PHOENIX — In case you haven’t seen by now, the D-backs aren’t playing around this offseason.
Recent off their first World Sequence look since 2001, the D-backs have aggressively added gamers with the most recent coming Sunday after they agreed with outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. on a three-year, $42 million deal that features a $14 million membership choice for 2027 and an opt-out after 2024, a supply instructed MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand.
The crew has not confirmed the information.
Eventually week’s press convention to announce the Rodriguez signing, D-backs managing normal associate Ken Kendrick mentioned the membership was going to have the very best Opening Day payroll in crew historical past.
“We’d prefer to suppose we are able to have better income streams going into subsequent season, when extra individuals need to come out and watch our crew play,” Kendrick mentioned. “And we’re going to re-invest. The Diamondbacks are going to go on the sector this 12 months with the very best payroll within the historical past of the crew. I’m not going to let you know what it is going to be, however it is going to be the very best payroll we’ve ever had.”
Gurriel’s 2023 season with Arizona following a commerce from the Blue Jays was one other strong marketing campaign in keeping with his profession norms, although his slugging share bounced again after a pointy decline in 2022, from .400 to .463.
Following an everyday season during which he belted a career-high 24 homers to assist the D-backs attain the postseason, the 30-year-old Gurriel helped gas Arizona’s inconceivable run all the way in which to the World Sequence by hitting .273 with three doubles, three homers, 11 RBIs and two stolen bases in 17 postseason video games.
Defensively, 2023 was Gurriel’s best season within the subject, with 14 Defensive Runs Saved as a left fielder though he additionally served because the D-backs’ designated hitter in 50 video games. The ’23 marketing campaign was additionally the primary during which he was named an All-Star.
As he enters his age-30 season, it seems Gurriel is trending in the correct path each offensively and defensively. If he can replicate and even enhance upon his 2023 efficiency, he might show to be a wonderful acquisition, particularly if his energy numbers come all the way in which again to the place they as soon as have been — from 2019-20, Gurriel slugged .538 with 31 homers in 141 video games, however since then, he’s slugged .445.