As everyone officially reported for spring training, the defending National League Champions made another swift acquisition, adding a known veteran commodity to a talented group of position players. According to ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan, the Arizona Diamondbacks have reportedly signed veteran outfielder Randal Grichuk to a one-year deal.
Outfielder Randal Grichuk and the Arizona Diamondbacks are in agreement on a one-year, $2 million contract that includes a mutual option for 2025, sources tell ESPN. The deal will pay Grichuk $1.5M this year and has a $6M option with a $500,000 buyout and performance bonuses.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) February 17, 2024
Grichuk’s deal is worth $2 million in guaranteed money. According to MLB Trade Rumors, he’ll earn $1.5 million in base salary in 2024, and there is a $500,000 buyout on a mutual option for the 2025 season. Grichcuk will make around $6 million in 2025 if both parties execute a mutual option.
The Diamondbacks, who made it to the World Series but lost to the Texas Rangers in five games, have made numerous changes to their roster. They began by acquiring third baseman Eugenio Suarez from Seattle and subsequently signed left-handed starter Eduardo Rodríguez to a lucrative four-year contract. The team also re-signed Lourdes Gurriel Jr., a significant offensive contributor from the previous season, and added Joc Pederson, who will undoubtedly be the designated hitter, replacing Tommy Pham, ironically enough.
Grichuk is just the latest offensive addition to the fold. Primarily known for his time with the St. Louis Cardinals and Toronto Blue Jays, the 32-year-old spent the 2023 season with the Colorado Rockies and Los Angeles Angels, slashing .267/.321/.459 across 471 plate appearances, in which he had 16 home runs.
Grichuk is largely replaceable against righties at this stage, but his career .822 OPS against lefties makes him a sought-after option for facing southpaws. His deal indicates that he won’t unseat any of Arizona’s starting outfielders, who left to right, look like Gurriel, Alek Thomas, and Corbin Carroll. But he does give Arizona an option against LHP, mainly because Thomas, Carroll and Pederson are all LHHs.
It’s definitely a savvy move in the offseason, as the Diamondbacks look to include Grichuk in an already formidable bench of Emmanuel Rivera, Jace Peterson, Pavin Smith and Jose Herrera, among others.
