The Diamondbacks have been connected to multiple starting pitchers on both the free agent and trade markets this offseason, but it took until early February for the team to reel one in. The team today announced the signing of Bronson Arroyo to a two-year deal with a club option for the 2016 season. Arroyo is reportedly guaranteed $23.5MM in total. He will earn $9.5MM each in 2014 and 2015, and the club has a $11MM option for 2016 that comes with a $4.5MM buyout.
The length and total money in the deal comes in right under the prediction of MLBTR's Tim Dierkes. As Dierkes explained in his profile of Arroyo, the soon-to-be 37-year-old starter's high-floor/low-ceiling profile — combined with his age — made two years and $24MM a good target. Though Arroyo spent much of the off-season looking to add a third guarantee year, he ended up settling in just under the two-year, $26.5MM deal inked last year by Ryan Dempster with the Red Sox.
Arroyo, a client of Terry Bross and Turn 2 Sports Management, has been as consistent and durable a starter as the game has seen in recent years. Since 2004, Arroyo has logged at least 32 starts, logging at least 199 innings in all but the first of those campaigns. His cumulative ERA over that time is 4.10, a mark that he bested in each of the last two seasons (3.74 and 3.79 earned per nine, respectively).
Arroyo succeeds despite offering an 87 mph fastball, which he delivers in less than half of his pitches. He throws three varieties of off-speed pitches: slider, curve, and change. Though Arroyo does not strike out many batters, having hovered in the low-to-mid 5.0 K/9 range in recent seasons, neither does Arroyo hand out free passes. With just 1.2 and 1.4 BB/9 in the last two years, he has maintained a K:BB ratio of better than 3.6 over 2012-13, among the best in baseball. His biggest issue, perhaps, is a tendency to allow the long ball well above the league-average rate, though that is due in some part to spending his last eight years pitching in the homer-prone Great American Ball Park.
Arizona bolsters an already-deep rotation with the signing, which likely means that prized prospect Archie Bradley will not start the year with the big club. Arroyo joins Patrick Corbin, Brandon McCarthy, Wade Miley, Trevor Cahill, and Randall Delgado in the rotation mix.
Despite a fairly busy season on the pages of MLBTR, the Diamondbacks actually had inked just one guaranteed MLB deal (Eric Chavez, one year, $3.5MM) prior to landing Arroyo. Arizona apparently beat out two other clubs to sign the veteran, as the Dodgers and Orioles were also named as finalists for his services. The club had serious interest in adding young, unproven Japanese ace Masahiro Tanaka, but instead ends up adding quite a different type of arm in Arroyo.
John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 first reported the deal on Twitter. Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com first reported the length and option year (Twitter links). ESPN.com's Buster Olney first reported the financial terms (via Twitter). FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal first tweeted that Arroyo had passed his physical.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
2 of the big names down in the last 2 days, just 6 to go…..
Who are you referring to? Garza signed weeks ago.
Rodney?
Rodney?
Probably Fernando Rodney.
Oh ya I meant as of yesterday there were ‘big’ 8 names still out there, 2 of em down in 2 days! (Rodney the other)
According to John Gambadoro here in AZ, with Rosenthal not giving him credit.
isn’t it possible that two reporters acquired the information independently?
Seeing as Gambo is a local guy that often breaks Dback info, it’s highly unlikely.
Sure it is. But when Gambo breaks the news first and Rosenthal uses “source”, it was Gambo breaking the news.
Thanks for pointing out, edited to give credit to Gambadoro.
Good move for the D-Backs. Should make for a competitive team next season and potentially a wild card birth.
Ah… No! Giants and dodgers in west no one else. Dewd!
Good for them. I’ll admit I expected the Dodgers to get him but he’s a good fit for the Dbacks. Seemed like it was hard for them to get any of the FA’s they wanted this offseason.
Good job D-Backs! At this point I’m happy whenever the Dodgers don’t sign someone.
As a Dodger fan I’m thrilled that we didn’t get him. You have to take each case on an individual basis. Flyball pitcher in Arizona, I’m not sure I love the fit for them.
