D-backs agree to terms with Joakim Soria on a 1-year contract; Designate Taylor Guilbeau for assignment

The Arizona Diamondbacks agreed to terms with RHP Joakim Soria (wah-KEEM SORE-ee-uh) on a 1-year contract. To make room for Soria on the 40-man roster, the D-backs designated LHP Taylor Guilbeau for assignment

D-backs Executive Vice President & General Manager Mike Hazen and Joakim Soria will be available on a Zoom call at 10:00 a.m. PHX (12:00 p.m. ET) on Monday, February 8. Zoom Video https://zoom.us/j/5930442487 | Meeting ID: 593 044 2487 | Password: DbacksPR

Soria, 36, is a 2-time American League All-Star (2008, ’10), has 5 20+ save seasons (2008-11, ’15) and ranks among active relievers in innings (2nd, 724.2), appearances (3rd, 732), saves (4th, 223) and strikeouts (6th, 789) [stats as reliever only].

Soria, who was born in Monclava, Mexico, leads all Mexico-born pitchers in saves and appearances (732) and is 11th in strikeouts (791), trailing D-backs broadcaster Rodrigo López (865) by 74 strikeouts for 10th place.

He will become the D-backs’ 12th Mexico-born player (10th pitcher) along with pitchers Jorge De La Rosa, Elmer Dessens, Edgar Gonzalez, López, Óliver Pérez, Dennys Reyes, Armando Reynoso, Fernando Salas and Óscar Villarreal and position players Erubiel Durazo and Karim García.

The 6-foor-3, 208-pounder was 2-2 with 2 saves and a 2.82 ERA (7 ER in 22.1 IP) and 24 strikeouts in 22 games with the A’s in 2020. He limited opponents to a .217 average (.130 vs. LHH/.250 vs. RHH) and allowed just 4 extra-base hits (3 doubles and 1 home run), while posting his lowest slugging pct. (.289) since a .255 mark with the Royals in 2008.

Soria, a Scottsdale, Ariz., resident, has gone 35-41 with 106 holds, 223 saves, a 3.01 ERA (243 ER in 725.2 IP), .220 opponent average and 791 strikeouts in 732 Major League games (1 start) with the Royals (2007-11, ’16-17), Rangers (’13-14), Tigers (’14-15), Pirates (’15), White Sox (’18), Brewers (’18) and A’s (’19-20). He has also appeared in 14 postseason contests, including 2 games in last year’s Wild Card Round vs. White Sox and 2 in the ALDS vs. Astros.

Guilbeau, 27, was claimed off waivers from the Mariners on October 23.