Arizona Diamondbacks' best and worst-case scenarios for 2024
By Bill Felber
Arizona Diamondbacks' Best-Case Scenario for 2024
The D-Backs are defending National League champions, so the best-case scenario for 2024 has to involve contention for an NL West division title. That best-case does, however, require that a few things to go right.
1. The kids who carried this team in 2023 have to continue their uptick. Notably, NL Rookie of the Year Corbin Carroll has to develop into an MVP candidate. In 2023, Carroll batted .285 with an .868 OPS, 25 home runs and 54 stolen bases. If he can elevate those numbers to .300/.900 with 40 homers and 60 steals, Arizona’s dreams are alive.
2. They’re really alive if Gabriel Moreno becomes the National League’s answer to Adley Rutschman behind the plate. Moreno batted .285 with strikingly solid defensive numbers. What he lacked in 2023 was power; just 27 extra base hits held his OPS+ down to 104, barely above average.
3. The vets need to deliver career seasons. That may be asking a lot of Christian Walker and Ketel Marte, since they are arguably already coming off of career seasons, notching a combined 58 home runs and 185 RBI. But if they can match or improve on that, the D-Backs are legit.