He did well enough in the bandbox in Cincinnati
Chase field has been middle of the road for home runs over the last few seasons. Certainly better than the launching pad in Cincy.
Well that’s true. Speaking for the Dodgers’ needs, I didn’t like the fit of a 37-year-old getting a multi-year deal when it’s a finesse pitcher whose best attribute is his ability to log innings. The Dodgers are going to get 230 innings from Kershaw, probably 220 from Greinke, and 200+ from Ryu. Arroyo was going to be their fourth or fifth starter. They have a lot of options between Beckett and Fife and Lee and Stripling and eventually Billingsley. I just didn’t think it would be wise to pay an innings-eater almost $12MM a year for multiple years.
That’s awesome. We love it when the Angels sign players. Pujols, Hamilton, Mulder, Pena, Ibanez etc. Don’t worry.I’m sure the Angels will be just fine. It’s not like Texas, Seattle, or Oakland will be any good this year right?
And yet with all the big names on the Dodgers, they were just as terrible in the first half. You won’t see another incredible run like they had after that, and they could’ve easily been just as bad as the Angels throughout the entire season.
How are Beckett Kemp and Crawford doing? The Dodgers would be in the exact same position as the Angels if they weren’t spending almost twice as much.
Now now children.
Now now children.
Kemp has a MVP runner up, Crawford is doing exactly what they expected, and they didn’t even want Beckett in the trade.
Crawford is supposed to post an fWAR of 2.9 for 20 MM? I guess Pujols 2012 was a great season then. As for Kemp he was MVP runner up in 2011.
Beckett is a joke and has been for while. I thought you said you watch Dodger games? What’s wrong with Crawford? Matt Kemp was hurt all season. What’s Albert’s excuse?
Albert was hurt all season too. Whats Hamilton’s excuse?
I will admit Pujols’ decline I didnt see coming, has been a victim of injuries.Hamilton has no plate discipline at all, he never should have been signed.
I’d give Hamilton another season, as first year slumps are common with big names switching teams, especially in Angels history. But realistically, I’d be fine with 25 HR / 90 RBI seasons from both since Trout is pretty much the franchise center piece now. I’m fine with 25 HR /90 RBI seasons from them also because the Angels don’t have to keep going out and getting those bats and can focus more on plugging the holes around the big bats, and especially pitching. With Trout, I think they’d still be fine trading Kendrick for more young pitching, letting Blanton and Wells come off the books, and that’s $35 million dollars freed up for 2015, even with the contracts of Pujols and Hamilton. I’ve been told they had all these options in mind when they signed Pujols and Hamilton. So it’s not like they’re just throwing dynamite into the mine and crossing their fingers. I think the Angels should aim toward trading Kendrick and Aybar, build around Trout, Pujols, and Hamilton with young, controllable talent the way they did after they signed Vladdy and Colon. Not just to keep albatross contracts from handcuffing them, but also it’s just a good strategy.
Before taking shots at other team’s big signings, you need to look at the contracts of Kemp (can’t stay healthy) and Crawford (not nearly productive enough to justify salary), as well as the fact that Greinke broke his collar bone in the first year of his big contract. AGon isn’t even playing like a big time All-Star anymore. Beckett is done. Hopefully Kershaw works out. He’s my favorite lefty SP. I believe it was PECOTA that projected the Dodgers’ entire starting lineup to have no player better than 4 WAR, but pretty much all of them are projected to be around 4. That’s a Bill James case study, but not with a $200 dollar-plus payroll. There needs to be at least one Trout/McCutchen-type (in terms of production) in there to justify that payroll going into the season.
Taking shots? Who’s taking shots? I was talking about Bronson Arroyo and next thing you know I got Angels fans all over me? That “whokilledtherallymonkey” said “I’m just happy when the Dodgers don’t sign players” Really? Why? The teams aren’t even in the same league. Look dude. It looks like you know a lot about baseball. That’s cool, I love it too. But you’re preaching to the wrong person.
