SCOTTSDALE — Starting on Friday, the Arizona Diamondbacks will play a baseball game almost daily until at least the end of September.

Their Cactus League slate begins at 1:10 p.m. MST against the Colorado Rockies, and fans will receive their first in-game looks at coveted free agent signee Corbin Burnes.

Burnes — a four-time All-Star who signed a six-year, $210 million deal — will pitch one inning after requesting to throw in the first frame of spring training as he has done in the past. Behind him, expect to see a youthful group as most major leaguers continue to work behind the scenes.

“You’re gonna see a lot of minor leaguers because everybody’s just not caught up yet,” manager Torey Lovullo said on Thursday. “I think four games in you’ll start to see a lot of our guys, but we have three pitchers throwing tomorrow. I don’t know the other two.

“(Jose) Castillo will start the following day, but it’s Corbin backed up by two other guys and then a bunch of minor leaguers.”

As for the batting order, Lovullo said five to six regulars will take the field on Friday with the caveat that there is no set starting lineup at this point.

“It’s hard to say who you categorize as a starter, but you’ll see several play and then I gotta stagger it,” Lovullo said. “And several will play the next day.”

The D-backs have paired position groups in past spring training games, and an example Lovullo brought up is second baseman Ketel Marte and shortstop Geraldo Perdomo will take the field together more times than not.

When can fans arrive at Salt River Fields for Diamondbacks-Rockies?

Fan access to Diamondbacks workouts on the backfields takes place each day from 9 a.m. to noon MST. The gates to the stadium open 90 minutes prior to games.

How the Diamondbacks evaluate spring training

The Diamondbacks are not going to judge their roster or position competitions based on spring training results. It is a small sample size and players are trying to build up for the regular season while staying healthy.

There are elements to games that Lovullo explained are useful when evaluating the team, though.

“Shapes of pitches, mound presence, the ability to step back and execute after a crisis situation,” Lovullo said. “What do you look like after you make an error, have a bad at-bat, what’s your body language like? Those are the things that I’m really honing in on, and then specifically the breaks and movements of players.

“Just find out where these guys are with their confidence level when they’re on defense, and then their ability to not miss pitches offensively. It’s not the result that I’m watching.”

ABS enters playing field

Diamondbacks veterans will receive their first experience playing in a game with the automated ball-strike (ABS) challenge system on Friday.

The league is testing ABS in spring training this year after a trial run in Triple-A. ABS will not be implemented in the major leagues this year, but data and feedback from spring training will help decision-makers determine the next steps.

Not every ballpark will have ABS. The five Cactus League parks that will are Salt River Fields, Surprise Stadium, Goodyear Ballpark, Camelback Ranch and Peoria Sports Complex. The D-backs will play a league-leading 29 games with ABS.

Teams get two challenges each game, which they retain if correct. It is very quick, as the pitcher, batter or catcher has to challenge a strike or ball call within a couple seconds. The video board will display the pitch location and the game will continue on as so:

Major League Baseball is going to test its ABS (automated ball-strike) challenge system during spring training games.

Here’s what it will look like: pic.twitter.com/Y8ZHix2mK3

— Alex Weiner (@alexjweiner) February 19, 2025

What’s been happening at Diamondbacks spring training before Cactus League begins?

Lovullo praised his club’s intensity and focus during the first days of spring training, as much of the roster arrived in camp well before the official report dates.

The D-backs ended last season on awkward terms, watching the Mets and Braves clinch playoff spots by splitting a doubleheader after the regular season ended for 28 teams. That experience stuck in Lovullo’s mind and that of the players who received an extreme example of “every game counts.”

“I think the players have been fantastic with their focus,” Lovullo said. “Spring training is a little bit loose, but when you need to be in and engaged, they’re all in. I watched the cuts and relays today, and it’s as good as I’ve ever seen a group execute cuts and relays on day one, it was electric. Guys were in the right place and doing exactly the things that they know are important to the Arizona Diamondbacks.

“The intensity has been great, and I think this group is coming together very nicely.”

The Diamondbacks have had an eventful start to spring training:

– They gave a four-year extension to Perdomo, whose leadership and steady play made him a core member of the ballclub.

– The club also brought in veteran relievers Kendall Graveman and Shelby Miller (minor league deal) to deepen the bullpen.

