Diamondbacks Reported to Have Signed SS Kevin Newman

The veteran infielder provides some insurance if Jordan Lawlar is not ready

The Diamondbacks have reportedly signed veteran shortstop Kevin Newman, according to Jon Heyman on X. Steve Gilbert later clarified that this is a minor league deal with an invite to big league Spring Training.

Newman starred for three seasons with the University of Arizona, including batting .370 while playing together with current D-back Kevin Ginkel in 2015. He was a first round draft pick, taken 19th overall, by the Pittsburgh Pirates that same season. He made his major league debut at the age of 25 in August of 2018, playing in 31 games. He didn't hit much, with a .209 average and his defense rated in the negative. But Newman still earned the starting shortstop job to start the 2019 season with his rookie status intact. 

A finger injury cost him 24 days early in the season, but once he returned in early May he caught fire, batting .351 for the month. He continued to hit for average all year, finishing with a .308/.353/.446 slash line in 531 plate appearances, good for a 109 wRC+. His defense rated below average again however,  so he accumulated just 2 WAR on the season. 

Over the next three seasons Newman hit just .240/.283/.323, for just a 64 wRC+. While he very seldom struck out, he also seldom walked and hit only eight homers in over 1,000 PA in that time period. Entering his second year of arbitration, the Pirates traded him to the Cincinnati Reds in November of 2022.  He began 2023 as the Reds primary shortstop but as that team started to call up prospects such as Matt McLain and Elly De La Cruz, he lost playing time and was limited to a utility role.  The Reds released him on September 27th. His final season batting line was .251/.311/.364, 78 wRC+

For his career, Newman is a .259/.304/.358 hitter with a 77 wRC+.  He is better against left-hand pitching however,  sporting a .279/.336/.395 line, or 96 wRC+. His career defense at shortstop has rated well below average , no matter the metric referenced. In nearly 2700 at shortstop, he has -15 defensive runs saved according to Baseball Reference, and -8 Runs according to Baseball Savant/Statcast.  Newman also has over 800 in innings at second base and 194 at third. He rates slightly below average at both those positions. 

Nonetheless the D-backs will hope the veteran infielder can provide some depth and options, backing up Geraldo Perdomo, the presumptive starter at short. The switch-hitting Perdomo has been far less effective against left-hand pitching and the team may be hesitant to start Jordan Lawlar as a platoon bench player, preferring him to develop further in Triple-A Reno and get everyday at-bats. Thus the Newman signing gives them an option should they decide Lawlar needs more time to develop.