Pirates Reinstate Carmen Mlodzinski From Restricted List
June 1: Pittsburgh reinstated Mlodzinski from the restricted list during Monday’s off day, reports Jason Mackey of MLB.com. The right-hander tells Mackey he did not consider a trade request and will be available to pitch out of the bullpen for tomorrow’s series opener in Houston.
“I want to do what’s best to help us win baseball games,” Mlodzinski told MLB.com. “Being around these guys, this team, it’s a pretty cool group to be a part of. Of course I want to start and will always want that, but winning games takes precedence.”
May 31: In an unexpected move, the Pirates placed right-hander Carmen Mlodzinski on the team’s restricted list today. Righty Cam Sanders was called up from Triple-A Indianapolis to take Mlodzinski’s spot on the active roster, and Pittsburgh now has an open spot on its 40-man roster.
As a reminder, players aren’t paid for any time spent on the restricted list, nor do they receive any MLB service time. Clubs usually use the restricted list for players who are suspended, or are dealing with a personal issue that keeps them away from the team for an undetermined period of time. Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that Mlodzinski is expected to be available on Tuesday, so it will be just a short absence for the righty.
The reasons for the placement were revealed today by Pirates GM Ben Cherington, who told Beazley and other reporters that Mlodzinski “wasn’t ready to” pitch on Sunday. “Going into the weekend, we understood and communicated with Carmen that at some point this weekend we were going to need him to be ready or we’d have to replace him on the team in fairness to the team, so that’s what happened today.”
The issue seems to stem from the Pirates’ decision to remove Mlodzinski from the rotation when Jared Jones made his return from the 60-day injured list on Friday. Jones joins Paul Skenes, Braxton Ashcraft, Mitch Keller, and Bubba Chandler in the starting five, leaving Mlodzinski as the odd man out. As Beazley noted, Mlodzinski was open about his disappointment while speaking with the media on Thursday, and Mlodzinski has been vocal in the past about preferring to work as a starting pitcher.
Mlodzinski said Thursday that he is “still communicating with the organization and the people in my corner, whether that’s my family or my agency, about what is next,” but Cherington said today that the right-hander hadn’t requested a trade. The Pirates control Mlodzinski through the 2029 season, as the right-hander won’t reach arbitration eligibility until the coming offseason.
Over 55 innings this season, Mlodzinski has posted a 3.76 ERA in 11 games — nine proper starts and two bulk-pitcher outings working behind an opener. Mlodzinski’s 8.4% walk rate is around league average but he isn’t missing many bats and he is allowing a ton of hard contact. The right-hander’s 50.9% hard-hit ball rate sits only in the second percentile of all pitchers. Still, Mlodzinski’s SIERA is only 4.21, as he has done a good job of limiting the damage of all that hard contact by allowing only three home runs.
A case can be made that Mlodzinski could’ve or should’ve retained a rotation spot over Bubba Chandler, as Chandler has struggled badly with his control while posting a 4.85 ERA across 52 innings. Since Mlodzinski has more experience as a swingman or long reliever, however, the Pirates opted to use that flexibility by moving him into a relief role, with the knowledge that Mlodzinski would likely have an easier time than Chandler in shifting back to a starting gig down the road.
It is understandable why Mlodzinski isn’t happy with the move, but his impending return on Tuesday probably means there aren’t too many hard feelings. Without much leverage in trade demands, Mlodzinski may simply have to move forward as a reliever for the time being, though obviously any number of circumstances (injuries, more struggles from Chandler, etc.) could open up a rotation spot in the future. Having a de facto sixth starter on the roster is also a good way for the Pirates to help keep the entire rotation fresh for what the team hopes will be a push towards a playoff spot.
Elly De La Cruz To Undergo MRI On Right Hamstring
Elly De La Cruz left the Reds’ 6-4 win over the Braves today due to what the club described as right hamstring tightness. The star shortstop cracked a line drive to the gap in right-center field during the fifth inning, yet held up at first base in obvious discomfort, and then left the game after a visit from team trainers.
