Diamondbacks sign Evan Longoria to 1-year deal

Diamondbacks and third baseman Evan Longoria We have agreed to a one-year contract that guarantees him $4 million and offers an additional $1 million incentive. Longoria is a client of TWC Sports.

Longoria, 37, will join the third organization in his long career, having previously only played for the Rays and Giants. He joined Tampa in his 2008 and from there he had his best season until 2013. In that six-year period, he hit his 162 home runs and posted a .275/.357/.512 batting average. That his production outperformed the league average by 35%. This is evidenced by his 135 wRC+, one of his 25 best marks across the Majors in that period. Combined with his quality defensive work, he recorded his 34.2 wins as a substitute, according to FanGraphs. Miguel Cabrera, Brian McCann When Yadier Molina before him.

It was during that time that the Rays gave him two lengthy contract extensions. The first was his rookie season in 2008, six years in which he had $17.5 million in guarantees and he had three club options. After the 2012 season, a second extension triggered him three club options, plus he added six years and $100MM. The deal ran until the 2022 season, with a club option for 2023.

Longoria’s offensive productions declined in the 2014-2016 period, but were still above average. 265/.322/.454 on that stretch with a wRC+ of 112, putting him 12% ahead of par, but a significant drop from his previous highs. He had an even bigger dip in his 2017, posting .261/.313/.424 and a wRC+ of 97. At the end of that season, Longoria earned his nine years and his 170 working days. -year mark. This was a huge gap as 10-years would give them 10-5 rights, and any player who has been with their current team for at least five years would earn the right to refuse a trade. The Rays, who have always been budget conscious, decided that Longoria had to move before they got the rights to them, converting him to the Giants for 2018.

It’s been a difficult time for Longoria since moving to California. In his first three seasons as a Giant, he hit .250/.302/.425 with a wRC+ of 93. He returned to being an above-average hitter in the last two seasons, but his injuries limited his overall contribution. 253/.333/.466 for 2021 and 2022 for him and wRC+ was 118 for him but just 170 games. His left shoulder sprain and right hand bruise have put him on the disabled list for 2021. Surgery on his finger put him on the shelf at the beginning of his 2022 season, after which he was sidelined by a strained left oblique, a strained right hamstring, and a broken thumb. .

The Giants made an $8 million decision in Longoria, choosing between a $13 million option or a $5 million buyout. Taking that option and adding his $8 million to the ledger would have been the right decision based on his comeback at the plate, but there were also reasons for concern. Injuries aside, Longoria’s formerly excellent defensive record is declining, a rather expected development for a player transitioning into his late 30s. Also, his metrics like exit speed and hard-hit percentage were trending downwards, which isn’t shocking for a player his age, but had to be taken into consideration. and went on to a buyout, sending Longoria to free agency for the first time in his career.

Longoria preferred to either return to one of his two previous clubs or sign with the Diamondbacks because he has a home in Arizona. An up-and-coming young team, the D-Backs certainly benefit from the presence of veterans like Longoria in the clubhouse and dugout. can do.

In terms of roster fit, third base was not fully secured prior to this trade. Josh Rojas Over the past few years, he has spent time in the outfield corner and three infield positions to the left of first base, playing a utility role. In 2022, he spent most of his time in third place, making 89 appearances there. Although he was above average offensively, all advanced defensive metrics considered his glovework to be below average. He’s still learning the position, so it’s possible he’ll still be a step ahead in that department, but bringing Longoria’s experience with him will only help there.

It could also be a platoon as Rojas hits from the left flank and Longoria from the right. Rojas has had a fairly even split in his career, but in 2022 he is better against righties, with 114 wRC+ in advantage and 92 otherwise. Longoria, on the other hand, has 132 wRC+ against southpaws and 113 against righties in his career. An injury elsewhere on the roster could mean Rojas will have to move elsewhere on the Diamonds, but that seems to make them a good combination. With no clear designated hitter, both players could be regular additions to the lineup unless Arizona’s many young outfielders eventually start crowding into the DH mix. If he were to DH with frequency, he could have an advantage over his recent injury track record.

The deal will bring the club’s salary up to $109 million, according to Roster Resource calculations. That’s a huge leap from his $91 million last year, according to Cot’s Baseball Contracts, but the club had hit $132 million in the past.

New York Post’s John HeymanIt first reported that both sides had agreed to a one-year deal. Nick Piercolo of the Republic of Arizona We reported the financial numbers first.

Image credit: USA Today Sports.