Angels are pathetic and poorly ran. Accept it dude. If and when they come back to relevance, point fingers at other teams “bad contracts”. Angels bandwagon following is the worst.
Jeeze, looks like he struck a nerve.
It’ll be interesting to see what he gets salary wise. I expect 12MM per. Not sure they needed it with Delgado and Bradley in the fold but I guess they wanted to cut their risk.
The money was there to be spent. What this does is allow Bradley time to refine in AAA Reno to start the season without any pressure to be rushed up to the bigs to help the team. That is unless he is lights out in spring training. McCarthy is always due for a shoulder injury about June & this signing gives them protection.
Dodgers were probably just in to drive up the price for the D’backs. I never saw him as a realistic fit for the Dodgers. Very glad they passed. Not that he’s a bad pitcher, I just didn’t like the fit with LA.
Orioles might end up with nobody
They got Jemile Weeks…. poor O’s
I think they get Burnett
They will get someone then fail their physical…… oh wait
Red Sox will sign Burnett… 3 years $39 million. Which joke is more tired, mine or yours. 🙂
I think that was their plan all along……
2 years and an option.
I’m thinking the option year may have been the kicker that put the DBacks over the top.
Frankly, I think its a good sign for AZ. Bolsters their rotation and keeps Arroyo out of the Dodgers’ rotation.
Maybe you’re right, but I don’t see Arroyo as a particularly good fit in Arizona because of their park.
Decent signing for the D’backs, but they still need an ace to be able to compete with the better clubs.
My bet is 2+ Vesting option put them ahead of LAD
They have a club that should be a competitive regular season team. Have to think they’d struggle in the post season with the lack of an ace.
I’m just glad the Dodgers didn’t get him. Don’t want to see the rich get richer.
As a Yankees fan I’m kind of disappointed Arroyo didn’t sign with the Orioles. It would have been fun to see him throw those home run pitches to batters like Ortiz, Beltran, McCann, Bautista and Encarnacion in the AL East.
Go and worry about the Yankees finding a couple of infield bodies that can last more than 100 games for ’14 instead of the O’s pitching staff.
BTW, my comment had everything to do with the possibility of Arroyo pitching for the Orioles and nothing to do with the Orioles pitching staff.
The Yankees have decided it is more important to pick up players whose best years are behind them and abandon the farm system. They lost an awful lot out of the starting rotation and bullpen and kept their 39 year old Kuroda. Beltran is good but 37 and injury history; they were better off with Granderson. Now…Sabathia giving up a the most runs in the AL and Kuroda went 14-13 and 11-13 and they never got anyone to replace Cano but a guy the orioles did not even give a contract to. Third base is another sad story.
You’re right Tanaka’s and Ellsbury’s years are behind them.
This still has nothing to do with the original point. Arroyo would get smashed in the AL, especially the East. Being an inning eater isn’t always a plus. Look at Blanton. The AL is where inning eaters go to die.
Tanaka has a lot to prove. Dice K did not work out that well either. Tanaka is no Yu Darvish either. Baseball players best years come at age 27 or younger more often than not Ellsbury is 30 and has hit 10 hrs once. To win you need pitching and the Yankees lost a lot more than they got back. Yankees had to do something to bring back the fans after 4 straight years of declining attendance. Yankees are again a team of older players. Teixiera is in decline and guess we will see how much Jeter plays this year. Only one guy can play DH a game.
Nova could be the ace of that staff just do not know which guy will show up game to game.
My friend can you please provide the link or site where I can read for myself your claim that “Baseball players best years come at age 27 or younger more often than not”.
I guess then based on your information the Orioles should let Chris Davis walk at the end of this season and NOT tneder him a contract for his final year of arbitration for the 2015 season.since he’ll turn 28 in a month.
I guess then based on your understanding of a players best years the Orioles should let Chris Davis walk at the end of this season and NOT tender him a contract for his final year of arbitration for the 2015 season.since he’ll turn 28 in a month.
Your arbitrary age of 27 when players reach their peak is silly..