Manager Terry Francona told reporters (including the Cincinnati Enquirer’s Pat Brennan) that De La Cruz will undergo an MRI tomorrow to determine the extent of the injury. De La Cruz believes he avoided a serious injury, telling the media via a translator that “when I was making the turn for first, I felt tightness in my hamstring and immediately I decide to stop because I felt like ‘if I keep going, this can get worse.’ ”
The Reds host the Royals for a three-game series that begins on Monday, and then have an off-day on Thursday. If the MRI results don’t show anything serious but De La Cruz is still feeling sore, the Reds could opt to play with a short bench during the Kansas City series in the hopes that four days off would allow De La Cruz to be ready for Friday’s game. Dane Myers‘ status is also a factor since the outfielder has missed the last two games due to illness, so if Myers isn’t feeling better by tomorrow, Cincinnati likely wouldn’t want to play with two players unavailable.
Through 58 games, De La Cruz is on pace for what would be the best yet of his four Major League seasons. De La Cruz had two singles, two runs scored, a walk, and a stolen base in his abbreviated outing today, and he is now hitting .280/.346/.509 with 12 homers over 257 plate appearances. Only six qualified hitters in baseball have more than De La Cruz’s 2.5 fWAR, as he has matched his offensive production with improved glovework at shortstop.
Losing De La Cruz for even a 10-day IL stint would be a tough blow to a top-heavy Reds lineup. Outsized contributions from De La Cruz, Sal Stewart, and (in smaller sample sizes) Nathaniel Lowe and JJ Bleday have helped cover for underwhelming starts from several other Cincinnati batters, not to mention shaky pitching from an injury-ravaged rotation and bullpen.
Matt McLain would likely take over at shortstop in the event of a De La Cruz injury, and highly-touted prospect Edwin Arroyo is on the 40-man roster and could be called up to provide infield depth. Between McLain’s struggles at the plate and Ke’Bryan Hayes‘ injury absence, the Reds’ recent lineups have seen Stewart and Eugenio Suarez split the third base and DH at-bats, Spencer Steer has been getting more time at second base, and the hot-hitting Lowe has gotten an increase in playing time at first base.
Phillies Notes: Realmuto, Miller
X-rays were negative on J.T. Realmuto‘s left wrist after the catcher was hit by a Yoshinobu Yamamoto fastball in the third inning of today’s 9-1 Phillies loss to the Dodgers. Realmuto remained in the game and was back behind the plate in the bottom of the third, but was replaced by Rafael Marchan before the bottom of the fourth.
After the game, Phils manager Don Mattingly told MLB.com’s Paul Casella and other reporters that Realmuto was “obviously sore, couldn’t really squeeze, wasn’t gonna be able to swing and actually had a little trouble catching, too. So, sore enough to get him out of there.” Despite this lengthy list of issues, Mattingly felt Realmuto was “gonna be okay” given the x-ray results.
The Phillies don’t play on Monday, so Realmuto has an extra day to heal up before the club begins a six-game homestand on Tuesday against the Padres. It wouldn’t be a surprise if Realmuto also sits Tuesday due to any lingering soreness, and the presence of both Marchan and Garrett Stubbs on the active roster gives the Phillies some flexibility in giving Realmuto some more rest without leaving the club short-handed at the catcher’s spot.
Realmuto missed 10 days earlier this season due to a bad back, and the veteran backstop is one of several Philadelphia hitters who has underperformed at the plate. After signing a new three-year, $45MM free agent deal with the Phillies during the offseason, Realmuto has stumbled out of the gates with a .220/.296/.299 slash line and two home runs over 142 plate appearances.
In a longer-term injury concern, Phillies GM Preston Mattingly didn’t have any new news on the status of infield prospect Aidan Miller, who has been sidelined all season due to ongoing back pain. “We’re leaning on medical. [He’s] still just doing his rehab program at this point. It’s not baseball activities, but as we’ve seen over the years, that could change pretty quickly,” Mattingly told The Athletic’s Charlotte Varnes and other reporters.
Miller dealt with back problems in the second half of the 2025 season, and played through discomfort over a two-month stretch that saw the infielder promoted to Triple-A for the first time. Miller still hit .264/.392/.433 over 526 combined PA between the Double-A and Triple-A levels, but had to finish the year on the Triple-A injured list after only eight games with Lehigh Valley.
