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Diamondbacks Non-Tender Taijuan Walker, Steven Souza, Caleb Joseph

By Jeff Todd | December 2, 2019 at 6:05pm CDT

6:26pm: Righty Matt Andriese, another seeming NT candidate, will be tendered by the club, according to Zach Buchanan of The Athletic (via Twitter). He projects to earn $1.4MM via arbitration.

6:05pm: In a stunning twist, the Snakes are not dropping Jake Lamb but are parting ways with Taijuan Walker, per Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic (via Twitter) and John Gambadoro of 98.7 FM (via Twitter). Walker had seemed to be a prime bounceback candidate, albeit also a clear injury risk at a $5.025MM projected price tag.

The Arizona org has more information than the rest of us regarding the status of Walker’s right arm. He was stricken of late by a torn ulnar collateral ligament and then a shoulder injury. Though the talented hurler made it back to the majors — if only barely — the Diamondbacks front office obviously saw reason to doubt whether Walker could return to anything approaching his former performance level.

Meanwhile, Lamb receives quite a vote of confidence (and a nice payday, unless he’s cut loose at a later time). He’s projected to earn $5.0MM after two lost seasons. Injuries played a role in his downturn after several productive campaigns, but Lamb seemed a likely non-tender candidate after turning in a cumulative .208/.315/.350 slash since the start of 2018.

5:27pm: The Diamondbacks have non-tendered outfielder Steven Souza Jr. and catcher Caleb Joseph, according to reports from Zach Buchanan of The Athletic (Twitter link) and Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com (via Twitter). MLBTR had projected the former to earn $4.125MM and the latter to take home $1.2MM in arbitration.

When the Snakes acquired Souza on the heels of a productive 2017 effort, the hope was that he’d be a high-quality corner outfield piece. But things just never shook out in Arizona. He scuffled through a forgettable 72-game stint in 2018 and never even made it on to the field in 2019.

Souza’s major knee injury last spring not only wrecked his ’19 campaign but put his future in doubt. Fortunately, there are some signs of optimism in the health department. He’ll represent an interesting buy-low target for the right organization, while the D-Backs will look to invest their payroll elsewhere.

As for Joseph, he’ll be a candidate to compete for a reserve role or take up a depth spot at Triple-A. While he’s trusted behind the dish, Joseph has a meager .223/.270/.350 career batting line in the majors.

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Arizona Diamondbacks Caleb Joseph Jake Lamb Matt Andriese Newsstand Steven Souza Taijuan Walker Transactions

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49 comments
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Comments

  1. DarkSide830

    1 year ago

    that souza trade was always bound for disaster

    Like
    Reply
    • sidewinder11

      1 year ago

      It really hasn’t worked out for any of the three teams. Brandon Drury fell flat in NY. Nick Solak was traded by TB to Texas. Banda has been injured. Poche hasn’t shown much at the MLB level yet. Even Widener has fallen down a bit since he came to AZ.

      Like
      Reply
      • Joe Says...

        1 year ago

        At least NY managed to flip Drury for Happ to salvage something out of the deal.

        1 Like
        Reply
      • DarkSide830

        1 year ago

        you’re right – it only worked for Texas, who wasnt even involved in the first trade. Tampa is left some questionable BP arms and NYY is left wishing they didnt resign Happ.

        Like
        Reply
  2. Eat'EmUpTigersEat'EmUpTigers

    1 year ago

    Thoughts on Souza to the Tribe in an incentive laden deal?

    Like
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    • PapiElf

      1 year ago

      Probably depends on what the incentives would be. “Makes the All-Star Team” and “Plays 150 games” is probably unreasonable. He could work with Seattle though. They dropped Santana earlier.

      1 Like
      Reply
      • myaccount

        1 year ago

        Souza also grew up 30 minutes from Seattle

        Like
        Reply
    • bobtillman

      1 year ago

      Three games watching Souza play, and Tito would remember with fondness Jason Kipnis and Trevor Bauer……

      Like
      Reply
  3. sidewinder11

    1 year ago

    I see Souza coming back to AZ on a cheaper deal. They need help in the corner outfield. Only reason Souza doesn’t make sense for them is if they have another plan via free agency or trade to upgrade that spot

    Like
    Reply
  4. Rayland#1

    1 year ago

    Cubs and Russell?

