home, and it did enough damage that even a six-game winning streak that followed could not save the season.

Now, there are hard choices to make. Making these decisions more difficult is the possibility of an extensive work stoppage due to ongoing negotiations regarding Major League Baseball's next Collective Bargaining Agreement.

With Lovullo's contract extension, he is now on the same timeline as General Manager Mike Hazen, who received an extension through the 2028 season with a club option for 2029 during Arizona's run to the World Series. 

However, both have been at the helm for more than a decade and have only had two playoff appearances to show for it. In a division with the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Padres, that is not good enough.

Nevertheless, the organization has put its trust in both Hazen and Lovullo to navigate the Diamondbacks toward consistent postseason contention. Arizona has talented players on its roster, but injuries and inconsistencies across the board have hindered this team from participating in the playoffs despite winning records.