The back soreness resurfaced again in Spring Training, and has put a halt to Miller’s fourth pro season. He has been able to play catch and take some grounders, but that has been the extent of his baseball activity for the better part of three months.
Mattingly feels Miller will be able to play before the 2026 campaign is over, though the fact that this is now even a question speaks to the uncertainty surrounding Miller’s status. The team seems to be operating with some extra caution given the lingering nature of this back problem, and how the Phillies “want him to be good to go not just this year, but the rest of his career,” as director of player development Luke Murton told Varnes.
Miller entered 2026 as a consensus top prospect in baseball, with The Athletic’s Keith Law and ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel each ranking the infielder within the top ten of their preseason rankings. It was seen as just a matter of time before Miller made his Major League debut, with the career shortstop seen as a candidate to supplant Alec Bohm at third base or Bryson Stott at second base given how Trea Turner has the shortstop position covered. This extended injury absence has thrown a wrench into all of these plans, and it may be that Miller will have to wait until 2027 to get his first taste of the majors.
Joe La Sorsa To Exercise Upward Mobility Clause In Pirates Contract
For the second time this year, Joe La Sorsa will trigger an upward mobility clause in his minor league deal with the Pirates. 7 News’ Ari Alexander reports that La Sorsa will exercise the clause tomorrow, and the Pirates will then have to offer the left-hander to the other 29 big league clubs.
If any other team is willing to give La Sorsa a roster spot, the Pirates are required to trade La Sorsa to an interested team, or add them to their own active roster. If none of the 29 teams are interested, La Sorsa will remain in Pittsburgh’s minor league system.
The two sides already went through this process at the end of Spring Training, when La Sorsa exercised his clause and went unclaimed. The Bucs haven’t felt compelled to select La Sorsa’s contract over the last two months, though he has a respectable 3.60 ERA, 5.9% walk rate, and 46.4% grounder rate rate over 25 innings with Triple-A Indianapolis.
La Sorsa has only a 20.8% strikeout rate, which about matches his moderate swing-and-miss ability over his pro career. After breaking into the majors with Tampa Bay in 2023, La Sorsa has a 5.21 ERA, 17.5K%, and 6.3BB% over 57 career innings with the Rays, Nationals, and Reds. The Mets inked La Sorsa to a minors deal last September that didn’t result in any big league playing time, and La Sorsa became a minor league free agent at season’s end before joining the Pirates.
Between closer Gregory Soto, Mason Montgomery, and Evan Sisk, Pittsburgh has been getting good results from the left-handed complement of its relief corps. Most teams generally don’t have more than three southpaws in the bullpen, so La Sorsa might not have a path to the Pirates’ roster. That said, the Bucs do have an open spot on the 40-man roster and even on their 26-man, as Cam Sanders was optioned back to Triple-A following a one-game cup of coffee in today’s 9-3 win over the Twins.
Another club with more of a pressing need for left-handed depth could have interest in La Sorsa. He has a minor league option remaining, so he has value for teams looking for bullpen arms that can be shuffled back and forth (up to five times) from Triple-A.
Marlins To Select Zach Brzykcy
The Marlins will select the contract of right-hander Zach Brzykcy prior to tomorrow’s game with the Nationals, Fish On First’s Kevin Barral reports. Miami will have to open a spot on both the 26-man and 40-man rosters for Brzykcy, but 40-man space could be found by moving Andrew Nardi to the 60-day IL, since Nardi will miss around three months due to a stress reaction in his left ribcage. Right-hander Josh Ekness could potentially be headed to the 15-day IL, as Ekness was seen on crutches during the Marlins’ team train ride from New York to Washington today. (Hat tip to reporter Noah Berger and MLB.com’s Christina De Nicola.)
Brzykcy will be making his official Marlins debut the first time he appears in a game, and an appearance in the upcoming series in D.C. would pit the right-hander against his former team. The Nationals signed Brzykcy as an undrafted free agent in 2020 and he posted a 10.05 ERA over 28 2/3 innings with the club during the 2024-25 seasons. The Marlins claimed Brzykcy off waivers last November, and outrighted him off their own 40-man roster in December.