    Like
    Reply
  5. baseballfan1400

    1 year ago

    I don’t know what’s more shocking, the news or that Caleb Joseph is the cover of this over Steven Souza Jr.

    Like
    Reply
    • gocards2849

      1 year ago

      The news shouldn’t be shocking

      Like
      Reply
  6. jbigz12

    1 year ago

    I hope the Orioles sign Souza to be the LF or RF next year. Whichever one they’d prefer Santander not play. Would be a smart move for a potential flip candidate for a fraction of Villar’s cost.

    3 Like
    Reply
    • realgone2

      1 year ago

      Yup!

      1 Like
      Reply
    • bobtillman

      1 year ago

      OMG!!! After a year of Villar, you want Souza?????? What do you want, a team with the collective IQ of my shoe size?

      Souza strikes out a ton and plays like he already has Alzheimer’s. Ya, he’ll pop a few (MAYBE a few more in Camden, if the ball doesn’t change) but that’s the sum total of his offensive value. In the field, he famously “dives for” balls that he’s 30 feet away from.

      The line on Stevie is that he tries hard….more’s the pity. I’d say DH, MAYBE, but you already have 12 of those.

      1 Like
      Reply
      • jbigz12

        1 year ago

        Would I prefer Steven Souza to Dwight Smith? Yes I would. LF defense isn’t SS either. I’ll take Souza all day

        1 Like
        Reply
  7. Frank Waller

    1 year ago

    Now this is an OF that’s interesting if healthy. Lots of talent. Maybe the Jays sniff around on this one.

    Like
    Reply
  8. dbacksrs

    1 year ago

    T. Walker was also non-tendered.

    Like
    Reply
    • kingcong95

      1 year ago

      Snakes still won the trade.

      Like
      Reply
      • Big Strapper

        1 year ago

        Keep telling yourself that…

        Like
        Reply
      • dbacksrs

        1 year ago

        I agree. Marte is a MVP.

        1 Like
        Reply
        • Big Strapper

          1 year ago

          Must have missed when he won that. I like him though. Was sad to see M’s ship him out. That trade will continue to play out, but even with Ketel becoming a star, Mariners have a higher ceiling on their side IMO.

          Like
          Reply
    • commentinggenius

      1 year ago

      That’s a head scratcher. Go get him Farhan!!

      Like
      Reply
  9. Wolf Chan

    1 year ago

    Giants ought to take a look @ walker, seems like a prime candidate to buy low and flip if you can @ the DL or to bounceback as a middle/back end guy and the giants need some rotation help.

    Like
    Reply
  10. skrockij89

    1 year ago

    Walker back to Seattle?

    1 Like
    Reply
  11. Strike Four

    1 year ago

    Jake Lamb wasn’t even good when he was good, AZ has the worst front office.

    2 Like
    Reply
    • sidewinder11

      1 year ago

      Lamb was their 2nd best offensive player (behind Goldy) in ‘16-‘17. AZ doesn’t make the playoffs in 2017 without him

      Like
      Reply
    • moody

      1 year ago

      It seemed they would turn it around after they got rid of Dave Stewart. Apparently somebody there still loves Jake and his good 1st halves…

      Like
      Reply
  12. steelerbravenation

    1 year ago

    Orioles should be all over Walker

    Like
    Reply
  13. D0m

    1 year ago

    Mariners should reunite with Walker

    1 Like
    Reply
  14. Strike Four

    1 year ago

    I gotta say though, if any team got Villar, Souza and Walker this offseason for not giving up anyone, they’d be ecstatic.

    Like
    Reply
  15. No Soup For Yu!

    1 year ago

    Not sure why it’s stunning that Walker was non tendered given that he’s pitched a grand total of 14 innings in 4 games over the past two seasons and was projected to earn just as much as Lamb. I guess it’s still surprising to see them tender Lamb a contract, but if it came down to a choice between the two it’s not surprising to see them choose the guy who was at least able to take the field for almost half a season over the guy who pitched in 1 game in 2019.

