Arizona Diamondbacks News

Ildemaro Vargas  • 2B  •  Diamondbacks

Diamondbacks Agree To Minors Deal With Ildemaro Vargas

The Arizona Diamondbacks agreed to a minor-league deal that includes an invite to major-league spring training with free-agent utility man Ildemaro Vargas on Tuesday, according to sources. Vargas landed on the open market this offseason after being non-tendered by the Washington Nationals last month. The 33-year-old veteran switch-hitting infielder slashed .246/.295/.316 with only one homer, 30 RBI, a career-high nine stolen bases and 21 runs scored in 95 games with the Nats in 2024 in his eighth big-league season. Vargas made his major-league debut in Arizona back in 2017 and has played parts of five seasons in the desert, so he'll be rejoining an organization he's pretty familiar with. At best, Vargas might be worth a bench spot in NL-only leagues as a utility infielder if an injury opens up more playing time for him.
10 hours ago   
Blaze Alexander  • SS  •  Diamondbacks

Blaze Alexander In Line For Super-Utility Role?

MLB.com's Steve Gilbert wonders if the Arizona Diamondbacks would consider turning shortstop Blaze Alexander into a Chris Taylor-type of multi-positional player moving forward. Alexander has appeared at shortstop, second base and third base at the major-league level, but he has yet to play the outfield. The 25-year-old is an above-average athlete that can run, and he also possesses a strong arm, so he shouldn't have a ton of issues learning the outfield. Using Alexander at other positions in the outfield would make him much more valuable and give manager Torey Lovullo a lot more options in game. An 11th-round selection in 2018, Alexander made his big-league debut in 2024 for the Snakes and saw extensive action, appearing in 61 games and slashing .247/.321/.343 with a .664 OPS, three home runs, 21 RBI, three steals and 19 runs scored in 185 plate appearances.
Dec 6   
Drey Jameson  • SP  •  Diamondbacks

Drey Jameson Likely To Be Viewed As Reliever In 2025

The Arizona Diamondbacks will likely look at right-hander Drey Jameson (elbow) as a reliever in his first season back from Tommy John surgery in 2025. Jameson is one of the team's top prospects, but he had Tommy John surgery in September of 2023 and will be ready to go in spring training in February. He threw only 68 2/3 innings between Triple-A Reno and the majors before having surgery in 2023 and obviously didn't pitch at all in 2024, so he'll be on a strict innings limit in his return next year. If that's the direction the Snakes go in, Jameson will lack fantasy upside in 2025, but he could still be an extremely valuable piece out of Arizona's bullpen. The 27-year-old made 15 big-league appearances (three starts) for the D-backs in 2023 and had a 3.32 ERA, a 1.43 WHIP, one save, 37 strikeouts and 18 walks in 40 2/3 innings.
Dec 6   
Jordan Lawlar  • SS  •  Diamondbacks

Jordan Lawlar Getting Reps In Dominican Winter League

Arizona Diamondbacks infield prospect Jordan Lawlar missed most of the 2024 regular season due to injury, collecting only 67 plate appearances between Double-A and Triple-A. In order to make up for lost time and hopefully make a push for a 2025 roster spot, the club's top prospect (MLB No. 9) is spending time in the Dominican Winter League, getting much-needed at-bats to knock off the rust. While the 22-year-old started off hot, slashing .407/.481/.773 in his first 27 plate appearances, that line now stands at .237/.315/.355 in 108 PA. Importantly, however, he's still shown the pop and speed combination we've been accustomed to seeing from the healthy version of him, with three home runs and eight stolen bases thus far. It's not clear where exactly he would play on the infield at this point, but if he can make the roster next spring, the former sixth-overall draft pick could be an overlooked multi-category fantasy contributor after an unremarkable 2023 debut and lost 2024 season.
Dec 4   
José Castillo  • RP  •  Diamondbacks

