Diamondbacks Sign Evan Longoria, DFA Edwin Uceta

The 40-Man roster is full at 40

As reported last week, the Diamondbacks have signed free agent  third baseman Evan Longoria.  They made it official today with a formal announcement.  In order to make room on the 40-man roster they designated right hand reliever Edwin Uceta for assignment.

The 37 year old Longoria, who spent the last five years with the Giants, signed for one year,  $4 million dollar deal, with incentives and bonuses.   The team published the following biographical information:

• 
  Is a 3-time AL All-Star (2008-10), 3-time AL Rawlings Gold Glove Award® winner (2009-10, ’17) and 2009 Louisville Slugger® Silver Slugger Award™ winner.
• Ranks among all active players in games played at third base (1st, 1,785) and home runs (7th, 331).
• Played 89 games and hit .244 (65-for-266)/.315 OBP/.451 SLG with 13 doubles, 14 home runs, 42 RBI and 27 walks in 2022 with the Giants…batted .282 (33-for-117) with 5 doubles, 6 homers and 22 RBI vs. left handers.
• Named the 2013 AL Wilson Defensive Player of the Year and 2008 AL Rookie of the Year.
• In 15 Major League seasons, has hit .265 (1,883-for-7,095)/.334 OBP/.472 SLG with 442 doubles, 26 triples, 331 home runs and 1,131 RBI in 1,912 games with the Rays (2008-17) and Giants (2018-22).

The right handed slugger Longoria will play third base and likely DH from time to time.  He stands to get the lions share of the playing time against left handed starters, and will otherwise split time with Josh Rojas against right handers. 

Uceta, who was the first player we listed  last week as potential candidate to be DFA'd,  spent one season with the Diamondbacks, pitching in 10 games, 17.1 innings with a 5.82 ERA.

The Diamondbacks have another move to announce soon, as it's been reported Zach Davies has also re-signed with the team, but that move is not yet official.  That signing will also require a corresponding 40-man roster move to make space. 

The remaining work for the D-backs this offseason likely revolves around the bullpen. They are widely expected to sign or trade for at least one more reliever to further bolster their bullpen which ranked among the worst in MLB last year.