Arizona Diamondbacks Bolster Outfield Depth, Sign Veteran Randal Grichuk

Longtime St. Louis Cardinals and Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Randal Grichuk has found his next team, signing a deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday.

The Arizona Diamondbacks have agreed to a deal with outfielder Randal Grichuk, ESPN's Jeff Passan reported Saturday morning.

Grichuk's contract will pay him $1.5 million in 2024, in addition to performance bonuses. The two sides have a mutual option for 2025 worth $6 million, along with a buyout worth $500K, per Passan.

The 32-year-old veteran spent 2023 with the Colorado Rockies and Los Angeles Angels, batting .267 with 16 home runs, 44 RBI, a .779 OPS and a 1.2 WAR in 118 appearances.

Outfielder Randal Grichuk and the Arizona Diamondbacks are in agreement on a one-year, $2 million contract that includes a mutual option for 2025, sources tell ESPN. The deal will pay Grichuk $1.5M this year and has a $6M option with a $500,000 buyout and performance bonuses.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) February 17, 2024

Grichuk made his MLB debut back in 2014, and he spent his first four years of big league action with the St. Louis Cardinals. From there, Grichuk was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays, spending the following four seasons in Canada.

The Blue Jays would ultimately trade Grichuk as well, shipping him off the to Rockies prior to the 2022 season. Colorado then sent Grichuk to the Angels midway through 2023.

Since becoming a full-time big leaguer in 2015, Grichuk ranks third among all outfielders with 1,094 games played – only behind Mookie Betts and Christian Yelich. While he hasn't produced that the level of those former MVPs, Grichuk has still racked up 990 hits, 191 home runs, 556 RBI and a 12.3 WAR in his career.

Grichuk averages 27 home runs, 79 RBI and a 1.7 WAR per 162 games for his career, all while batting .249 with a .761 OPS.

The Diamondbacks already had a solid starting outfield trio in place before signing Grichuk, with 23-year-old former top prospects Corbin Carroll and Alek Thomas taking up two of those spots. The club also re-signed slugger Lourdes Gurriel Jr. to a three-year, $42 million contract in December.

Grichuk, Jace Peterson and Jake McCarthy are now set to enter 2024 as Arizona's depth outfielders, fighting for the leftover playing time when Thomas hits the bench or Gurriel starts at designated hitter.

The Diamondbacks head into this season with increased expectations compared to years past, thanks to their surprise run to the NL pennant in 2023.

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