– Pitcher Drey Jameson faced live hitters for the first time since undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2023.

– Left-hander Jordan Montgomery responded to owner Ken Kendrick’s criticism by saying, “I’ve got two older brothers, so it’s not gonna hurt my feelings.” He also arrived in camp 20-25 pounds lighter looking to be more smooth to the plate.

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The Arizona Diamondbacks announced their spring training broadcast schedule on Thursday, including six free telecasts on DBACKS.TV.

Cactus League play for the Diamondbacks begins Friday at 1:10 p.m. MST against Colorado at Salt River Fields, and the first television broadcast is Saturday against the Rockies, also at 1:10 p.m.

Additionally, Diamondbacks baseball will air on eight webcasts, including Friday’s opener, plus 11 English radio broadcasts and two Spanish radio broadcasts.

Arizona will play 34 games ahead of Opening Day on March 27 against the Chicago Cubs.

During the regular season, Major League Baseball will distribute Diamondbacks broadcasts just like last season on DBACKS.TV. The Diamondbacks have also negotiated with local networks to offer a free, over-the-air package to fans this season, but they have not yet announced an agreement.

Diamondbacks TV broadcast schedule for spring training

Saturday, February 22 // @ Rockies // 1:10 p.m. // Rockies broadcast

Saturday, March 1 // vs. Rockies // 1:10 p.m. // Steve Berthiaume and Bob Brenly

Thursday, March 6 // vs. Mariners // 6:10 p.m. // Steve Berthiaume and Josh Collmenter

Wednesday, March 12 // @ Athletics // 1:05 p.m. // Athletics broadcast

Thursday, March 13 // @ Mariners // 6:40 p.m. // Mariners broadcast

Monday, March 24 // vs. Guardians // 6:40 p.m. // Steve Berthiaume and Bob Brenly

Diamondbacks webcasts for spring training

Friday, February 21 // vs. Rockies // 1:10 p.m. // Mike Ferrin and Josh Collmenter

Wednesday, February 26 // vs. Brewers // 1:10 p.m. // Mike Ferrin and Josh Collmenter

Friday, February 28 // vs. Royals // 1:10 p.m. // Chris Garagiola and Josh Collmenter

Monday, March 3 // vs. Cubs // 1:10 p.m. // Mike Ferrin and Josh Collmenter

Wednesday, March 5 // vs. Giants // 1:10 p.m. // Mike Ferrin and Josh Collmenter

Tuesday, March 11 // vs. Royals // 1:10 p.m. // Mike Ferrin and Tom Candiotti

Wednesday, March 19 // vs. Rockies // 1:10 p.m. // Chris Garagiola and Josh Collmenter

Thursday, March 20 // vs. Athletics // 1:10 p.m. // Chris Garagiola and Josh Collmenter

Diamondbacks radio broadcast schedule at spring training

Saturday, February 22 // @ Rockies // 1:10 p.m. // ESPN 620 AM // Chris Garagiola and Tom Candiotti

Sunday, February 23 // @ Mariners // 1:10 p.m. // ESPN 620 AM // Chris Garagiola and Tom Candiotti

Saturday, March 1 // vs. Rockies // 1:10 p.m. // 98.7 // Chris Garagiola and Tom Candiotti

Sunday, March 2 // @ Rangers // 1:05 p.m. // 98.7 // Chris Garagiola and Tom Candiotti

Saturday, March 8 // @ Reds // 1:05 p.m. // 98.7 // Mike Ferrin and Tom Candiotti

Sunday, March 9 // vs. Rangers // 1:10 p.m. // ESPN 620 AM // Mike Ferrin and Tom Candiotti

Saturday, March 15 // vs. White Sox // 1:10 p.m. // 98.7 // Mike Ferrin and Tom Candiotti

Sunday, March 16 // @ Padres // 1:10 p.m. // ESPN 620 AM // Mike Ferrin and Tom Candiotti

Saturday, March 22 // @ Giants // 1:05 p.m. // 98.7 // Chris Garagiola and Josh Collmenter

Sunday, March 23 // vs. Padres // 1:10 p.m. // 98.7 // Chris Garagiola and Josh Collmenter

