TODAY: Pope, Curtiss, Kelly, Nelson, and Kaiser all elected minor league free agency, according to the Reno Aces’ official transactions page. In addition, Matt Mervis, Cristian Pache, Matt Foster, and Tristin English also elected free agency. Of that quartet, only English (a third round pick for Arizona in the 2019 draft) received any big league playing time with the D’Backs in 2025, and the others were in the organization on minor league contracts.
NOV. 6: The Diamondbacks have announced a handful of roster moves. Infielder Ildemaro Vargas, catcher James McCann, and left-hander Jalen Beeks have elected free agency. Right-handers Austin Pope, John Curtiss, and Casey Kelly, left-hander Kyle Nelson, and infielder Connor Kaiser were outrighted off the 40-man roster. Arizona’s 40-man roster now sits at 38 players.
Vargas just wrapped up his third stint with the team. The versatile utilityman debuted with the Diamondbacks in 2017. After playing a minor role across three seasons, Arizona designated him for assignment in 2020. The DFA led to a trade to the Twins, though Minnesota would also designate Vargas for assignment less than a month after acquiring him. The Cubs scooped him up off waivers for the final month of the season. Vargas went through a similar set of transactions in 2021, just in a different order. He was claimed off waivers by the Pirates in May, then designated for assignment a couple of weeks later. Pittsburgh worked out a trade that sent Vargas back to Arizona.
Washington gave Vargas his longest look to date. The Nationals signed him as a minor league free agent in May of 2022. He hit .280 in 53 games with the team. Washington gave Vargas semi-regular playing time over the next two seasons. He topped 300 plate appearances for the first time in 2024. Vargas signed a minor league deal to return to Arizona this past offseason. He appeared in 38 games with the team in 2025. Vargas has spent time at all four infield positions, plus left field and right field. He’s also made five appearances in mop-up duty on the mound, hilariously allowing just two earned runs in five innings. The 34-year-old’s extreme versatility could get him another gig this offseason.
Arizona added McCann after Atlanta cut him loose in June. He appeared in 42 games for the team, filling in behind the plate after Gabriel Moreno went down with a hand injury. The 34-year-old posted a solid 110 wRC+ in limited action.
Beeks ended up being a decent find for the Diamondbacks. They signed him just before the season began, and the veteran lefty contributed a 3.77 ERA over 57 1/3 innings. Beeks missed time with a back injury, but still managed to make 61 appearances, including two as an opener.
Curtiss is the only member of the DFA group to make a significant impact at the MLB level in 2025. He appeared in 30 games with the big-league club, recording a 3.93 ERA. Curtiss has bounced around frequently since debuting in 2017, pitching for eight different teams.
Nelson has been a part of Arizona’s bullpen in recent years, but he only appeared in three games this past season. Pope debuted in September, making a two-inning appearance against the Dodgers before heading back to Triple-A Reno. Kelly pitched in two games in August. Kaiser had a couple of brief stints with the big-league club, going 2-for-18 across 11 games.
Snakes on a plane
We’ve got to get these snakes off this plane.
What does it mean they elected free agency? Did their contracts run out or were they under arbitration? I thought Beeks was a pending FA so it’s just just part of the process.
For Beeks it would have been a formality. For anybody under 6 years of service time who has been outrighted previously, they can either elect free agency or elect to stay in the organization but not on the 40-man roster.
Ok. I thought he was out of club control years.
Beeks would look good in Northwest Green.
Beeks on Blue Jays, Orioles or Cardinals
I see some dumpster dining for Chris Getz and the Sox!
A reunion with Foster. Appears recovered from his injury. Don’t need McCann.
Like Teel and Quero.
Exodus!
Movement of Snake People!
Pope is definitley someone I feel like another team could give a chance and he breaks out. Never really understood the hype surrounding Pache when he was a top prospect. He was ranked as a consensus top 20 prospect in 2021, but saw more of a Jake Marisnick or Michael A. Taylor-type, which hey, no shade to them, but doesn’t really live up to the title of being a top 20 prospect.
Beeks and Pache on minor league deals – I wouldn’t mind seeing that for the Orioles.
Can never have enough pitching and Beeks could be serviceable in the event of an injury or a spot start.
Pache came to Baltimore in the Dominguez trade with Philadelphia but was quickly let loose and picked up by Miami I believe. Getting him regular playing time in the minors for depth or hopes of him finally putting it together and blooming late wouldn’t hurt. Bradfield Jr is the starter at center in AAA for sure over Pache but he could see time in left field. The Orioles seem to like giving former top prospects another chance. If it doesn’t work out no harm and he (and Beeks) just move on.
Should Nationals resign Vargas?
Now Dbacks need to clear 2-4 more 40 Man Roster spots to protect prospects from the Minor League Draft .
Nationals should try to sign Beeks