The D-Backs agree with the striker Ildemaro Vargas to a minor league contract, reports Aram Leighton of Just Baseball. The 33-year-old player will receive an invitation to the MLB camp.
Vargas spent two and a half seasons in Washington. The switch-hitting utilityman has played in more than half of the Nationals’ games since the start of the 2023 campaign. Vargas puts the ball in play but rarely moves and has very little power. He hit .257/.302/.354 in 785 plate appearances with the Nats. Washington removed him from their 40-man roster at the end of the season, essentially non-tendering him in lieu of a projected $1.8MM settlement.
Before this latest run in Washington, Vargas had spent most of his career with the Diamondbacks. He debuted in Arizona in 2017 and stayed with the organization until 2020. Arizona traded him to the Twins in the shortened season but traded him back to the Pirates the following year. That ended up being short-lived, as Arizona waived him at the start of the 2021-22 season.
Vargas clearly made a good impression on the team’s brass. They will bring him back for the third time in a non-roster position. Arizona has a good amount of infield depth. Blaze Alexander again Tim Tawa exist as potential resource options after the initial speculation of the field of Pavin Smith, Ketel Marte, Geraldo Perdomo again Eugenio Suárez. High hopes Jordan Lawler he will likely open the season in Triple-A but could get his first MLB appearance next season. Vargas is a stretch at shortstop but marks as a capable defender at both second and third base.
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