Monday, March 24 // vs. Guardians // 6:40 p.m. // ESPN 620 AM // Chris Garagiola and Tom Candiotti

Diamondbacks Spanish radio broadcast schedule at spring training

Monday, March 24 // vs. Guardians // 6:40 p.m. // Latino Mix 100.3 // Oscar Soria and Rodrigo Lopez

Tuesday, March 25 // vs. Guardians // 12:40 p.m. // Latino Mix 100.3 // Oscar Soria and Rodrigo Lopez

You can find the full schedule and more details at pic.twitter.com/Fl4FKWzxWD

— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) February 20, 2025

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Kevin Durant, not Bradley Beal, became the Phoenix Suns player who was the most talked about in the final hours before the NBA trade deadline two weeks ago.

The Suns’ apparent curiosity about moving him to the Golden State Warriors in a complex deal that didn’t get past the finish line became quite public. ESPN’s reporters detailed what looked possible and what didn’t happen to leave Phoenix without a blockbuster deal involving Durant leaving or Jimmy Butler incoming.

Durant, in his honest way this past week, told ESPN that the rumors didn’t start at his end. He didn’t ask for a trade.

Phoenix president of basketball operations and general manager James Jones told Arizona Sports’ Bickley & Marotta that the Suns didn’t feel the need to smooth things over with their star player after he wasn’t moved.

“No, I mean I think that’s the story everyone wants to talk about,” Jones said Thursday. “Kevin is unique in the sense that he tells you exactly how he feels and he understands this game, top to bottom. … No smoothing over (was needed) because he wants to do what we want to do, which is win.

“He’s been great. I think it’s a testament to his ability to put the game above anything else. We’re aware the narratives will continue to bubble up. And like I said, when you’re not winning, it gets noisy. The only way to counter that is to win games and stack wins and if we do that, I think we’ll have the outcome that we set out to achieve at the beginning of the season.”

To Jones’ point, Durant told ESPN’s Malika Andrews over the NBA All-Star break that he understands why that noise around the Suns built.

Phoenix (26-28) sits in the 11th spot in the Western Conference before ramping back up with a game Thursday against the San Antonio Spurs. It still is just 1.5 games out of the play-in spot. But considering the expectations for the NBA leader in salary spending this season, just being in that play-in mix is far from satisfying for fans and admittedly short of the bar set by the front office.

Along with the reports of a potential Durant trade, a benching of Bradley Beal and the quick erosion of a role for former starting center Jusuf Nurkic that ended with a trade to Charlotte signified the urgency by Phoenix’s front office to fix things.

“But obviously when you pay so much for a team and we’re not playing up to our expectation, somebody has to go,” Durant told Andrews.

“You probably should check in with those guys in the front office throughout the rest of the season and see how they feel about the team,” he added. “I know that I’m going to try and keep bringing my best every single day and I let the higher-ups focus on what’s next.”

That is the tunnel vision mindset of Durant that Jones believes didn’t require a sitdown to keep their relationship strong.

And moving forward with Durant still a Sun, Jones said the trade deadline passing has a way of firming up a collective mindset for even a team in Phoenix’s position.

“Too often we forget these guys are human and these guys, they’re people,” Jones told Bickley & Marotta. “They hear, they consume. They know when the team isn’t performing the way we’re wanting to, we’re all interested in getting better. My job is always to look at things but it’s also a testament to the talent of this group. Teams, they’re interested in our players. … They try to be opportunistic.

“We always try to make sure we aren’t being blind to the facts when a team isn’t performing, something’s gotta improve, something’s gotta change. We make a bunch of different tweaks. But at the end of the day, once you get to the All-Star break and guys know where they’re finishing their season, it’s a lot easier to lock in and focus and rally around that one mission, which is get as many wins as you can and take this season as far as you can.”

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Kevin Durant went back to the Bay Area last weekend. He’s now going back to school.

A nostalgic time for Phoenix’s All-Star forward continues Thursday, when Durant and the Suns play San Antonio in Austin, Texas — a home game for the Spurs and a homecoming for Durant, since the game brings him back to where he played his one college season with the Longhorns.

“It does mean a lot to me,” Durant said. “I’m excited that we get to go back to play a regular-season game there. Austin is a place where I kind of started this journey, and to have so many friends and family that are still there from, what, 16, 17 years ago is pretty sweet. So, I appreciate the NBA for setting this up. This is a unique time.”

