The Diamondbacks announced that they’ve designated infielder Pat Valaika for assignment. His spot on the 40-man roster will go to new center fielder Starling Marte, whose acquisition from the Pirates has been formally announced by the team.
It’s the third time this winter that Valaika, 27, has been jettisoned from a 40-man roster. The former ninth-round pick began the offseason with the Rockies and was briefly property of the Orioles before being claimed off waivers by the D-backs just 11 days ago.
The younger brother of former Reds, Marlins and Cubs infielder Chris Valaika, Pat has spent his entire career in the Rockies organization, appearing in the big leagues in each of the past four seasons. He’s a career .214/.256/.400 hitter who has shown plenty of pop from the right side of the dish and some infield versatility.
However, the younger Valaika brother has punched out in nearly 29 percent of his trips to the plate in the big leagues and generally struggled to get on base at a passable clip. He has a minor league option remaining and a career .275/.315/.498 slash 695 Triple-A plate appearances, so it’s possible another club will take a look at claiming him as a depth option. If not, he’ll remain in the D-backs system and presumably head to Spring Training as a non-roster invitee to Major League camp.
Arizona will have a week to trade Valaika, place him on outright waivers or release him.
Cant even hit at Coors
“And if I ever did, I certainly wouldn’t make him throw at a bleeping one hundred and thirty hitter, like LaFaye, or bleeping Bevacqua, who couldn’t hit water if he fell out of a bleeping boat.” – Tommy Lasorda in response to allegations that he ordered a beanball. Replace bleeping with more colorful language and you can probably picture how upset Tommy was.
When do guys like this realize it is over for them and decide to get a regular job?
That’s their call to make. They’ve accomplished more than you ever have.
He’s been claimed on waivers twice this winter already, signaling that multiple MLB clubs feel he’s at least a fringe 40-man depth piece. Why would he decide to walk away from that?
Moreover, why would anyone take umbrage with someone circulating on waivers or hanging onto a minor league career? Any MLB time he gets is insanely lucrative. The possibility for playing overseas for excellent money (relative to “regular” jobs) remains very much alive. And he also knows that he’s only going to be able to do this while he’s in his 20s and 30s. There’s a finite window on his career — why would he give that up early if he wants to continue playing and enjoys doing so?
What a bizarre thing to frame in such a negative manner.
That’s what people who don’t look in a mirror seem to think. Always amazes Steve. Like it’s all so easy or they wouldn’t do it if they had any talent. Obviously they don’t.
He should stay at it for as long as possible. Life is short and any opportunity is worth pursuing if it’s what you love to do.
When no one will employ them as a baseball player anymore.
Literally, if you get zero contract offers, there’s your sign.
Bud Black loves to carry a light hitting mediocre UTL player every year. I wanted to puke as a Padre fan with how much he ran Alexi Amarista out there.
As a Padres fan you should be used to puking on a regular basis.
In MLB, San Diego is Dysfunction Junction. It’s where players go to die!
Come on Rangers, this can be our new Pete Kozma, Patrick Wisdom, Logan Forsythe type. Stays for a year, and provides a bench piece/AAA depth.
I’m sure he just waved his bat around aimlessly ha
Back to the Orioles. This years Hanser Alberto.
Being a Rangers fan, I wish Alberto would’ve done good with us, but I guess he likes playing the Yankees, Red Sox, and Rays.
Come on mariners give him a look
Obviously his power numbers and walk rate are terrible but he seems to always be able to put ball in play. He won’t hit lefties again like last season but man he has some great hand eye coordination. He would be a great complimentary player hitting bottom third of the order on a winning ballclub