The Diamondbacks are in agreement on a new minor league contract with infielder Ildemaro Vargas, reports Jon Heyman of The New York Post. The MAS+ Agency client returns to the organization after being outrighted off the roster at the end of the season.
Vargas has plenty of familiarity with the D-Backs. The veteran utilityman has played three separate big league stints and parts of six seasons in the desert. He got into 38 games this past season. Vargas hit .270 but only walked twice in 121 plate appearances, leading to a modest .292 on-base percentage. He’s a .249/.289/.357 hitter over parts of nine MLB seasons.
Defensive versatility has been Vargas’ calling card. The majority of his experience has been at shortstop, but he saw more action between second and third base this year. He’s entering his age-34 season and likely headed to Triple-A Reno. The D-Backs also added glove-first shortstop Jacob Amaya as non-roster infield depth earlier this offseason.
Not sure how this one slipped by Stearns.
That’s it. Ketel’s replacement.
Underrated signing.
I feel fine today, but I’ll be Ildemaro!
With a strong ST, Vargas has a decent shot to make the OD roster
When the 60-Day IL opens back up the DBacks will have 6 open roster spots, and Vargas is a solid “handcuff” for Lawlar (being a competent 3B/2B glove with a bat that isn’t unplayably bad against RHP)