Diamondbacks Re-Sign Jose Castillo To Minors Deal

The Arizona Diamondbacks re-signed left-hander Jose Castillo to a minor-league deal on Wednesday. Castillo spent all of the 2024 season pitching at Triple-A Reno, posting a 4.35 ERA in 21 games and 20 2/3 innings pitched. He will return to return for the second straight year in 2025 while providing the D-backs will a valuable left-handed relief arm. Arizona currently has a strong left-handed relief group at the major-league level, including A.J. Puk, but Castillo could be on the short list to be called up to the majors if any of their southpaws is injured. The Venezuelan hurler made his MLB debut in 2018 with the San Diego Padres, and all four of his big-league seasons have come with them. In his 40 relief appearances for the Padres, he recorded a 4.24 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 55 strikeouts and 16 walks in 40 1/3 innings pitched. Of his 40 1/3 innings in the bigs, 38 1/3 of them came in 2018.
Nov 28   
Jordan Montgomery  • SP  •  Diamondbacks

Diamondbacks Shopping Jordan Montgomery, Others

USA TODAY's Bob Nightengale reports that the Arizona Diamondbacks are shopping left-handed starter Jordan Montgomery and are also listening to offers on outfielders Jake McCarthy and Alek Thomas this offseason. It was a rough season for Montgomery in 2024 after not making his debut with the Snakes until April 19 due to injury. Coming off a World Series title with the Texas Rangers the previous fall, the 31-year-old southpaw finished with an 8-7 record, bloated 6.23 ERA (4.48 FIP), 1.65 WHIP, 83 strikeouts and 44 walks in 117 innings over his 25 appearances (21 starts). Montgomery exercised his $22.5 million player option to stick around in the desert in 2025, but the D-backs are looking for ways to get out of that. McCarthy, meanwhile, hit a career-best .285 with eight homers, a career-high 56 RBI and 25 steals in a career-high 142 games in his fourth MLB season.
Nov 25   
Aramis Garcia  • C  •  Diamondbacks  |  Connor Kaiser  • SS  •  Diamondbacks

Diamondbacks Sign Connor Kaiser, Aramis Garcia To Minors Deals

The Arizona Diamondbacks signed infielder Connor Kaiser and catcher Aramis Garcia to minor-league deals on Friday that include invitations to major-league spring training next year. Kaiser spent all of last season at Triple-A Albuquerque in the Colorado Rockies' system, slashing a weak .222/.343/.339 with a .682 OPS, six home runs, 28 RBI and five stolen bases in 90 games. He made his major-league debut with the Rockies in 2023 but played in only three games and was hitless in his four trips to the plate. Garcia hit just .159/.216/.279 with eight home runs, 25 RBI and six steals in 76 games with Triple-A Lehigh Valley in the Philadelphia Phillies' organization. The 31-year-old backstop has more big-league experience than Kaiser, as he's played in 119 games over five seasons with four different teams. Both Kaiser and Garcia are likely to start at Triple-A Reno in 2025.
Nov 16   
Merrill Kelly  • SP  •  Diamondbacks

Merrill Kelly Staying In Arizona

The Arizona Diamondbacks exercised their 2025 club option on starting pitcher Merrill Kelly, according to Jon Heyman of the NY Post. The 36-year-old made only 13 starts this season after sitting out for an extended period with a shoulder injury. He logged 73 2/3 innings of work with a 4.03 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, and a 19:63 BB:K ratio. Under the hood, he carried a poor 4.93 xERA and .266 xBA, which were among the worst marks among qualified pitchers. In addition, he posted a below-average 40.9% hard-hit rate and a 10.7% barrel rate. Fantasy managers should expect the right-hander to remain in the Arizona rotation through the entire 2025 season and be a stable low-end starter to target late in drafts.
Nov 3   
Eugenio Suárez  • 3B  •  Diamondbacks

Arizona Picks Up Club Option On Eugenio Suarez

The Arizona Diamondbacks are picking up the 2025 club option on third baseman Eugenio Suarez worth $15 million according to Jesse Rogers of ESPN. The veteran infielder had a tale of two seasons. During the first half, the third baseman hit for a mere .216/.302/.366 slash line with just ten home runs and 48 RBI. However, after the mid-summer classic, the 33-year-old posted a much-improved .307/.341/.602 line with 20 home runs and 53 RBI. He boasted an above-average 11.3% barrel rate and 42.4% hard-hit rate which suggests his power numbers should continue to be a factor in 2025. Suarez remains a safe bet for upside power as a corner infielder this upcoming season.
Nov 2   
Jordan Montgomery  • SP  •  Diamondbacks

