The Arizona Diamondbacks are wasting no time making the necessary adjustments to keep them competitive for the 2024 Major League Baseball season. They are not resting on their laurels as defending National League champions and World Series runner-up.
First, they signed left-handed pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez to a four-year, $80 million contract. The Venezuelan hurler finished with a 13-9 record for the Detroit Tigers last season. He also had a 3.30 earned run average and struck out 143 batters in 152.2 innings.
Rodriguez and Tommy Henry will also beef up Arizona’s starting pitching. Last year, they had a three-person starting rotation with Brandon Pfaadt, Merrill Kelly, and Zac Gallen, while Joe Mantiply, Kevin Ginkel, Ryan Thompson, and Paul Sewald were on relief duty.
Rodriguez started his MLB career with the Boston Red Sox in 2015 and won the World Series three years later. After six seasons in Boston, he signed a five-year deal with the Tigers. That contract included an opt-out option after 2023. He exercised his no-trade clause when the Red Sox attempted to trade him to the Los Angeles Dodgers last season.
Meanwhile, the Diamondbacks traded for third baseman and shortstop Eugenio Suarez. In return, they gave reliever Carlos Vargas and catcher Seby Zavala to the Seattle Mariners. While Suarez led the American League in strikeouts for the past two seasons, he batted .236 in 2022 and .232 in 2023. He also had 53 home runs and 267 hits in two years.
Since the Arizona Diamondbacks went to the World Series, they have:
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 17, 2023
- Signed Eduardo Rodriguez for four years, $80M
- Re-signed Lourdes Gurriel for three years, $42M
- Traded for Eugenio Suarez
They're planning on adding a power-hitting DH.
Win, then improve. How it should be.
Finally, Arizona re-signed infielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. to a three-year, $42 million deal. The Cuban player became an All-Star in his first season with the Diamondbacks, finishing with 144 hits, 82 runs batted in, and 24 home runs last season. Gurriel batted .261/.309/.463 in 551 at-bats.
Manager Torey Lovullo hopes these moves will help the Diamondbacks maintain their status as one of the legitimate contenders for the 2024 National League pennant.
-Lance Fernandez