Over 22 1/3 innings with Triple-A Jacksonville, Brzykcy has a 5.24 ERA and 12.1% walk rate, though his 26.3% rate is pretty solid. Strikeout ability and control issues have basically been the story of Brzykcy’s pro career, and he isn’t exactly heading to the Show on a high note — twelve of the 13 earned runs Brzykcy has allowed this season in Jacksonville have come over his last five outings.
The call-up may be more based on the Marlins’ need for a fresh arm, as the club was forced into an unexpected bullpen game today. Scheduled starter Janson Junk was a late scratch due to a shin problem that resulted in a 15-day IL placement, and Miami used seven pitchers and utilityman Javier Sanoja for mop-up duty in a 10-1 loss to the Mets. Just within the last week, the Marlins have lost three starters (Junk, Eury Perez, Robby Snelling) to the injured list, as well as Nardi and perhaps Ekness from the bullpen mix. With the staff stretched so thin, there’s opportunity for Brzykcy to stick around for more than a cup of coffee if he performs well and eats some innings.
MLBTR Chat Transcript
Mark P
- Welcome, weekend chatters! We’ll open the floor just as soon as a few questions enter the queue….
A’s at home
- A’s just can’t get it done at home. What needs to be done to turn it around? They are still in it and still lots of season left to play.
Mark P
- Today’s loss drops the A’s to 11-17 at home, with a much more respectable road record of 17-14. Pitching at that ballpark just seems to be taking more of a toll on the Athletics’ pitchers than it does opponents, and it doesn’t help that the A’s have gotten even thinner in the rotation department due to the injury bug
- The more interesting stat is maybe the fact that the A’s are only middle-of-the-pack when it comes to home offense. Kurtz, Langeliers, and (of all people) Cortes can only do so much to prop up an overall disappointing offense
- In what has become this chat’s catchphrase of the last month, “they’re still in it because the AL as a whole is so weak.” If guys like Soderstrom start hitting and the A’s pitching becomes even half-decent (not even good), a run at a wild card berth or even the AL West crown isn’t out of the question. But in general, the A’s seemed like a team that was still at least a year away, and that might well end up being the case
Hunter
- Murakami gets injured and White Sox pull up Jacob Gonzalez. He was hitting .300 with 18 bombs and 58 rbis in almost 50 games. What’s your current thoughts on the white sox right now
Big Hurt
- Are the White Sox legit playoff contenders?
Mark P
- Gonzalez’s 2026 output is so far beyond his previous numbers that it seems like an outlier, but then again, breakouts happen. It doesn’t seem likely that Gonzalez will do much to make up the Murakami-sized hole in Chicago’s lineup, and losing him for at least a month is a tough break for both the team and for casual fans as a fun story.
- Still too early to say if the Sox can sustain this all the way through September, but it helps that the Royals and Tigers are both flailing right now. I don’t think second place in the AL Central is even out of the question since I don’t trust Minnesota.
Jack
- What do the Pirates do with Carme M? Leave him on the restricted list list or trade him?
Mr. Mlodzinski
- Think I’ll be on the move?
Mark P
- While Mlodzinski isn’t happy with his current situation, I don’t think this is an Eric Lauer situation where there are hard feelings “and” the pitcher isn’t performing. I’m sure a few teams have checked in with the Bucs on trade offers, but if you’re Pittsburgh, Mlodzinski is a valuable depth arm.
Snow the Informer
- If a MLB contract clause states X amount of time on the IL for an “arm injury” voids the opt out, does that include a shoulder injury? Or what if he goes on the IL for a shoulder injury then stays on it because of a lat issue, does that void the opt out? Asking for a friend.
Mark P
- Ha, a friend named Craig?
That’s an interesting question, and I’m sure the actual contract has more official language covering the specifics.
Rangers Fan
- Can Josh Jung keep this up? He’s hitting at an all-star level over the last month.
Mark P
- His advanced metrics hint that some regression is coming, but maybe not much. Jung is making a lot of hard contact and he has drastically reduced his strikeouts, which is a nice recipe for sustained success.Interestingly, Jung seems to be the one batter who has figured out Globe Life Field. He’s crushing the ball at home to the tune of a 1.000 OPS, as opposed to around a .700 OPS on the road.
