The D-Backs are in agreement with infielder Ildemaro Vargas on a minor league contract, reports Aram Leighton of Just Baseball. The 33-year-old will get an invite to MLB camp.
Vargas has spent the last two and a half seasons in Washington. The switch-hitting utilityman has played in a bit more than half of the Nationals’ games since the start of the 2023 campaign. Vargas puts the ball in play but rarely walks and has very little power. He hit .257/.302/.354 across 785 plate appearances with the Nats. Washington outrighted him off their 40-man roster at the end of the season, essentially non-tendering him in lieu of a $1.8MM arbitration projection.
Before this recent run in Washington, Vargas had spent the majority of his career with the Diamondbacks. He debuted with Arizona in 2017 and remained with the organization into 2020. Arizona traded him to the Twins during the shortened season but brought him back in a minor trade with the Pirates the following year. That ended up being a brief stint, as Arizona waived him at the start of the 2021-22 offseason.
Vargas has evidently made a positive impression on team brass. They’ll bring him back for a third stint in a non-roster capacity. Arizona has a decent amount of infield depth. Blaze Alexander and Tim Tawa are on hand as potential utility options behind the presumptive starting infield of Pavin Smith, Ketel Marte, Geraldo Perdomo and Eugenio Suárez. Top prospect Jordan Lawlar will probably open the season in Triple-A but could get his first extended MLB look next season. Vargas is stretched at shortstop but grades as a capable defender at both second and third base.
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DBacks need to sign Santander and let Pederson and Gruichek move on. Switch hitting slugger who would thrive at Chase Field and can play OF or 1B. DBack administrators, are you watching these comments?
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Sounds like the DBacks are being told by ownership, plan on playing with a tighter budget in 2025. This is the replacement for Newman, a lot cheaper. Ownership does not want to sign Walker for what he wants, they want him to take a team discount and play for what he made on his last D’Back contract. Definitely don’t want to have another Montgomery mistake, sounds like they are a little gun shy about deals as well as trades. Rather do some dumpster diving this off season. So much for contending this season. Well, let’s see their still his I’m sure of a career AAA player that will fill the void at first and DH they can sign for the low minimum.
For Goodness sake, DBacks management needs to spend some $$ and be agressive moving a few players around. Cutting ties with Pederson and Grichuk is inevitable. Signing a switch-hitting slugger like Santander would help to replace both of them. He can fill in at DH, OF, or 1B. Next, resign Walker to a 3 year deal. That would be an absolutely solid batting lineup.
They spent last offsets on bringing in Joc, Grichuck, as well as Eugenio Suarez, Eduardo Rodriguez and Jordan Montgomery. They got little in the way of value from the Pitchers and are now stuck paying for one they don’t even want. Spending isn’t always best if the spending isn’t done wisely