Diamondbacks 40-Man Roster Transactions: 2022-23 Off-Season

A rundown of the Diamondbacks roster moves during the 2022-23 off-season with links to each story.

SI Editorial | Nov 9, 2022

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Arizona Diamondbacks

February 15th: Signed left-handed pitcher Andrew Chafin to a one-year contract, designated left-handed pitcher Tyler Holton for assignment.

Chafin is expected to play a key role in the bullpen in 2023 after signing a one-year contract with more than $6 million in guarantees.

Holton was originally a ninth round pick in the 2018 MLB Draft out of Florida State. The 26-year-old lefty pitched in 10 games with the D-backs in 2022, allowing just three runs on eight hits, two walks, and six strikeouts. Holton was claimed off waivers by the Detroit Tigers.

January 11th: Signed right-handed pitcher Zach Davies to a one-year contract, designated right-hander J.B. Bukauskas for assignment. Right-hander Edwin Uceta claimed on waivers from Detroit Tigers

Arizona is gambling that Davies can provide them some certainty in the rotation and take pressure off their young arms to perform. J.B. Bukauskas, a key piece in the Zack Greinke trade, struggled with injuries and poor performances in his career to date since being drafted 15th overall by the Houston Astros in 2017. He pitched to a 7.79 ERA in 21 appearances with the D-backs in 2021.

Uceta struggled in 10 relief outings with the D-backs in 2022 after being claimed off waivers from the Dodgers the previous winter. He pitched to a 5.82 ERA and a 13/7 strikeout to walk ratio in 17 innings. The right-hander averages 93.5 MPH with his two seam fastball.

January 5th: Signed third baseman Evan Longoria to a one-year contract, designated right-hander Edwin Uceta for assignment.

D-backs are hoping that the 37-year-old third baseman can add a veteran presence to the lineup and clubhouse. Edwin Uceta was a waiver claim from the Los Angeles Dodgers last winter and failed to stick in the big league bullpen.

Catcher Ali Sánchez and right-hander Taylor Widener cleared waivers and were outrighted to Triple-A Reno. Both players were designated for assignment on December 23rd.

December 23rd: Traded outfielder Daulton Varsho to Toronto Blue Jays for catcher Gabriel Moreno and infielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr., designated catcher Ali Sánchez for assignment

D-backs sold high on Daulton Varsho's 5.0 WAR season, trading from an area of strength (left-handed hitting outfielders), to solve arguably their two biggest needs this off-season in one fell swoop.

Moreno entered the 2022 season as the No. 7 prospect in baseball before graduating. He projects to be Arizona's starting catcher for the foreseeable future.

Gurriel is a bat-first utility player who has some very good Statcast peripherals on exit velocity data. He doesn't have any discernable platoon splits for his career, but experienced a significant power drop in 2022 with just five home runs in 493 PA and a 3.8% barrel rate.

December 23rd: Traded minor league RHP Scott Randall to Pittsburgh Pirates for infielder Diego Castillo, designated RHP Taylor Widener for assignment

Randall was the D-backs seventh round pick in the 2021 MLB Draft, going 8-7 with a 3.32 ERA between Low-A Visalia and High-A Hillsboro.

Castillo struggled in his first cup of coffee with the Pittsburgh Pirates, but has a .788 OPS and hit nine of his 11 home runs against left-handed pitching.

December 15th: Signed RHP Scott McGough to a two-year contract, designated LHP Tyler Gilbert for assignment.

McGough spent the previous four seasons with the Yakult Swallows in the Nippon Professional Baseball League. His contract guarantees him $6.25 million for the next two seasons along with a mutual option for 2025.

December 2nd: Signed RHP Miguel Castro to a one-year contract, claimed C Alí Sanchez off waivers from the Pittsburgh Pirates, designated RHP Sean Poppen for assignment. Poppen was claimed by the San Diego Padres on waivers.

The 40-man roster is at 40 players.

November 18th: The Arizona Diamondbacks have tendered contracts to 39 players:

Tendered contracts to 6 arbitration-eligible players: RHP Zac Gallen, C Carson Kelly, OF Kyle Lewis, INF Josh Rojas, OF Daulton Varsho and INF Christian Walker.
Avoided arbitration and agreed to 1-year contract with RHP Cole Sulser.
Non-tendered RHP Reyes Moronta.

The D-backs’ 40-man roster is at 39.

November 17th: Traded C/OF Cooper Hummer to the Seattle Mariners for OF/DH Kyle Lewis

Lewis was the 2020 AL Rookie of the year but has been injured most of the past two seasons, (knee and concussion) When healthy he provides a right handed power bat with good plate discipline. He will either DH or play left field against left handed pitching. See story link above.

November 15th:

Vargas is a hard-throwing right hander that could make an impact in the D-backs bullpen. Dominic Fletcher, Justin Martinez, and Blaze Alexander were some of the top candidates to be added to the 40-man roster with Jorge Barrosa under consideration. Jordan Luplow and Caleb Smith were likely non-tender candidates, but the organization gets a head start on cutting ties.

November 11th: Outrighted RHP Humberto Castellanos, RHP Tyler Zuber, INF Buddy Kennedy to the minors

Kennedy joins Castellanos and Zuber as 40-man roster cuts this week. Kennedy struggled in his first cup of coffee with the D-backs in 2022. D-backs 40-man roster is at 39 players.

November 9th: Activated INF Nick Ahmed, INF Emmanuel Rivera, and LHP Tyler Gilbert from 60-Day Injured List. Designated RHP Humberto Castellanos and RHP Tyler Zuber for assignment

D-backs activate all of their 60-day IL players. Castellanos and Zuber are both recovering from major arm surgery.

November 9th: Declined RHP Ian Kennedy's 2023 mutual option

Kennedy's $4 million mutual option for the 2023 season was declined by the D-backs after a disappointing season.

November 8th: Claimed RHP Cole Sulser off waivers from Miami Marlins

Sulser saw his velocity drop significantly in 2022, leading to a bad season with the Marlins before getting waived then claimed by Arizona.

November 7th: RHP Zach Davies elects free agency

Davies declined his half of a 2023 mutual option. Story first reported on October 7th.

November 3rd: Outrighted INF Jake Hager, RHP Keynan Middleton, Lost INF Yonny Hernandez on waivers to Oakland Athletics

Hager and Middleton elected free agency. Hager was previously outrighted by Arizona and Middleton had more than three years of service time.

October 26th: Claimed RHP Tyler Zuber off waivers from Kansas City Royals

Zuber is recovering from surgery to repair an impingement in his right shoulder that kept him out for all of 2022.

Published Nov 9, 2022

SI EDITORIAL