The St. Louis Cardinals have faced criticism for not maximizing the potential of star players before trading them. A notable example is Zac Gallen, who was traded to the Miami Marlins in a deal that also involved Cy Young winner Sandy Alcántara. Both players have since thrived, while the Cardinals acquired Marcell Ozuna.

Jack Flaherty, another former Cardinal, is set to enter free agency and has been linked to the New York Yankees. After a challenging season with the Cardinals, he revitalized his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers and is now a key player in their postseason run.

The Arizona Diamondbacks are making significant changes to their coaching staff after narrowly missing the playoffs. The team announced that pitching coach Brent Strom, assistant pitching coach Dan Carlson, and bullpen coach Mike Fetters will not return for the next season.

Despite having the highest-scoring offense in baseball, the Diamondbacks struggled with their pitching, which had a high ERA of 4.62. The team faced numerous injuries to key pitchers, contributing to their disappointing finish.

The Arizona Diamondbacks concluded their season with an 89-73 record but fell short of the playoffs, losing tiebreakers to the Atlanta Braves and New York Mets. Following this disappointment, the team made significant changes to their coaching staff, parting ways with pitching coach Brent Strom, assistant pitching coach Dan Carlson, and bullpen coach Mike Fetters.

Despite a strong offensive showing, leading MLB in runs scored, the D-Backs' pitching struggled, finishing with a 4.62 ERA and allowing 788 runs. General manager Mike Hazen acknowledged that injuries to key pitchers impacted performance, while team owner Ken Kendrick expressed regret over signing Jordan Montgomery, who had a career-worst season.

The 2024 season for the Arizona Diamondbacks ended with a third-place finish in the NL West, missing the playoffs despite a record offensive output. The team scored 886 runs, led by Ketel Marte, Joc Pederson, and Eugenio Suárez, but struggled with a pitching staff that ranked 27th in ERA.

Heading into the offseason, the D-backs face significant decisions, particularly regarding free agents and their pitching rotation. With a mix of established players and promising prospects like Jordan Lawlar and Druw Jones, the outlook for 2025 remains cautiously optimistic.

The Arizona Diamondbacks faced a disappointing end to their season, missing the playoffs despite finishing with an 89-73 record. The team watched as the Atlanta Braves and New York Mets secured their postseason spots after splitting a doubleheader, leaving the Diamondbacks on the outside looking in.

Diamondbacks ace Zac Gallen reflected on the situation, acknowledging the impact of Hurricane Helene on scheduling and emphasizing that the team needed to take responsibility for their performance. First baseman Christian Walker echoed this sentiment, stating that the team could have done more to secure their playoff berth.