Dustin
- What do the Mariners do with their starters? They have 6 up and 2 ready in Sloan and Anderson? I know they shouldn’t trade pitching, but, they have so many. Sell
- sell high on Hancock?
Mark P
- Obligatory “you can never have too much pitching” quote
With the M’s in pure win-now mode, a major deadline trade can’t be ruled out. But that’s still two months away, and that’s plenty of time for another injury or two to emerge. Pitching surpluses have a way of solving themselves once someone inevitably gets hurt.
Garrett Crochet To Undergo Tests After “Very Minor” Injury Setback
Red Sox ace Garrett Crochet is dealing with lingering soreness in his lat area, and as a result Crochet’s throwing progression has been halted. The left-hander told MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo and other reporters that he is “going to get some imaging on it just to make sure we have the full picture.”
Crochet downplayed the seriousness of the situation, saying “it feels like a very minor setback. It sucks to even call it a setback because it doesn’t feel like it even deserves that title. But I won’t be making the live [batting practice] on Tuesday, which sucks.”
More will be known once the test results are in, and if Crochet has indeed avoided any sort of structural issue. Still, even a brief shutdown in his throwing progression will extend what has already been more than a month-long stint on the injured list. Crochet hasn’t pitched since April 25 due to inflammation in his throwing shoulder.
As Crochet noted, he had been slated to toss a live batting practice session on Tuesday. This planned multi-inning appearance would’ve been Crochet’s second outing against live hitters, following a one-inning simulated session last Tuesday. In the aftermath of that outing, however, Crochet said he felt “just felt a little stretch…in the lat” while throwing, and when the discomfort didn’t subside, the decision was made to shut him down for further examination.
Though Crochet had advanced to facing live hitters, he felt “like I was still a little far off from a rehab start, so it was very, very early in the build-up process.” So even if everything had gone smoothly, Crochet still likely would’ve been sidelined until at least the third week of June, when factoring in time for more BP sessions and probably a couple of minor league rehab starts. It now looks like July 1 may be a more realistic target date for a return, assuming he is able to resume throwing reasonably soon.
After finishing as the runner-up in AL Cy Young Award voting in 2025, Crochet’s second season in Boston has basically been a wash due to this IL stint and the 6.30 ERA he posted over his first six starts. That ungainly ERA was somewhat inflated by one particularly disastrous outing, as Crochet was charged with 10 earned runs over 1 2/3 innings against the Twins on April 13.
There’s still plenty of time for Crochet to get back onto the field and get back to his old form, though timing is paramount given Boston’s disappointing 25-33 record. The Red Sox will have to consider selling at the trade deadline if they can’t get on track, and getting back into contention will be more difficult the longer Crochet is absent. Though Boston’s struggling offense has been the larger problem than the still-solid rotation, obviously the Sox will be much better off with Crochet on the mound.
Giants Designate Ryan Borucki, Select Jonah Cox
The Giants have designated left-hander Ryan Borucki for assignment and selected the contract of outfielder Jonah Cox from Double-A Richmond, according to the San Francisco Chronicle’s Susan Slusser. Outfielder Will Brennan has also been optioned to Triple-A, with righty Tristan Beck recalled in his place.
After being cut by the White Sox near the end of Spring Training, Borucki quickly caught on with the Giants on a big league contract. The results haven’t been there for Borucki in his ninth MLB season, as the southpaw has a 4.94 ERA, 14.4% strikeout rate, and 8.7% walk rate across 23 2/3 relief innings. Just when it seemed like Borucki was getting on track after a shaky start to the season, he gave up five earned runs over his last three outings and 5 1/3 innings of work.
As usual, Borucki has drastic splits, as left-handed batters have only a .550 OPS against him this season (while righty batters have a whopping 1.085 OPS). A team in need of southpaw relief help could be inclined to claim Borucki off San Francisco’s waiver wire, but the likelier scenario is that he’ll clear waivers and then be outrighted to Triple-A. Borucki has been outrighted in the past, so he can elect free agency rather than accept that assignment.