Jordan Montgomery Staying In Arizona

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Jordan Montgomery had his club option exercised for 2025 according to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com. The southpaw had a rough debut season in the desert as he posted a hefty 6.23 ERA and a 1.65 WHIP, which were both significantly lower compared to his 3.20 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP he held in the 2023 campaign. Under the hood, Montgomery held a 5.10 xERA and .290 xBA which were among the worst marks among qualified pitchers. He also generated strikeouts at a low 15.6% mark. Fantasy managers should expect the 31-year-old to remain in the Arizona rotation throughout all of next season but is no more than a late flier in drafts this offseason given his struggles this past summer.
Nov 1   
Kevin Ginkel  • RP  •  Diamondbacks

Kevin Ginkel Pitches Through Fractured Leg

Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo confirmed on Tuesday that right-handed reliever Kevin Ginkel (leg) fractured a bone in his left leg after taking a comebacker against the New York Mets on June 1. Ginkel was able to pitch through the injury but had to manage the pain. He was decent pitching through the injury, posting a 2.81 ERA with 16 runs (15 earned) allowed in 48 innings while striking out 57 and walking 10 over 49 appearances out of Arizona's bullpen. It's impressive that the 30-year-old never required a stint on the injured list. Ginkel will now have ample time to recover from his injury this offseason and should be ready to roll for the start of spring training in mid-February. Overall, Ginkel had an 8-3 record, 3.21 ERA (2.85 FIP), a 1.20 WHIP, a career-high five saves, a career-high 77 strikeouts and 15 walks in 70 innings pitched in 72 appearances out of the bullpen.
Oct 1   
Jake McCarthy  • RF  •  Diamondbacks

Jake McCarthy Absent On Friday

Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Jake McCarthy is absent from the starting lineup ahead of Friday's game against the San Diego Padres. This is a much-needed rest day for McCarthy who has started in each of the last five games. He has put together a solid season with a .283 batting average with eight home runs, 54 RBI, and 25 stolen bases across 140 games. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Pavin Smith will cover the corner outfield spots against right-hander Yu Darvish on Friday. Gurriel should be started in most fantasy leagues right now.
Sep 27   
Ryne Nelson  • SP  •  Diamondbacks

Ryne Nelson Returns From Injured List

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Ryne Nelson (shoulder) was activated off the 15-day IL, according to Alex Weiner of KTAR News. Nelson was placed on the IL on September 14 and will return to action quite quickly. However, seeing that Nelson only logged bullpen sessions while he was sidelined suggests he may be deployed in a long relief role down the stretch. Through 147 2/3 innings this summer, the 26-year-old posted a 4.33 ERA and 1.27 WHIP with a 34:125 BB:K ratio. Under the hood, the Oregon State product held a below-average 41.2% hard-hit rate but showed excellent command with a 5.5% BB rate. Fantasy managers should not consider putting Nelson in their lineup over the final series, as he will likely serve as a long relief option.
Sep 27   
Zac Gallen  • SP  •  Diamondbacks

Zac Gallen Dominates With 11 Strikeouts In Win

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Zac Gallen tossed six innings of one-run ball in Wednesday's 8-2 victory over the Giants, allowing just two hits and two walks while striking out a season-high 11 batters on the way to earning his 14th win of the season. The 29-year-old has had another solid, albeit somewhat inconsistent, season for the D-backs, as he allowed one run or less in 13 of 28 starts but four runs or more on seven occasions. Nevertheless, the righty finishes the regular season on a high note and leaves his team one game up on the Braves for the final Wild Card spot with three games to go against the Padres. The former All-Star closes the 2024 regular season at 14-6 with a 3.65 ERA (3.86 SIERA), 1.26 WHIP, and a 16.4% K-BB%.
Sep 26   
Paul Sewald  • RP  •  Diamondbacks

Paul Sewald Unlikely To Be Activated Before The Weekend

Arizona Diamondbacks right-handed reliever Paul Sewald (neck) threw a 20-pitch bullpen session at Chase Field on Monday and is scheduled to throw again on either Thursday or Friday, making it unlikely that he would be activated from the injured list before the final few games or two of the regular season. "Paul's got a disk problem in his neck," manager Torey Lovullo said. "It's causing some problems with his left side, his left shoulder, so he can't go out there at full strength and compete. We made the decision, along with his input, to just step away and heal up and get strong." Sewald was put on the IL (retroactive to Sept. 12), which would mean that the first day he could be activated would be this Friday. With Sewald on the shelf, Justin Martinez has stepped into the closer's role for the Snakes. It's unclear if Sewald will be available to the team if they get into the postseason.
Sep 25   
Ryne Nelson  • SP  •  Diamondbacks