Durant’s lone season in Austin was 2006-07, and he was college basketball’s best player that year. He averaged 25.8 points and 11.1 rebounds, finishing the season ranked fourth nationally in both of those categories on his way to being selected as player of the year by The Associated Press and a number of other outlets.

Kevin Durant only spent one season at Texas, but his memories of Austin are special.

Especially the weekends spent on 6th Street.

Game recognize Game 🫡#SunsUp | @12SportsAZ | @KDTrey5 pic.twitter.com/J89w3LCL9W

— Jake García (@Jake_M_Garcia) February 20, 2025

He declared for the draft after that season, went No. 2 overall to Seattle in 2007 and the accolades keep piling up. Durant is the only men’s player in USA Basketball history to win four Olympic gold medals, he won two championships with Golden State — returning to the Bay this past weekend after being selected as an All-Star for the 15th time — and just became the eighth player in NBA history to eclipse the 30,000-point mark.

“I think it’s an awesome opportunity for himself — and for the city of Austin to come out and support one of our great players who is still in the prime of his career right now,” Texas coach Rodney Terry said. “He’s scored over 30,000 points, he’s one of the all-time scorers at the next level, one of the all-time scorers at the collegiate level. But to have an opportunity come back where you played collegiately, to play a professional game against one of the best organizations in all of professional sports in the Spurs, you can’t ask for a better scenario.”

This is the third consecutive season where the Spurs have played two home games in Austin, about 75 miles northeast of San Antonio. The Spurs see Austin as part of a mega-region that they’ve been cultivating for years, even stretching into Mexico — and this year’s home games help break up the annual rodeo road trip. The San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo typically sends the Spurs on the road for much of February, so this year’s games in Austin break up that window.

The Spurs also play in Austin on Friday against Detroit. The Suns got to Austin on Tuesday and one of Durant’s first stops was the Longhorns’ practice.

“I’m going to try to roam around the city a little bit,” Durant said this past weekend when asked if he had plans to check out some of his favorite places in Austin. “I don’t have a set schedule, but I’ve got some stuff I want to see.”

Austin is very much a Spurs town; the team’s G League affiliate plays there and plenty of fans at the Moody Center on Thursday and Friday will surely be wearing Victor Wembanyama jerseys. But there’s going to be a slew of Texas jerseys and Durant garb visible in the crowd on Thursday, for good reason.

“To have him come back here and be here this week and be around our guys and see our guys, I mean, you can’t ask for anything better than that,” Terry said. “A lot of our guys’ favorite player is Kevin Durant. Why they chose to come to Texas was Kevin Durant. He’s had an incredible impact not only on our basketball program but also on our athletic program as a whole. He’s an incredible ambassador for Texas athletics.”

As the Phoenix Mercury wait for a decision from franchise face Diana Taurasi about her playing future, the organization has already gone ahead with a reset.

It lost center Brittney Griner in free agency when she signed with the Atlanta Dream, citing the “people” in that organization and its location for her decision to move her family.

Then in a web of a trade that included four teams, Phoenix sent guards Natasha Cloud and Rebecca Allen to the Connecticut Sun, plus guard Sophie Cunningham to the Indiana Fever.

In that, the Mercury reloaded by adding five-time All-Star Alyssa Thomas from the Sun and former Dallas Wings forward Satou Sabally.

How does it all change the team’s playing identity?

“I think we’ll have a chance to play a lot faster. I think we have players who can play multiple positions,” second-year Mercury general manager Nick U’Ren told Arizona Sports’ Bickley & Marotta on Wednesday.

“I am excited for sort of how mobile and fluid and quick this team can play.”

He foresees a more versatile team that can rip the ball out of the net and run, spacing the court with shooters and playmakers.

Look no further than Thomas, who averaged 10.6 points, 8.4 rebounds and 7.9 assists per game last season. Over different seasons, she has led the WNBA in steals and rebounds. Six times she’s made a WNBA All-Defensive team.

Sabally is still just 26 years old and last season averaged 17.9 points, 6.4 rebounds and 5.0 assists.

Together, the two new stars join Kahleah Copper, who in her first year with the Mercury proved she could carry the weight as a team’s leading scorer (21.1 points per game).