The 24-year-old Cox will be making his Major League debut whenever he appears in a game, and Cox will get his first taste of the Show before even getting a look at the Triple-A level. It seems like Cox’s superb performance in Richmond couldn’t be ignored, as Cox is hitting .400/.453/.644 with six home runs and 27 steals (in 34 attempts) over 183 Double-A plate appearances.
Cox has never posted anything close to these numbers in his previous three minor league seasons, and he is surely getting a lot of help from an eye-opening .464 BABIP. That said, Cox’s elite speed has helped him generate large BABIPs in the past, and he has drastically cut back on his strikeout rate to 16.9% in Double-A ball.
The bat has been the only question mark about Cox’s game, as his defense and speed were already seen as ready for primetime. Those plus skills alone make Cox a viable bench piece for the Giants and perhaps a platoon partner for Drew Gilbert in center field, even if there’s bound to be a learning curve as Cox makes the big jump from facing Double-A pitching to big league arms. The Giants rank last in baseball in stolen bases, so Cox should provide an immediate boost on the basepaths.
Baseball America ranks Cox 21st on their list of Giants prospects. Cox was a sixth-round pick for the Athletics in the 2023 draft, and he was dealt to San Francisco in the February 2024 trade that sent Ross Stripling to the A’s.
Marlins Place Janson Junk On 15-Day IL, Recall Josh White
The Marlins placed right-hander Janson Junk on the 15-day injured list with right shin inflammation, according to Christina De Nicola of MLB.com. Right-hander Josh White was called up from Triple-A in a corresponding move, and White will be making his big league debut whenever he appears in a game.
Now in his second season with Miami, Junk emerged as a rotation option last season by posting a 4.17 ERA over 110 innings and a 2.9% walk rate that ranked among the league’s very best. Junk’s 5.1BB% this season is still excellent but his recipe of great control without many strikeouts hasn’t been quite as effective, as he has an 4.80 ERA over 11 starts and 60 innings. Most of the damage against Junk came against two of baseball’s top clubs, as the Rays and Braves combined to torch Junk for 15 runs over 10 2/3 innings in starts on May 15 and 20.
Junk was scratched from today’s scheduled start against the Mets, and as per De Nicola, he’ll need 2-3 weeks of recovery. While the injury doesn’t appear to be all that serious, it leaves the Marlins scrambling for a bullpen game today, and down yet another starting pitcher. In a little over a week, the Fish have lost Robby Snelling for the season (due to an internal brace procedure) and Eury Perez to a right gracilis strain that will sideline Perez for about two months.
Sandy Alcantara and Max Meyer are the only full-fledged starters remaining in the Miami rotation, and long reliever Tyler Phillips is now being stretched out for a starting role. Braxton Garrett was hit hard in two previous starts this season but might earn another look in the majors out of sheer necessity. The Marlins could also turn to other 40-man options like Ryan Gusto, Dax Fulton, or Bradley Blalock. Top prospect Thomas White isn’t an option to make his Major League debut since the left-hander is currently on the Triple-A injured list.
Off-days on June 4 and 8 give the Marlins some time to try and figure things out, or to at least provide the relief corps with a break over what might be a heavy workload. The bullpen also took a hit with Andrew Nardi‘s placement on the 15-day injured list yesterday due to a stress reaction his rib cage, and the injury will cost Nardi most of the season. Manager Clayton McCullough told De Nicola and other reporters today and Nardi will need three months of recovery time.
Josh White’s call-up brings a fresh arm to the relief mix, and gives the 25-year-old his first taste of MLB action. A fifth-round pick for the Marlins in the 2022 draft, White was added to Miami’s 40-man roster last November in advance of the Rule 5 Draft. Baseball America ranks White 21st on their list of Marlins prospects, and credits him with an outstanding curveball and a plus slider.
Now in his second year of Triple-A ball, White has a 1.33 ERA over 27 innings with Jacksonville, but a .155 BABIP and a 96.6% strand rate are the primary reasons for that sparkling ERA. White’s strikeout rate of 26.7% is down considerably from last year’s 40.8% mark, while his walk rate has spiked to 14.3%.
