Randal Grichuk Traded to Royals as D-backs Continue Deadline Sell-Off

The next player to be dealt at the trade deadline is outfielder Randal Grichuk. Nick Piecoro (The Arizona Republic) and Steve Gilbert (MLB.com) both report that Grichuk has been dealt to the Kansas City Royals.

In the fifth inning of the D-backs vs. Pirates game on Sunday, the broadcast showed Grichuk hugging his teammates and collecting his gear. Not too long after, the trade news dropped.

Grichuk becomes the second player the D-backs have traded this week, with first baseman Josh Naylor going to the Seattle Mariners. Arizona received pitching prospects Brandyn Garcia and Ashton Izzi in the deal. Garcia is already in the D-backs bullpen after the team recalled him from Triple-A Reno.

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Randal Grichuk’s Strong Track Record vs. Left-Handed Pitching

Grichuk, 33, re-signed with Arizona following another long winter on the free agent market. He reprised the same role that he did in 2024, serving as the team’s fourth outfielder and primary designated hitter against left-handed pitching. Against lefties, he’s slashing .231/.281/.469 with five home runs and a 102 wRC+ this season.

He has an extensive track record of being an effective bat when holding the platoon advantage. He holds a .284/.335/.524 slash and a 127 wRC+ against lefties since 2019. Last season, he hit .319 with six home runs and a .913 OPS, which is why the D-backs chose to re-sign him in the offseason to another one-year deal.

The 2025 bottom-line numbers against lefties underperform his seven-year track record, but the quality of contact is still excellent for Grichuk. He has a 53.6% hard-hit rate and a 14.3% barrel rate against lefties, showing he’s still an impact bat when he makes contact.

How the Grichuk Deal Impacts the D-backs DH Situation

With Grichuk no longer on the club, the D-backs no longer have someone who can DH against left-handed pitching. Tristin English is already filling in at first base following the Naylor trade. Infielder Blaze Alexander is the likely candidate to take on that role, splitting time at second base and DH with Ketel Marte. Adrian Del Castillo will manage the strong side of the platoon until Pavin Smith returns from his oblique injury.

As for the team’s outfield mix, Jorge Barrosa should assume the outfield part of Grichuk’s role. Barrosa came into the game for Grichuk while the trade reports were coming out. While he’s not a true right-handed bat, he is a switch hitter who will bat right-handed against lefties.

The team will need to add a right-handed bat in the offseason to replace Grichuk long-term. Whether that’s acquiring a full-time DH or a right-handed outfield bat who can split time between the outfield and DH, that’s one of their priorities beyond pitching.

The Return for Randal Grichuk

The D-backs will receive right-handed reliever Andrew Hoffman from the Kansas City Royals, per MLB insider Jon Heyman. Hoffman debuted with the Royals earlier this year, so he takes Grichuk’s vacated 40-man roster spot.

While he doesn’t rank on MLB’s Top 30 list for the Royals system at the time of trade, he does have some interesting metrics that suggest he could be a useful arm for the D-backs’ bullpen.

Hoffman carries a three-pitch mix between a four-seamer, changeup, and slider. Here’s how he utilizes his pitches, their specific shape, and outcomes.

• Four-Seamer (39.9%): 95.1 MPH, 16.8” induced vertical break, 7.8” arm-side run, .210 BA, .339 SLG, 32.1% whiff rate
• Slider (11.0%): 84.8 MPH, 3.4” iVB, 8.3” glove-side sweep, .273 BA, .273 SLG, 37.5% whiff rate
• Changeup (47.5%): 88.0 MPH, -1.4” iVB, 10.4” arm-side run, .234 BA, .286 SLG, 39.1% whiff rate

Having a capable slider and changeup gives him a higher ceiling than your typical right-handed reliever. The ability to miss bats to both lefties and righties gives him the ceiling of a potential late-inning arm, but perhaps lacks the fastball to be more than a 7th or 8th inning reliever.

As you can see from the graphic, he excels at nearly everything. I wouldn’t be surprised if he joins the club later this year. The main concern I have is the low zone rate and how it could translate at the MLB level, but considering how effective he is overall at everything else, it’s worth the risk to see if he can be a late-inning arm.

The D-backs lack capable right-handed arms outside of Kevin Ginkel that are under control for 2026. Justin Martinez is unlikely to pitch in 2026 after undergoing Tommy John surgery in late June. Ryan Thompson is on the injured list with a scapularis strain (rotator cuff). So there is a need to add capable right-handed arms in the organization that are close to the major leagues.

Arizona Sports insider John Gambadoro reported that Hoffman will be assigned to Triple-A Reno. He will join Hayden Durke, Kyle Amendt, and Alfred Morillo as the top right-handed relief arms on that squad. However, it won’t be long until he gets an opportunity, once the deadline sorts itself over.

Summary of Mike Hazen’s Deadline Moves So Far and What’s Next

Between this deal and the Josh Naylor trade, the clear goal is to improve their chances of competing as early as next year. Hazen has acquired two bullpen arms that should get opportunities to finish out the season in the big leagues and compete for a spot in next year’s bullpen.

Neither deal is going to grab headlines for the talent returning, but they’re the type of moves that can make or break a team. Both Garcia and Hoffman have showcased interesting traits that project for future success in a big league bullpen.

Hazen still has three major trade chips to shop on the market between Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly, and Eugenio Suárez. Suárez is considered the top deadline target according to both ESPN and MLB Trade Rumors. As many as 10 teams are reportedly interested in the D-backs third baseman, giving Hazen a chance to leverage a potential bidding war for the 36 home run slugger to land impact pitching talent for next season.

There are still 4 1/2 days between now and the trade deadline, so it will be interesting to see how the D-backs’ GM navigates what is clearly an inefficient market. His future in Arizona will depend on how he does it.

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Michael McDermott blends the sharp eye of a scout and the insight of an analyst to provide the best and most comprehensive coverage on the Arizona Diamondbacks. Michael has been credentialed for 50 MLB games at Chase Field, the last three years of the Arizona Fall League, and has written about the team for more than 10 years.