“They lost an awful lot out of the starting rotation and bullpen and kept their 39 year old Kuroda. ”
The only significant pitcher they lost in their rotation was Pettitte. Hughes is addition by subtraction. I’m sure CC will not have bad a year as he had also (Zips, Oliver and all other sites predict him to have a much better year). Basically they replaced Hughes and Pettitte with Tanaka and a 5th starter (say Pineda or Phelps).
I also don’t get why you’re using W-L record to judge pitchers.
Losing Hughes is a consideration because he pitched almost the whole season because they had no one else. Is Tanaka replacing Hughes or Pettitte? Ok records do not matter but when you give up the most runs in the AL he was pretty lucky to have won 14 games. His numbers compare to Joe Saunders you are in trouble. You do not care about records I do not care about predictions. I guess we will see what he has left.
Is your contention that Arroyo’s best years are still ahead of him. Since that appears to bet he comparison your comment wants fans to believe.
BTW I think one can certainly argue that Tanaka, Ellsbury, McCann still have a lot of very productive years a head of them.
Also just so your not completely in the dark about the Yankees they haven’t lost anything out of the starting rotation: Tanaka replaced Pettitte and either Pineda OR Phelps will replace Hughes as the 5th starter. Those are both pluses at this stage. As for the bullpen the only real loss is Mo and just to put it in perspective Mo was far from a sure thing in the 2nd half of 2013 blowing 6 saves from the All Star break on. Thornton replaces Logan a wash and Joba goes away a blessing in disguise.
Have I addressed all you misunderstandings about the Yankees.
The Yankees way over paid in years and in salary per year for McCann. He is a 30 year old catcher who has been in decline the last three years. When did he last catch 130 games? It was 2010. He might have 3 more years left where he is productive. Almost all catchers are long gone in productivity at 33. Munson was done even at 31 before the horrible tragedy, Bench had hung on for his last two season and retired at 33. Yogi Berra was playing left field when he was 33.
Big names are great for bringing in the fan base but ask the Blue Jays fans two that worked out. Remember the yankee teams that won Championships in the 1990’s they had built up the minor league system and had players that knew their jobs; Luis Soto at Second and Scott Brosius at third. The main ingredient was having great starting pitching. Do you really think they Yankees filled their holes in Pitching going into this season?
Go and worry about the Orioles pitching staff instead of the Yankees infield.
Now we will see how serious they where about getting someone
I’m so happy the Dodgers didn’t sign him.
i actually agree not sure why others dont feel the same ? #5 spot will be up for grabs and maybe someone steps up big and earns it
i actually agree not sure why others dont feel the same ? #5 spot will be up for grabs and maybe someone steps up big and earns it
And had the dodgers signed him you’d be saying “I’m So happy the Dodgers got Arroyo!” since, he’s a much better option than Beckett/Billingsley in your 5 spot. “I See You Hanley”
Wow!! You read my mind! That’s exactly what I would have done. Man, you are good. Now what number am I thinking of?
you’re thinking of the # that Hanley is flashing in your photo: 00. it stands for the number of rings he has.
Yes. Yes. And more yes. I can’t believe it! My hats off to you man. Now what animal am I thinking of?
Good one. That’ the same number of World Series’ that Ted Williams, Ty Cobb, and Willie McCovey have combined for.
ok. You can add me to the list since I have zero, too.
Now now children lets behave.
Good move, but it’s still going to be tough for the D-Backs to overtake the Dodgers and maybe even the Giants. I also think Colorado will be competitive, and San Diego could be the surprise team of the year. It will be fun watching it all shake out.
Dodgers are their only competition. The Giants have no offense.
The Giants have no offense? Belt broke out with a .343 BA in the 2nd half, Pence nearly hit 30 Hrs, Posey is Posey. Panda loast 42 pounds and is a great hitter when healthy, Morse is capable of 15-20 hrs. If you’re looking for “no offense” maybe check out a little league t-ball team. If the Giants played at coors, each one of the players would be hitting 30+ hrs. Don’t be fooled by the Huge yard at AT&T and their diminished power #’s.