Nolan Arenado’s Arizona Bounce-Back
Nolan Arenado‘s no-trade clause was the most obvious obstacle for the Cardinals in their attempts to trade the third baseman during the last two offseasons, as Arenado (especially during the winter of 2024-25) had a very short list of acceptable landing spots. It didn’t help that Arenado was also owed a substantial amount of money, and St. Louis ended up eating $31MM of the $42MM remaining on the third baseman’s contract once Arenado finally approved a trade to the Diamondbacks last January.
The bigger-picture issue hovering over the situation, however, was simply the fact that Arenado looked like a player in decline. After a superb 2022 season with the Cards that saw Arenado finish third in NL MVP voting, Arenado dropped down to a modest 107 wRC+ in 2023, then a 102 wRC+ in 2024, and then an ugly 84 wRC+. It was just the third time in Arenado’s career that he had delivered below-average offense, with the other two instances being his 2013 rookie season with the Rockies, and the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign.
Apart from an elite strikeout rate, Arenado’s 2025 numbers were pretty ugly across the board. He hit .237/.289/.377 with 12 home runs over 436 plate appearances in what ended up as his final season in St. Louis, and his barrel and hard-hit ball rates each ranked only in the 12th percentile of all hitters. Arenado’s numbers in those two categories were pretty similar in 2024, making it consecutive seasons of diminished power.
On the plus side, Arenado’s third base glovework was still strong, even if down from his Platinum Glove-winning prime years. So in swinging that trade with the Cardinals, the D’Backs could at least count on Arenado for solid defense and a veteran voice in the clubhouse. Even if Arenado’s bat was a question mark, it was a flier the Diamondbacks were willing to take given the modest $11MM price tag ($5MM in 2026, $6MM in 2027) and the fact that Arizona hadn’t been able to land such third base targets as Alex Bregman or Brendan Donovan.
Through two months of the season, Arenado seems to have benefited from the change of scenery. The 35-year-old has turned back to the clock to some extent by hitting .275/.357/.462 with seven home runs over 196 PA, translating to a 130 wRC+. If Arenado can keep this going over a full year, the 130 wRC+ would tie the third-highest mark of his 14-year big league career.
There was some thought that the move to Chase Field might spark Arenado’s bat, and sure enough, he has done more damage in a more hitter-friendly home ballpark. Arenado has a .934 OPS across 94 home PA, as opposed to a .711 OPS in 102 PA away from Phoenix.
His overall .360 wOBA is also notably higher than his .339 xwOBA, so some regression is probably inevitable (though .339 is still comfortably above the league average). Arenado still isn’t making contact with much authority, as his barrel rate is only up to 6.5% from 4% in 2025, and his hard-hit ball rate has actually dropped from 32.6% last year to 31.9% this year. While he is still making plenty of contact, Arenado’s 17.9% strikeout rate is on pace to be the second-highest of his career.
When Arenado has squared the ball, however, he has capitalized. As per Statcast’s launch angle sweet spot metric, Arenado’s number is up to 38.4% this season, putting him in the 81st percentile of all batters. (Comparatively, Arenado’s 31.5 LAS% in 2025 put him in the 16th percentile.)
All of this success comes after a very rough opening two weeks to the season, as Arenado started his D’Backs tenure with a .392 OPS over his first 52 plate appearances. It was around this time that Arenado and the hitting coaches made some swing changes, with the third baseman telling Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic that he was including too much head movement and not enough of his back hip while swinging. A new pregame routine was also introduced with the goal of, as Arenado put it, “trying to see shapes and pitches before I step in the box, so when I step in the box, it doesn’t feel like it’s the first time I’m doing it.”
Time will tell if Arenado can keep this going over an extended period of time, though his hot streak has now been going for almost a month and a half. Arenado’s production has basically offset an extended slump from shortstop Geraldo Perdomo, and helped keep the Snakes in a wild-card position and a game behind the Padres for second place in the NL West.
Even if Arenado does start to cool off, the D’Backs don’t need him to be the All-Star of his prime years — they just need him to produce like a $5MM player. Rather than looking like a plan B or C for the Diamondbacks’ third base needs, the Arenado trade is now shaping up as a nice bargain for the Snakes, and one of the cannier moves of the Arizona offseason.