Grading the Arizona Diamondbacks’ off-season moves
Let's review each of the moves the Arizona Diamondbacks have made this off-season.
Acquiring Eugenio Suarez
The first major acquisition by Mike Hazen was third baseman Eugenio Suarez from the Seattle Mariners. Suarez batted .232/.323/.391 last season, but he went yard 22 times, which marked the seventh 162-game season in a row he hit at least 20 dingers. Although Suarez struck out at a 30.8% rate, he also carried an above-average 10.1% walk rate. All told Suarez was about a league-average contributor with the bat with a .313 wOBA and 102 wRC+.
Although Suarez typically hasn't been known for his defensive ability, he had a career year at the hot corner. He had -2 defensive runs saved but +11 outs above average. The only third basemen in baseball with more OAA were Ke'Bryan Hayes, Manny Machado, Maikel Garcia, and Ryan McMahon.
This move was essentially a salary dump for the Mariners. The D-Backs only sent back catcher Seby Zavala and RHP reliever Carlos Vargas in return. Zavala was a waiver claim by the Snakes from the Chicago White Sox in September. Zavala had just a 73 wRC+ in 193 plate appearances for the Sox and the D-Backs but had +6 DRS and +7.3 framing runs. He is a defense-first backup catcher. Vargas is a flamethrower who averages out around 100 MPH. But he also walks a ton of batters and had an ERA over 7.00 at Triple-A Reno this year.
Suarez could even be better next year. His 90.3 MPH exit velocity is the second-best single-season mark of his career. His 13.2% barrel rate ranked in the 87th percentile. Suarez's xwOBA of .324 was 11 points higher than his bottom line. All the Diamondbacks had to give up was two depth pieces and take on the remaining money left on Suarez's contract. He also has a team option for 2025 worth $15 million.
This was an absolute steal by Hazen. Suarez could be a three WAR third baseman with good defense. All he had to give up is some 40-man roster fodder and take on some money. This could be a very good off-season trade.
Grade: A+
Signing Eduardo Rodriguez
The D-Backs needed to add at least one starter to the rotation, and they did it in a big way. Eduardo Rodriguez was one of the top starting pitching free agents available, and the D-Backs signed him to a four-year deal valued at $80 million. His contract also includes a fifth-year mutual option at $17 million but a $6 million buyout.
The veteran lefty pitched just 91 innings with a 96 ERA+ in 2022 but rebounded in 2023. Rodriguez tossed a total of 152.2 frames, working to a 3.30 ERA (134 ERA+), 3.66 FIP, and 1.15 WHIP. Rodriguez had a 23% strikeout rate as well as a 7.7% walk rate, his lowest BB% since his '15 rookie campaign. His 0.88 HR/9 was a career-best, but do keep in mind he played in the most pitcher-friendly stadium in baseball, Comerica Park.
Rodriguez was above average at limiting hard contact with an 88.6 MPH exit velocity, 38.5% hard-hit rate, and 7.5% barrel rate. All fell short of the 60th percentile but were above the 50th percentile. Rodriguez has been much better in the past at limiting hard contact, for what it's worth.
I think Rodriguez will play very well with the Diamondbacks. Chase Field is also good at keeping the ball in the park. He's also going from a good defense to a great defense. The Tigers totaled +22 DRS and -8 OAA. Meanwhile, the D-Backs had +46 DRS and +31 OAA. The only knocks you could make is that his underlying numbers weren't great, and the first year of his contract will be his age-31 season. But this is still a good deal for the D-Backs. He should slot in nicely behind Merril Kelly and Zac Gallen in the starting rotation.
Grade: A
Resigning Lourdes Gurriel Jr.
The Diamondbacks sent Daulton Varsho to the Toronto Blue Jays last off-season for Gabriel Moreno and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. This trade could go down in D-Backs history as one of, if not the best trade ever made by the franchise, or at least in Mike Hazen's tenure as GM. Gurriel Jr. only had one year of control remaining, but the D-Backs brought him back into the fold with a three-year contract at $42 million.
Gurriel made his first all-star season in 2023, finishing the season batting .261/.309/.463. Gurriel's 24 home runs were a career-best total, but he paired that with a quality .201 isolated slugging percentage. His 5.6% walk rate was well below league average but not unusual for him. But on the plus side, he only struck out 17.4% of the time. All told he had a .329 wOBA and 106 wRC+.
Gurriel's season at the dish was solid, but he had a career year in left field. He only appeared in 778 innings, seeing a handful of appearances as a designated hitter. But with his defensive metrics, he's definitely earned regular playing time in left. With +14 DRS, he led all National League left fielders and fell just two runs saved short of Steven Kwan for the MLB lead. With a +16.7 UZR/150 remark, he led all LFs with at least 700 innings played. OAA was less bullish on his defense but still graded him out as good with +1 OAA.
Gurriel's only major weakness is his month-to-month consistency. He got off to a poor start to 2023, then OPS'd over 1.000 in May. His production came back down to Earth in June (.625) before taking another massive drop in July (.480). But he rebounded through August (.846) and September (.826).
But if that's the only major negative about Gurriel Jr., then he's a solid player. He's worth the $14 million a season the D-Backs are giving him. Gurriel Jr., Alek Thomas, and Corbin Carroll could make up the best outfield in baseball next year.