    1 Like
    Reply
  16. terry

    1 year ago

    Walker is one big question mark coming off TJ. Souza hasn’t just figured it out and Villar strike out a ton and get thrown out quite a bit. They are all flawed players that will catch on with someone.

    Like
    Reply
  17. DarkSide830

    1 year ago

    wow, Walker too? Klentak, you have to be all over this. i remember the speculative Hamels-to-Seattle trades that featured guys like Walker and Paxton as potential returns. good as either may have been, we probably wouldnt have Realmuto now had a deal been struck for either.

    Like
    Reply
  18. Kk3445

    1 year ago

    Taijuan Walker would be a nice pickup for the Cubs. It’s going to be interesting to see where he ends up.

    Like
    Reply
    • cubsfanbudman1908

      1 year ago

      My first thought too. The Cubs add injured pitchers on 2 year contracts lately. If Walker still has some rehabbing to do, it would make sense for both sides.

      Like
      Reply
  19. ntorsky

    1 year ago

    I’d like to see the Tigers take a $3MM flier on Walker

    1 Like
    Reply
  20. jonnymac2for1

    1 year ago

    First three years the team gets the player pretty much the league minimum. Assuming the player is productive, it’s great value for the team. Arbitration starts and raises the salary so the team nontenders the player because it’s not great value anymore. I can see why the players have a problem with the ways things are.

    Like
    Reply
  21. MetsFanaticDanny

    1 year ago

    I can see the Mets signing Walker as a low-risk, high reward pitcher.

    1 Like
    Reply
  22. Kolukonu

    1 year ago

    Can someone remind me who was involved in the Walker trade?

    Like
    Reply
    • Bitw92

      1 year ago

      I Think It Was Ketel Marte & Walker From Seattle For Mitch Haniger and Jean Segura From The Diamondbacks

      Like
      Reply
      • sidewinder11

        1 year ago

        Reliever Zac Curtis went to Seattle as well, not that he did anything notable there.

        Like
        Reply
  23. Skraxx

    1 year ago

    I’d love this man on the Rockies. Nothing to lose when your #4 and #5 starters are Chi-Chi and Melville

    Like
    Reply
  24. scottaz

    1 year ago

    Because of the extent of and seriousness of Souza’s knee injuries, I don’t think he’ll ever play again. Remember, he tore almost every ligament in his entire knee. There was talk that he might never walk normally again, let alone perform at an elite athletic level, which is what pro athletes must do.

    Same goes for Walker. He will probably never be the pitcher he once was. His rehab from TJS was twice as long as others’ rehab, with additional physical breakdowns.

    Both of these guys might try to resume their careers, but the odds are really stacked against them. We really liked both of these Dbacks, but I think the front office made the right moves.

    Like
    Reply
    • Mike_Davis

      1 year ago

      The TJ surgery isn’t the issue. It’s the sprained shoulder capsule he suffered back in May while rehabbing from TJ surgery which caused him to pitch only one inning late in September. Originally, he was supposed to be back on the mound around the all-star game.

      Like
      Reply
  25. mojorisin

    1 year ago

    Jake lamb resigning? Yeesh. What does this mean for Kevin Cron? The dude smashed the ball, even accounting for the crazy AAA environment, with over 40+ HR combined last year.

    Like
    Reply
    • scottaz

      1 year ago

      Cron is an AL DH only. I’ve watched him play both 1b and 3b, correction, I’ve watched him try to play both 1b and 3b. He can’t play either defensively, so he’s a DH only. Dbacks play in the NL. Simple as that. He’ll be traded as a throw in to an AL team this off-season.

      Actually, Lamb will probably be traded also.

      Like
      Reply
  26. Thomas Bliss

    1 year ago

    Walker to the Chicago White Sox

    Like
    Reply
  27. driftcat28

    1 year ago

    Wow, every team should be in on Walker

    1 Like
    Reply

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