Diamondbacks set up roster return for Justin Martinez and Jordan Lawlar

The Arizona Diamondbacks are preparing to get two key reinforcements back as they reinstate closer Justin Martinez and outfielder Jordan Lawlar from the injured list, according to John Gambadoro of 98.7 FM Arizona Sports as relayed by MLB Trade Rumors on August 17. The move is framed as a major late-season lift for a bullpen that has been operating without Martinez for an extended stretch, while also restoring a young position player who has drawn attention in the Diamondbacks’ system.

Martinez’s situation includes an additional wrinkle tied to roster logistics. MLB Trade Rumors reports that Martinez was on the 60-day injured list, which means Arizona will need to open a spot on the 40-man roster when the activation is officially processed. This is a common constraint when a player comes off the 60-day IL, because the original placement has already removed him from immediate 40-man consideration for much of the season.

The corresponding transaction plan, per the same report, includes moving first baseman Tyler Locklear and right-hander Gerardo Carrillo to Triple-A Reno. In roster terms, those option moves are designed to make room without adding new players to the 40-man roster, allowing the team to add Martinez and Lawlar while keeping the overall 40-man count in line with MLB rules.

Lawlar’s activation restores an outfield bat and defensive option for Arizona. MLB Trade Rumors’ preview describes the return as bringing back a promising young hitter as well as a roster upgrade after the IL stint. The Diamondbacks, who have spent this season blending established pieces with developmental contributors, typically treat midseason and late-season IL activations as an opportunity to stabilize lineups and address platoon and depth needs as matchups tighten.

Martinez’s return is particularly significant because closers often define bullpen late-inning roles, even when managers adjust usage. A closer’s absence can force a team to reshuffle high-leverage workloads across several relievers. MLB Trade Rumors characterizes the return as Martinez getting the closer back after a long time, and the organizational impact of that kind of vacancy tends to show up most clearly in September when teams lean on their tightest relief arms.

Even with the report, it is important to distinguish between expectation and official confirmation. MLB Trade Rumors is describing what Arizona is set to do in terms of activation and corresponding option assignments, but the final details typically become fully certain only once the club submits and the league approves the transactions. Until then, Arizona’s 40-man roster maneuvering remains a moving target, especially with any additional IL designations or late roster shuffles that can occur around the same date.

For fans, the immediate next thing to watch is where Arizona slots Martinez in the bullpen pecking order once he is activated. Closers who return from a long IL stay can start with a ramp-up period, while managers may also compare their existing late-inning pattern to how Martinez’s stuff and command look in live work. On the position-player side, Lawlar’s path back to everyday at-bats will also be worth monitoring as Arizona balances matchups, defensive assignments, and the recently adjusted infield and outfield depth.

Overall, the planned activations suggest the Diamondbacks want both the inning-ending stability of a closer and the lineup momentum associated with a young hitter’s return as the season moves toward its final stretch. If everything proceeds as reported, these are the kinds of roster moves that can tighten a club’s margins in close games, particularly in the late innings where bullpen usage often decides outcomes.