Those three players are at the core of Phoenix’s revamp.

And that’s before understanding where the WNBA’s all-time leading scorer, the 42-year-old Taurasi, fits in. She was given a send-off without assurances the 2024 season would be her last with the Mercury or in the WNBA altogether.

“I don’t have much more information than you guys do,” U’Ren said Wednesday. “That’s her decision to make. We can go on and on about her impact on the team and what she’s meant to the community and the league.

“That’s an extremely personal decision and it’s something that shouldn’t be taken lightly. And she’ll make it in due time.”

So is the door still open for Taurasi to return to a team that hardly looks the same as last year’s 19-21 squad?

“She and her agent and I speak all the time. I think, like I said, that’s a decision she’ll have to make in her own time but she’ll always have a place in our organization one way or another,” U’Ren said.

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Ever since the offseason began for the Arizona Cardinals and the rest of the non-playoff teams, there’s been one name circling around the franchise: pass rusher Josh Sweat.

On top of his already established relationship with head coach Jonathan Gannon, who was Sweat’s DC in Philadelphia from 2021-22, the free agent would be an instant upgrade at Arizona’s biggest weak point.

For those reasons, ESPN’s Matt Bowen has the Cardinals as the best team fit for his seventh-highest ranked free agent this offseason.

Cardinals coach John Gannon worked with Sweat in Philly, so he knows what he’d be getting in the 6-5, 265-pound edge rusher. … Sweat would add much-needed pass-rushing juice to Gannon’s defense, using his speed-to-power to get to the QB.

The veteran edge rusher is coming off one of his best regular seasons as a pro behind 41 pressures, 8.0 sacks, nine tackles for loss and 15 QB hits across 16 games (15 starts).

It was his play in Super Bowl LIX that was the exclamation point on his season, though, with 2.5 sacks in a dominant win over the Kansas City Chiefs.

Quarterback Jalen Hurts took home Super Bowl MVP honors that night, but the pass rusher was right up there for consideration.

MVP or not, that performance did one thing: Increase the price tag for the free agent, who played on a one-year, $10 million deal in 2024. There is no way those figures are anywhere close to what he is going to command this free agency.

The Cardinals have cap space to spend, but with other needs and re-signings, just how much are they willing to lock up on a single player?

General manager Monti Ossenfort has been very measured in his spending on free agents, instead focusing on the NFL Draft to further build out the roster.

But with free agent’s stature, some added cash and Arizona’s current regime entering critical territory in Year 3, maybe that thinking shifts in 2025.

If either runway is clear this offseason, which game changer are you adding to the Cardinals defense?

Josh Sweat or Myles Garrett?

Full episode: pic.twitter.com/k18QvFQGv5

— Cardinals Corner (@AZCardsCorner) February 16, 2025

Adding to the outside linebackers room isn’t a bad place to spend, either. In addition to needing more bodies at the position, getting some premium talent that moves the needle past Zaven Collins’ team-leading sacks mark of five would go a long way.

Josh Sweat not the only top free agent fit for Cardinals

The defender wasn’t the only free agent in Bowen’s top 50 linked to the Cardinals, with Buffalo Bills wide receiver Amari Cooper getting the same treatment.

Cooper is showing signs of decline, and he lost reps to Mack Hollins in the playoffs, but he still has solid route traits. The Cardinals would love a veteran like him alongside Marvin Harrison Jr., while also giving Kyler Murray another target in the route tree.

Getting on board with a Sweat-Arizona pairing is easy.

This scenario? Not so much.

While the wide receiver is just two seasons removed from his 1,250-yard effort in 2023, he didn’t give much to write home about in his eight-game run with Buffalo. He caught 20 balls for 297 yards for two touchdowns.

His playoff showing wasn’t any better behind six receptions for 41 yards in three games (one start).

Arizona could certainly use a deep threat to pair with Marvin Harrison Jr. Just not an aging wide receiver at the tail end of his career.

With Greg Dortch (restricted), Zach Pascal and Zay Jones hitting free agency, Arizona currently has Harrison, Michael Wilson and Xavier Weaver under contract who played for the Cardinals last year.

