The Diamondbacks announced Friday that they’ve released shortstop Elvis Andrus, who’d been in camp on a minor league deal. Arizona also optioned first baseman/outfielder Pavin Smith and lefty Andrew Saalfrank to Triple-A Reno. Additionally, non-roster lefty Jose Castillo was reassigned to minor league camp.
Andrus, 35, signed a minor league pact with the Snakes earlier this month. He made it into six official Cactus League games and went 2-for-17 with a pair of singles, a walk and four strikeouts. The D-backs announced even before signing Andrus that Geraldo Perdomo would be the team’s everyday shortstop to begin the season, meaning Andrus was essentially competing for a bench role. The Diamondbacks will apparently stick with in-house options for that spot, including out-of-options third baseman Emmanuel Rivera and veteran utilityman Jace Peterson.
Andrus spent the 2023 season with the White Sox, who signed him in 2022 after his release by the A’s and re-signed him to a big league deal last winter. The two-time All-Star hit well for the South Siders down the stretch in 2022 — .271/.309/.464 (118 wRC+) — but he couldn’t replicate that output in 2023. Andrus opened last year as Chicago’s primary second baseman but hit just .251/.304/.358 (81 wRC+) in 406 plate appearances.
While he only has three career seasons of average or better offense (by measure of wRC+), Andrus has long been a premium defender and baserunner. He’s no longer the plus-plus defender he was at shortstop early in his career, but Andrus can handle any of shortstop, second base or third base — making him a viable utility option for a team in need of some versatility off the bench. His sprint speed dropped way down to the 30th percentile of MLB players last year, per Statcast, but his instincts on the bases still allowed him to swipe a dozen bags in 16 tries.
This guy is still around?!
Elvis has left the building
You rarely hear: “Elvis has left the yard.”
Braves should bring him home as a backup if he’s willing. 1 mil bench role.
Come party in the dying days in Oakland Elvis!!!!
Elvis moving to Vegas in his latter years?
Viva Las Vegas
It’s now or never
Getting released was Heartbreak Hotel.
Yanks are interested just not signing.
Sadly this may be it for Elvis. At this point he’d likely have to play in AAA if he wants a chance.
I would love a return of Elvis at the Globe in Texas. Then, he can retire happily.
A 15 yr MLB career is quite the nice run.
I hope the snakes reward Blaze Alexander with a roster spot.
He’s definitely earned one.
Guys like Elvis never stop playing. I’m sure he’ll pop up again (no pun intended) somewhere…
Mets!!
With Manny being a DH for a while I can see Preller pulling the trigger on this guy.
He can be the new Carpenter or Odor, ugh…
Respect to Elvis, but he isn’t a good fit on this Dbacks team. This team is youthful and needs Blaze Alexander. Alexander can get plenty of AtBats at SS, 3b, 2b, DH and PH.
Elvis was brought in because neither Rivera nor Peterson is a SS except in emergencies. Perdomo might need to be spelled more frequently, so the Dbacks brought Andrus in as a true SS., when Newman failed. But Alexander’s outstanding performance in Spring Training made Elvis expendable. Blaze will be on the roster for OD.
Its not disrespectful to acknowledge that Elvis’ days as a major leaguer are just about over. He had a fine career, now it’s time to make way for the prospects, which Elvis was himself once.
Nothing but a Hound Dog!
Don’t be cruel
I was thinking he should get a call from Dana White but it was Odor.