D-Backs Hopeful Ryne Nelson Will Return Soon

Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Ryne Nelson (shoulder) threw 16 pitches in an abbreviated bullpen session on Sept. 21 and threw 28 pitches in a similar session on Tuesday. Nelson experienced shoulder discomfort during a throwing session on Sept. 14 and was put on the 15-day injured list. The Diamondbacks are hopeful that he will be ready to return when his IL stint is up, which would allow him to be a part of the playoff roster if the team secures a wild-card spot in the National League. Manager Torey Lovullo said the team is undecided on whether Nelson could return to the starting rotation or be used as a multi-inning reliever in the short-term. The 26-year-old will likely be used in relief whenever he returns. Entering play on Wednesday, Arizona is in the final wild-card spot in the NL but is only up by half a game over the Atlanta Braves.
Sep 25   
Gabriel Moreno  • C  •  Diamondbacks

Gabriel Moreno Returns For D-Backs

Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Gabriel Moreno (groin) is doing the catching and is hitting eighth in the batting order on Tuesday versus the division-rival San Francisco Giants and right-hander Logan Webb at Chase Field for the second game of the series. Moreno didn't play in the series-opening loss to the Giants on Monday after he was removed from Sunday's contest against the Milwaukee Brewers with left-groin tightness. The Diamondbacks need all hands on deck as they try to secure a wild-card spot in the National League in the final week of the regular season, so the 24-year-old backstop is back in action. The Venezuelan catcher has gone 6-for-15 (.400) with an RBI and four walks in six games since returning from the IL, but he faces a tough matchup against Webb on Tuesday. In 11 career at-bats against Webb, Moreno is hitting .364 with a .728 OPS.
Sep 24   
Ketel Marte  • 2B  •  Diamondbacks

Diamondbacks Trying To Keep Ketel Marte Healthy

Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo explained that second baseman Ketel Marte (ankle), who was recently on the injured list with an ankle injury, had been in the "red zone" for a day off before being omitted from the starting lineup for Monday's series opener against the division-rival San Francisco Giants. Lovullo called the decision "preventative" as Marte has been grinding at less than 100% after returning from a left-ankle sprain. Arizona has been balancing working players back from injury while also trying to keep their foot on the gas pedal in a tight playoff race. Marte, who is having a career year at the plate in 2024, is expected to be full-go the rest of the way through the end of the regular season on Sunday. He has homered in three straight games as well, so fantasy managers will want him back in their starting lineups on Tuesday.
Sep 24   
Ryne Nelson  • SP  •  Diamondbacks

Ryne Nelson To Throw Bullpen Session On Tuesday

Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Ryne Nelson (shoulder) will throw a 25-pitch bullpen session on Tuesday, according to manager Torey Lovullo. If Nelson's bullpen goes well on Tuesday, it sounds like he could make his return this weekend for the final regular-season series at Chase Field against the division-rival San Diego Padres. Lovullo said that whether Nelson returns as a starter or reliever depends on what pitch count the team feels he can safely reach. At this point in the year with less than a week until the postseason, it's likely that the 26-year-old will be brought back for a relief role if Arizona gets into the playoffs as a wild-card team in the National League. Nelson was put on the 15-day injured list on Sept. 14 with right-shoulder inflammation. He's been a back-end starter for Arizona with a career-best 5.5% walk rate, a 20.1% K rate and a 4.33 ERA in 27 outings (25 starts) in his third MLB season.
Sep 24   
Gabriel Moreno  • C  •  Diamondbacks

Gabriel Moreno Could Return On Tuesday

Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Gabriel Moreno (groin) appears to have avoided a major injury after exiting early during Sunday's game. It looks like Moreno had a setback with a groin injury that he suffered last month. Luckily, the MRI came back clean and Moreno should be able to rejoin the lineup on Tuesday. That is great news for the D-Backs who thought they might be without Moreno for the rest of the regular season. Jose Herrera will do the catching and bat ninth versus right-hander Hayden Birdsong. Herrera is hitting .221 with 13 RBI on the season, so he'll be an avoidable fantasy option for Monday's slate.
Sep 23   
LEGEND
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