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SCOTTSDALE — The Arizona Diamondbacks value shortstop Geraldo Perdomo’s defensive stability, at-bat quality and leadership skills, rewarding the impact he’s had on the club with a contract extension on Tuesday.

The deal begins in 2026 and runs through 2029 with a $15 million club option for 2030, keeping Perdomo in Arizona at least two years beyond when he would have hit free agency.

Contract talks developed last week, but the Diamondbacks have known the 25-year-old possesses rare qualities for a long time, particularly his ability to connect with those around him.

“We saw it in the minor leagues,” general manager Mike Hazen said on Tuesday after the extension announcement. “I remember seeing him play in Kane County. I think it’s innate. I think it’s something he’s very comfortable with. I don’t think you can throw leadership on certain people. … He’s just always seemed very comfortable speaking his mind, being honest with teammates, with us.”

Perdomo called his ability to connect with teammates from all walks of life a gift, saying how showing respect and having fun with players of different backgrounds has earned him that level of respect. On the field, he has a feel for when to talk to his pitchers. In the clubhouse, he commands attention.

The Diamondbacks threw him into the pool early, calling him up as a 21-year-old in 2021, and Perdomo remembers not swinging once during his first MLB plate appearance. Over the years, manager Torey Lovullo has been open about being hard on Perdomo, and the young infielder has stepped up to the challenge of being consistent.

“I really started to pound the table hard for Gerry to get this and be a Diamondback for as many years as possible,” Lovullo told Arizona Sports’ Bickley & Marotta on Tuesday.

Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo congratulates Geraldo Perdomo on his contract extension. @Bickley_Marotta

Watch Newsmakers Week live: pic.twitter.com/pIbGmurvwR

— Arizona Sports (@AZSports) February 18, 2025

“What does he represent? Stability, leadership, consistency. … I need a shortstop to play the baseball game just the exact same way that he does, and I’ve been very hard on him. I’m not gonna lie. When he got here, he was still young, he still needed some training, and we had some very difficult conversations.”

Geraldo Perdomo develops into franchise shortstop

Perdomo played 11 games in 2021 and had to fill in for the injured Nick Ahmed for much of 2022. He played 148 games as a rookie, showing promise as a defender while struggling to get much going at the plate (.195 average).

But the D-backs maintained faith in the process, platooning him with longtime starting shortstop Ahmed in 2023.

Perdomo made the All-Star Game as an injury replacement after a hot start. Despite cooling off in the second half, he stepped up as a reliable, consistent everyday player in the postseason and earned his spot as the franchise shortstop going forward.

He continued to make strides as a defender, someone who may not have the flashiest highlight reel but makes up for it with his feel for the position.

“Shortstop is a tricky position,” Hazen said. “There’s an element of where can you get to on the field to make plays. And then there’s an element of making every single play and I think the sure handedness, steadiness, consistency, his technique, how he plays the position, is up there at the very top of of the game.

“We value how he plays the position, from intelligence, positioning and so many things I think get undervalued that may not show up on objective things at times, but the consistency with which he makes every play is a value for that position.”

Mike Hazen and Geraldo Perdomo’s opening comments after today’s announcement: pic.twitter.com/eQ3vClIIJS

— Alex Weiner (@alexjweiner) February 18, 2025

The switch-hitter is an absolute headache for pitchers at the bottom of the order. He’s had minuscule chase, whiff and strikeout percentages, all in at least the 90th percentile of MLB last season, per Statcast. It is very common to watch him work a full count with Arizona’s power threats due up next, giving him the chance to work a walk or see a pitch to hit and flip the lineup.

Paired with a strong walk rate in each of the past two seasons (12.9% and 9.3%, respectively), Perdomo’s extension should most excite Corbin Carroll and Ketel Marte at the top of the order, Hazen said.

The club learned the hard way during the first two months of 2024 — after Perdomo suffered a meniscus tear — how much of a void his absence created.

“We talked about it last year when he was out how much we missed him and what it meant,” Hazen said. “Yes, that was a topic that we discussed.”

Fortunately for the club, they did not take him out of circulation too soon.

Hazen credited assistant general manager Amiel Sawdaye for arguing against potentially dealing Perdomo as a prospect way back in 2017. The Diamondbacks made a trade for veteran outfielder Jon Jay after reaching the 2017 postseason, and Hazen said Perdomo was on the table at one point. Instead, Arizona dealt pitchers Gabe Speier and Elvis Luciano, holding onto a future core member of the organization.

