D-backs back Walker, tender 3 others

Smith, Ramirez, Wendelken agree to 1-year deals with Arizona

December 1st, 2021

PHOENIX -- The D-backs tendered contract offers to four arbitration-eligible players and avoided salary arbitration with three others by reaching agreements on one-year contracts ahead of the tender deadline Tuesday.

Only one player, right-hander , was non-tendered, making him a free agent.

Earlier in the day, the team reached contract agreements with right-hander ($1.25 million), left-hander ($2 million) and right-hander ($830,000).

Of the four players who were tendered contacts -- catcher , first baseman , outfielder and right-hander -- only Walker seemed like a non-tender candidate following a year when he had a slash line of .244/.315/.382.

Walker, though, is a right-handed bat on a team that is very heavy on left-handed hitters. In addition, the D-backs believe his track record suggests that 2022 could be different.

"It was a tough year," D-backs GM Mike Hazen said. "I think that was where we made the decision that we believe that there's a bounce-back there, that he's committed to putting in [work] on his side of things to see that happen."

In another roster move, the D-backs outrighted right-hander to Triple-A Reno and outrighted infielder Andrew Young to Double-A Amarillo. Their 40-man roster sits at 38.