D-backs avoid arbitration, agree to two-year deal with Pennington

PHOENIX - The Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) announced they have avoided arbitration and agreed to a two-year deal with infielder Cliff Pennington, according to D-backs Executive Vice President & General Manager Kevin Towers. Pennington was acquired from the Oakland Athletics on October 20, 2012, in a three-team deal that also netted reliever Heath Bell from the Miami Marlins.

Pennington, 28, appeared in 125 games for the American League West Division Champion A's in 2012, including 93 games at shortstop. Among shortstops with 75 or more games last season, he ranked third in the Majors with a .859 zone rating and sixth in the AL with a .979 fielding percentage. The switch-hitter has a .249 lifetime average, including a .215 mark with six homers and 28 RBI in 2012.

A native of Corpus Christi, Texas, Pennington attended Texas A&M University where he was the Aggies' MVP, an All-Big 12 selection and third team All-American in 2005. He was selected in the first round (21st overall) of the 2005 First-Year Player Draft.