The D-Backs announced they’ve claimed reliever Reyes Moronta off waivers from the Dodgers. Infielder Jake Hager has been designated for assignment in a corresponding 40-man roster transaction.
Moronta’s stay in the NL West continues. The big right-hander’s most productive seasons came as a member of the Giants, the organization with which he began his career. Between 2018-19, Moronta was one of the better relievers in the game. He tossed 121 2/3 innings of 2.66 ERA ball over that stretch, striking out a strong 29.3% of opponents. He issued a few more walks than ideal, but he nevertheless held opponents to a pitiful .175/.292/.266 line over 508 plate appearances.
Unfortunately, that marked Moronta’s last extended run of action until this year. He missed the entire shortened 2020 campaign with a shoulder problem, then landed on the IL to start last season with a flexor strain in his forearm. Moronta returned late last year but the Giants designated him for assignment after just four MLB appearances. He passed unclaimed through waivers, became a minor league free agent after the season, and signed a non-roster pact with the Dodgers during the offseason.
Los Angeles selected him onto the MLB roster in May, and the 29-year-old has gotten into 22 games. Moronta had an alright run, working 23 2/3 frames with a 4.18 ERA. He fanned an above-average 27.6% of batters faced on a solid 12.7% swinging strike rate, but he also surrendered five home runs and continued to walk batters at a higher than average (albeit improved, relative to his time in San Francisco) 10.2% clip. As part of a Dodger bullpen that ranks third in the majors with a 3.05 ERA, it’s easy to see how Moronta was squeezed off the roster. He should have a clearer path to a regular role with an Arizona club that has a 4.31 reliever ERA that checks in 24th leaguewide.
Moronta is due the prorated portion of a $1.5MM salary (around $370K) for the remainder of this season. He entered the 2022 campaign with exactly four years of service time but spent the season’s first three weeks in Triple-A. That was enough that he won’t reach a full year of service this season, meaning he’ll be arbitration-eligible once more after the year. He’s also in his second minor league option year, so the Snakes can freely shuttle him between Phoenix and Triple-A Reno — although he’d earn the right to refuse any optional assignments once he reaches his fifth year of big league service, likely early in 2023.
Hager, meanwhile, re-signed with Arizona on a minor league deal over the winter after finishing the 2021 campaign in the system. The D-Backs selected the righty-hitting utilityman to the majors in May, and he’s appeared in 28 games. Over 59 plate appearances, Hager owns a .240/.345/.280 line. He’s had a longer run in Reno, hitting .230/.330/.365 through 212 trips to the plate in one of affiliated ball’s more hitter-friendly environments. He’s spent the bulk of his minor league defensive action at shortstop but has played more second and third base in the big leagues.
Arizona will place Hager on outright or release waivers within the next few days. He’s previously been outrighted in his career, so he’d have the right to refuse a minor league assignment and test free agency if he goes unclaimed.
Darn was hoping the giants would add him back! Loved him for his work with them early on in his career! Shoulder issue and all I would’ve liked to see him.
He was so good in SF…I always wanted him as a Dodger fan back then
Although Arizona didn’t look great overall during that lopsided series sweep by the Cards, I saw some signs of life. They are starting to develop a scrappy, Brewers-style group of position players. Their starters weren’t bad, they just ran into the wrong team at the wrong time. The bullpen needs some work and Marte, while very good, probably isn’t a cornerstone type player. They are probably closer than their record indicates.
Don, I concur with everything you said. Regarding Marte, do you think the D-backs look to trade him this off-season? They won’t need Marte in the OF given the accent of Thomas, Varsho, McCarthy and Carroll. And the D-backs could use Perdomo, Ahmed, Rojas and Lawler at SS and 2B. Given Marte’s age, performance and contract, he could bring back a few high upside major league ready players.
I admit I’m not well versed in Arizona’s depth chart. My observations were based on the 3 game series with the Cards, but I’ll give my two cents anyway.
I would keep Marte because he is a very good player who does several things well. His contract is team friendly, and his athleticism should mean he’ll continue to be positionally flexible throughout the contract.
I’ve never been impressed with Ahmed and Perdomo looks like a 25th or 26th man. Rojas looked good and they are very deep in the outfield. Rivera looks like a good find. Again, my opinions are based on a very small sample, but I believe there is solid amount of talent there.