I’m a Dodger fan and I have to agree. I see the Giants being competitive this year, though I question the relevance of Sandoval losing weight. Every spring we hear these types of “Best shape of his life” stories.
It means he’ll be quicker. With the Bat and in the field. His weight also increases the risk of injury. Either way, I think he is committed to have a big year since he hits Free Agency after the season. We know everyone wants to get paid.
I think it signals, more than ever, that the Dodgers are going to go with Beckett and, if not him, then a younger player.
Says to me that we definitely could see a Zach Lee break camp with the Dodgers. Or maybe its Ross Stripling.
Or maybe Fife shows he’s healthy again and they go to him.
Bottom line is it will very likely be an internal option for the 5th spot.
With all the money going to Beckett this year I can’t say I blame them. Especially since the 5th starter is essentially useless come post season.
Also, the 5th starter spot usually can get skipped early on in the season, where there are usually more off days in the schedule.
So Beckett, or whoever, may actually not have to be relied on much early in the season.
Looking at the calendar, it doesn’t appear the Dodgers will need a No. 5 starter until April 19, so yeah.
I wouldn’t write off Magill, either. He struggled in the majors last season, but he has potential, and his stuff would work out of the bullpen as well. Given the Dodgers schedule, which will result in very infrequent use of the #5 spot in the rotation, he might be the best option. It probably wouldn’t be a good idea to shuffle a guy like Zach Lee or Ross Stripling in and out of the rotation, while Stephen Fife’s stuff isn’t really bullpen material.
All of those will just keep the seat warm until Billingsley comes back in june or July.
Solid signing. He’s always been a guy to give 200ip of league average ball which is useful for his slot in the roto usually.
Cant wait to see the terms of this deal. If its less then his 2/22 mil offer, I’ll call it a win.
Per Olney, the deal is $9.5M for ’14, $9.5M for ’15 and an $11M option for ’16, with a $4.5M buyout.
So Arroyo is guaranteed $23.5 mill for 2 years.
Wouldve been great if that buyout was $3M. Now its kind of hard to swallow. Arroyo’s a great pitcher and all, but not worth 23 million.
I’m sure the guaranteed money and option were a result of bidding with the Dodgers.
If it was a straight 2 yr-deal for $19 mill, maybe the Dodgers were willing to go that far. So maybe the DBacks sweetened their offer to get him.
Oh I’m sure the Dodgers had some influence. They had influence with Tanakas price. And the Dbacks were interested in him too.
9.5m first year, 9.5m second year, 11m option w/ a 4.5m buyout.
A solid addition. He won’t be spectacular but he will give you 200 innings of above average pitching. It gives the Dbacks protection when McCarthy has his annual June shoulder injury & it allows the Dbacks to not rush Bradley.
1. Corbin
2. Arroyo
3. Miley
4. Bradley
5. McCarthy / Cahill / Delgado
NOT bad at all!!!
Definitely a solid rotation.
Bradley won’t be in the rotation to start the season.
Here’s what the rotation will look like:
1-Corbin
2-Cahill
3-Arroyo
4-McCarthy
5-Miley
Wade Miley is so underrated. I think he should be their number 2
I really like this deal at that price.
Seems like a bit of an overpay, I’m surprised he got a guaranteed $4.5M buyout. I definitely don’t see his option year being picked up that’s for sure.
Don’t be so sure of that, that’s effectively a $6.5M option, which is cheap for just about any effective pitcher.
Brandon McCarthy will be traded for make room to Bradley.
Keep this Comment.
Well… We don´t have the entire Chocolate. But at least we had a piece.
IDK! Arroyo will just be taking starts away from Delgado/Bradley….Is it REALLY an Upgrade come year 2-3 of contract! I’m not so sure D-Backs got a better rotation today, just an older one!!!
Bradley has never pitched in the majors… you just never know.