“I’m very thankful that Amiel didn’t let me trade him in 2017 for Jon Jay,” Hazen said. “Amiel said, ‘No chance you can trade Perdomo.’ So we didn’t, thankfully, and he’s still here because of it.”

Perdomo added, “I’m glad he didn’t trade me,” saying they’ve joked about it since then.

Geraldo Perdomo is here to stay as the Arizona Diamondbacks’ franchise shortstop.

GM Mike Hazen is counting his lucky stars Amiel Sawdaye stopped him from including Perdomo in trade talks way back in 2017. pic.twitter.com/VcEuRU5RX2

— Arizona Sports (@AZSports) February 18, 2025

Diamondbacks committing to young core

The Diamondbacks have now committed long-term contracts to two members of its young core after signing Carroll through the 2030 season in 2023. Alek Thomas, Jake McCarthy, Brandon Pfaadt, Ryne Nelson, Justin Martinez and Jordan Lawlar have also come through the system over the past few years, while Gabriel Moreno is in that age range having been traded from Toronto.

The Diamondbacks have some potential reshuffling on the horizon with a number of key free agents going into next winter. Investing in that young core, Hazen explained, is valuable to building sustainability.

“We’re going to try as much as we can to keep this group together, because I think that group of teammates staying together that have all come up through the minor leagues together, which I think is part of the reason they play well together at the major league level now, the level of respect between teammates is an important thing for us to try to build upon,” Hazen said.

Perdomo called this a special moment for his family in the Dominican Republic. The deal is worth a reported $45 million, life-changing money for his family after he described growing up without having much.

As for what changes for him in Arizona, he said nothing. He feels the team has unfinished business after the previous two years and is focused on winning with his guys.

“At the end of the day, it’s not about me,” Perdomo said. “It’s about how we are as a group, we are like a family. Sometimes a different guy has something to say … we support each other.

“I told Hazen and Torey a couple times we didn’t finish our job the last two years. It’s win the World Series. That’s what the mindset is right now.”

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The Arizona Wildcats fell six spots in The Associated Press’ top 25 men’s basketball rankings released Monday.

Arizona’s (17-8) descension in the AP poll follows the pair of losses the Wildcats suffered last week. Arizona lost at Kansas State on Tuesday and fell late to Houston at home on Saturday. Tuesday’s loss snapped a six-game winning streak for the Wildcats.

The two-game skid comes after Wildcats had won 13 of their past 14 games after a 4-5 start to the season.

With six conference games to play, the Wildcats sit two games back of Houston for the conference lead and are tied with Texas Tech.

Houston rose to No. 5 after Saturday’s win at the McKale Center. The Cougars play at Arizona State on Tuesday.

Arizona plays at Baylor on Monday and hosts BYU on Saturday.

Auburn’s win at Alabama assured the Tigers would keep the No. 1 ranking in The Associated Press Top 25 men’s college basketball poll for a sixth consecutive week.

The Tigers (23-2) received 59 of 60 first-place votes in Monday’s poll, reclaiming nearly all the support lost when they fell at home to Florida on Feb. 8. Auburn had been the unanimous No. 1 for three straight weeks before that loss, but remained at the top last week despite seeing nearly half of those first-place votes go primarily to Alabama, with a few to Florida and Tennessee.

But the Tigers won Saturday in a 1-vs.-2 road matchup against the rival Crimson Tide, hours after the committee that will choose the 68-team field for the NCAA Tournament put Auburn as its No. 1 overall seed in its preliminary rankings.

The top tier

The two teams to beat the Tigers sit right behind them. Florida and Duke were tied for third last week, and the Gators inched past the Blue Devils to break that tie and take the No. 2 spot while claiming the remaining first-place vote.

Alabama fell to No. 4, followed by Houston, Tennessee, Texas A&M — with its highest ranking since December 2017 — Iowa State, Texas Tech and St. John’s to round out the top 10.

Of that group, the Red Raiders represented the only change from last week’s set of teams, climbing three spots to replace Purdue for their first top-10 appearance in three years. Grant McCasland’s squad, which has lost just twice since the start of 2025, was unranked until cracking the poll at No. 22 on Jan. 27.