Sorry it’s so long, wanted to give some DBacks fan perspective lol.
Marte isn’t an OF, and he’s only nominally a 2B at this point. I highly doubt they trade him at a low point in value after signing a “team friendly” contract. He’s still got time to turn it around and is still a solid bat (even if not a great one). Day … of waiting for Marte’s hot streak…
Rojas is not a SS, he can fake it at 3B but needs to work on turning DPs at 2B/3B if he wants to take that next defensive step (the bat and the legs are a blast to watch, though).
Who knows how Ahmed will play when he returns from injury, all we can do is hope for the best and cut our losses if it’s too terrible. We won’t be seeing Lawler next season for developmental reasons, and Ahmed will be gone by that point anyway.
Sadly, Ahmed going down wound up screwing over Perdomo. He had no option but to play every day in MLB, even though it looked like he was drowning offensively/defensively at times (the defense has looked much better as he’s gotten more comfortable). It’s important to remember that he’s still only 22 yo; it’s way too early to write Perdomo off as a 25th/26th man only. I could see him starting next season at AAA to make adjustments in a lower stress environment (something that worked absolute wonders for McCarthy) with Ahmed and Alcántara as the SSs on the active roster (Sergio has got some flair and fits fairly well as the BU IF; the boy’s got a hose!)
Originally, everybody thought Rivera was acquired strictly as a platoon complement for Rojas at 3B. While there was some truth to that early on, he’s also been hitting in the 2 hole fairly regularly against RHP; so the team obviously thinks of him as more than that, and he’s been rewarding that faith to an extent. If we stole an average 3B for Luke Weaver I will be beyond the moon.
As far as the OF goes, Varsho and McCarthy already look like they can be (or are) above average players, while Thomas has been struggling offensively. The defense is still phenomenal, but he’s another guy I could potentially see getting a “reset” at AAA come next season. Not the biggest fan of Luplow, but he’s a decent defender and “hits” LHP decently, but I already like Stone Garrett more as an offensive presence in that role; we’ll see how he finishes the year. If they’re serious about Carroll’s potential to be RoY next season, they’d be best served calling him up when rosters expand to 28 and letting him figure out the league through September/ST PAs so he he can hit the ground running next season.
AND FINALLY CARSON IS TURNING THINGS AROUND! Most of the fanbase had resigned ourselves to accepting that he had dropped to platoon territory. But no longer! They obviously also like Hummel, but I don’t think he’s a C; they’re just hoping he doesn’t embarrass himself after they had to send Herrera down (another guy that looked like he couldn’t get into a rhythm and was overmatched).
If they can sell high on Walker, they should. Although, his glove has been really nice and he’s trimmed the Ks his batted balls have been too predictable (I don’t want to say that they were easy plays, but at some point it’s not just bad luck).
Marte, Kelly, Walker, Rojas, Rivera, Ahmed, McCarthy, and Varsho being (near) locks for everyday playing time next season isn’t a bad starting point. They’ll have ST to figure out whether they want to give Thomas/Carroll the CF position to start the season, and some combination of: Alcántara/Perdomo/Garrett/Hummel/Luplow (if he’s not non-tendered) or the non-starter in CF could fill out the rest of the bench amicably.
The bullpen is ass, but Gallen, Kelly, and Henry (to a much lesser extent) have all looked pretty good in the rotation and there’s “only” 2 years left on Bum’s contract after this one. The best pitching prospects are also well into their AA/AAA development, so there will definitely be some turnover in the backend of the rotation (and Davies isn’t coming back). If they could figure out the bullpen (MASSIVE IF) they could play pretty prominent spoilers next season imo.
Hope that helps!
highheat, great perspective on the D-backs. It’s OK that it’s a little long given that there is usually not a lot of D-backs discussion here. Would also love to hear from “scottaz”. He knows the team equally well.
Jericho is going to be pissed!
Daddy Magic is next!
Moranta is one chunky monkey
Wish we picked him up. Pulling for him.
The Dbacks have lost their Swagger.
Ct Young
Colorado you are on notice keep tabs on Reyes as he needs to complete the NLWest cycle.
This will anger the rest of the Jericho Appreciation Society