If you are banking on a rotation of 1. Corbin 2. Arroyo 3. Miley 4. Bradley 5. McCarthy/Delgado good luck. That might be good for 3rd best in the division and mediocre overall.
You forgot Cahill and we have a strong lineup that could propel us to a wild card
WOWWW. Never would’ve thought Arroyo would’ve signed for so little..
Nice move for the Diamondbacks
Good hitter’s eye in Phoenix should help Arroyo leave home games in the 2nd inning.
Arroyo has a career 2.69 ERA against the Giants, so they’re not the ones knocking him out in the 2nd inning.
He also has a career 3.20 ERA in Chase Field.
small sample size
Then you have the Dodgers who have 9 guys with play appearences agasint him, who have a .340OBP, San Diego .310, then Colorado kills him. .356/.394/.540.
You do realize that a .310 OBP is not very good right? And yeah he struggles in Coors Field, imagine that.
I’m just happy he’s out of the nl central lol
I like this deal for the D-backs. A 200+ inning guy year in and year out
without having to develop or trade for one yourself. This isn’t a type
of guy that you expect to win cy young awards, but with the obsession of
pitcher durability these days, this is one guy that you don’t have to
worry about in that regard.
Well this leaves in my mind Jimenez and Capuano for the Orioles.
I wonder what they will do if anything!
D’Backs should have an interesting team.
NL West is going to be very competitive!
They finally got one! I knew it wasn’t for lack of trying.
Finally… I’m tired of waiting on these pitchers. Hopefully the rest of the free agents will fall like dominoes now.
CALLED IT!!!
I want to see Trumbo hit some bombs of him in practice. that would be fun.
At that price an innings eater like Arroyo is pretty much a bargain. Good move D-backs.
I’d take Arroyo over Dempster any day.
Captain Hindsight.
This is one of those signing where the team is in limbo where they aren’t playoff contenders or tanking, but signing arroyo is one of those things if everyone were to play solid and better than expected; the team can be contenders but if he doesn’t play well it wouldn’t ruin the teams state,
Brilliant sign. he will thrive in the West ballparks. Should be a reliever in the playoffs.
Love it.
You’re nuts if you think the D-backs, as currently constructed, have ANY chance at making the playoffs. When you’re signing guys like Eric Chavez and Bronson Arroyo, you’re telling your fans…well I don’t know what. But it isn’t a commitment to win, that’s for sure.
You have no idea what you are talking about. The Dbacks didn’t sign any big name FA(s) because their roster was basically set. They filled the positions that weren’t set via trades(Trumbo/Addison). Outside of signing or trading for an ace, there wasn’t much more the Dbacks could do. They went all-in for the only potential ace available & lost out.
The team as constructed can compete with any team in the NL.
They didn’t sign any big name free agents because no big name free agents want to go there, not because they’re roster is basically “set”. This is a pattern that has manifested over the last few years. So yes, I do know what I’m talking about. Don’t let homerism blind you. This team is just not going to be very good. Outside of Goldy that is. Dude is a beast and the real deal.
I was going to say the same thing about FA’s not wanting to go there. They went HARD after Tanaka, Choo, and Beltran but neither of them wanted to go to Arizona.
Exactly. And that was just this year.
Prado, Corbin, Hill, Reed, Miley, Parra, Trumbo. Those aren’t good players?
Not a fan of the Dbacks, but you are nuts if you think any team in MLB doesn’t at least have a slim chance of making the playoffs before the start of each season. The Dbacks aren’t exactly the worst team in baseball either.
So the Astros have a shot at the playoffs? Come on man. I understand arguing a point but at least be realistic.
I will check out your claim that I am nuts. Thank you. I’ll post back because I know you are concerned.]
Thanks again.
You’ll be missed in Cincinnati.
Looks like, barring for injury, Delgado and McCarthy will be battling for the #5 spot. Delgado may have options, which would give the edge to McCarthy
Arroyo’s abnormally long legs always freaked me out. Not looking forward to having to watch those things swinging around every 5 days
Nice prediction, Tim.
Angels seem to be on the outside looking in on these SP signings.