Rising

Michigan had the week’s biggest jump among ranked teams, climbing eight spots to No. 12 after beating Purdue last week and pushing its win streak to six games.

No. 15 Missouri jumped six spots, while No. 11 Wisconsin, No. 18 Clemson and No. 20 Maryland each rose five spots.

In all, 12 teams moved up from their position last week.

Sliding

Memphis took the biggest tumble of the week, falling eight spots to No. 22 after its overtime loss at Wichita State ended an eight-game winning streak.

No. 13 Purdue and No. 23 Kansas — the preseason No. 1-ranked team — also fell six spots, while No. 24 Mississippi tumbled five.

Ten teams fell from last week’s poll.

Welcome back

No. 25 Louisville was the week’s lone new addition, returning to the poll for the second time after a two-week stint in January. First-year coach Pat Kelsey has guided the program to its first 20-win season since 2019-20, with the Cardinals having lost just once since mid-December.

Farewell (for now)

Creighton (No. 24) fell out of the rankings for the second time this season. The Bluejays were ranked for the first four weeks, then returned last week for what turned out to be a one-week stay.

Conference watch

The Southeastern Conference had a national-best nine teams, including three of the top four and five of the top 10. The Big 12 and Big Ten each had five teams, though the Big 12 had three in the top 10 while the highest-ranked Big Ten team checked in at 11th.

The Atlantic Coast Conference had three, followed by the Big East with two and the American Athletic Conference with one.

Arizona falls 6 spots in AP men’s college basketball rankings – Feb. 17

Others receiving votes:

New Mexico 117, Saint Mary’s 63, UCLA 56, Creighton 27, Illinois 22, UConn 20, George Mason 15, Gonzaga 14, High Point 1.

Arizona in the USA Today Coaches Poll

Others Receiving Votes

Ole Miss 64; UCLA 49; New Mexico 41; Creighton 37; Gonzaga 15; UConn 11; Illinois 5; UC San Diego 3; VCU 2; George Mason 1.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

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SCOTTSDALE — Major League Baseball will continue to broadcast Arizona Diamondbacks games on TV as it had last season, although the club is looking at new ways to increase visibility.

Diamondbacks president and CEO Derrick Hall said the team is negotiating with local stations to bring an over-the-air package of games to viewers this season.

“We’re working on those negotiations right now to see if we could take a package of games, almost like a game of the week, and have those on over-the-air partnership,” Hall said on Monday. “We’re speaking with several right now, and we’re excited about that opportunity.

“We look at our games as really like three-hour, or hopefully shorter than three hours, infomercials to get people to come out to the ballpark. So if we could get folks that maybe don’t have cable or have already cut the cord, but perhaps they have over-the-air, it’ll be an advantage to get to get a larger reach. Those would be simulcast, so if it’s 15-20, games, whatever it ends up being, we would still have those games played on the normal distribution channels.”

Diamondbacks games will continue to air on on the 2024 channels. For Phoenix viewers, COX showed the games on channel 34 while those in Tucson caught them on 26. DirecTV broadcasted on channel 686. Spectrum’s two channels were 304 and 444 while Xfinity/Comcast watched on channel 1261.

For streamers, DBACKS.TV will continue to provide every game for $99.99 per season. Hall said the D-backs had nearly 40,000 subscribers in 2024 and foresees that number jumping above 50,000.

Beyond expanding the number of screens games can be played on, adding an over-the-air package will present the club data when evaluating the future of its broadcasts.

“We’re establishing means right now to measure the lift in the business, to measure the lift in viewership and ratings,” Hall said. “We’re going to do an evaluation after that to see if it makes sense one day to just be exclusively over the air.”

Hall said the Diamondbacks are not the only club to look at this opportunity.

In the wake of Diamond Sports Group’s (Bally Sports) bankruptcy, MLB has taken over broadcasts for several teams, such as the San Diego Padres, Milwaukee Brewers, Minnesota Twins and recently the Cincinnati Reds.

The Diamondbacks have lost the regional sports network revenue stream but have made up funds in other ways, such as the jersey patch and sportsbook at Chase Field. Managing partner Ken Kendrick had previously called over-the-air a challenging financial model, but gaining an insight by using select games is seen as beneficial.

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