{"id":123948,"date":"2025-09-06T20:36:13","date_gmt":"2025-09-06T20:36:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/123948\/"},"modified":"2025-09-06T20:36:13","modified_gmt":"2025-09-06T20:36:13","slug":"espn-puts-d-backs-at-no-6-in-mlb-core-rankings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/123948\/","title":{"rendered":"ESPN puts D-backs at No. 6 in MLB core rankings"},"content":{"rendered":"

With much of their talent locked up for the foreseeable future, ESPN placed the Arizona Diamondbacks at No. 6 in their MLB core rankings.<\/p>\n

ESPN\u2019s Kiley McDaniel ranked<\/a> the core talent of all 30 teams, taking into consideration who is under contract for the next two years.<\/p>\n

Salaries and age weren\u2019t accounted for in McDaniel\u2019s rankings, and players were split into three tiers: elite, plus and solid.<\/p>\n

The Diamondbacks coming in sixth is a sharp increase from where the team has placed over the past several seasons. Arizona was slotted at No. 20 in 2022, No. 13 in 2023 and No. 14 in 2024, respectively.<\/p>\n

Elite tier (5ish WAR or \u201cperennial All-Stars with MVP chances\u201d)<\/p>\n

Corbin Carroll
\nKetel Marte<\/p>\n

Plus tier (3-5ish WAR)<\/p>\n

Geraldo Perdomo
\nGabriel Moreno
\nCorbin Burnes<\/p>\n

Solid tier (1.5-3ish WAR or \u201clower-end starters and valuable role players\u201d)<\/p>\n

Lourdes Gurriel Jr.
\nBrandon Pfaadt
\nJordan Lawlar
\nRyne Nelson
\nSlade Caldwell
\nAdrian Del Castillo
\nTyler Locklear
\nRyan Waldschmidt
\nKohl Drake
\nBlaze Alexander
\nTommy Troy
\nEduardo Rodriguez
\nJustin Martinez
\nAlek Thomas
\nJake McCarthy
\nCristian Mena
\nBrandyn Garcia<\/p>\n

Carroll, Marte and Perdomo have grown into an elite group of position players and Moreno isn\u2019t that far behind. Burnes is an ace but might not pitch again until 2027, so the D-backs need to see this next group of young players continue to progress and supplement that core. Locklear, Drake and Garcia were acquired at the deadline, and Caldwell and Waldschmidt were their first two picks in the 2024 draft.<\/p>\n

Carroll and Marte are both inked through the 2031 season after Marte signed a six-year extension<\/a> in April. Perdomo put his name on the dotted line<\/a> in February, agreeing to another four years with a $15 million club option for a fifth year.<\/p>\n

Moreno is one piece who is yet to sign a long-term extension. He is arbitration eligible in 2026.<\/p>\n

The Diamondbacks\u2019 NL West foes the Los Angeles Dodgers were put No. 1 on the list, while the Colorado Rockies were slotted at the bottom.<\/p>\n

Follow @veenstra_david<\/a><\/p>\n

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