D-backs agree to terms with free agent McDonald

PHOENIX -- The Arizona Diamondbacks have agreed to terms with infielder John McDonald on a two-year contract, according to D-backs' Executive Vice President and General Manager Kevin Towers.

McDonald, 37, hit .169 (10-for-59) with 2 doubles and 2 RBI in 19 games for the D-backs and played 18 games (15 starts) at shortstop. He made his first career postseason appearance during the National League Division Series vs. the Milwaukee Brewers, entering defensively at shortstop in Game 3 and pinch-hitting in Game 4. He was acquired on August 23 from the Toronto Blue Jays along with infielder Aaron Hill in exchange for infielder Kelly Johnson. McDonald hit .285 (42-for-168) with 8 doubles, a triple, 2 home runs and 20 RBI in 65 games for the Blue Jays while seeing action at second base (21 games, 16 starts), third base (26 games, 15 starts) and shortstop (20 games, 10 starts).

Among active shortstops since 1999 (min. 500 games), McDonald's 56 errors are second-fewest to the Rockies' Troy Tulowitzki's 46 errors while his 3.14 assists per 9.0 innings ratio is fourth-best behind the Braves' Jack Wilson (3.38), Tulowitzki (3.25) and Rafael Furcal (3.16), his 4.88 total chances per 9.0 innings ratio is tied with the Dodgers' Juan Uribe for fourth-best behind Tulowitzki (5.09), Wilson (5.00) and Furcal (4.94) and his .852 zone rating* is fifth-best behind the Indians' Adam Everett (.875), the Yankees' Alex Rodriguez (.873), the White Sox's Omar Vizquel (.861) and the Orioles' Cesar Izturis (.853).

Among active second baseman since 1999 (min. 200 games), McDonald's 3.36 assists per 9.0 innings ratio is tops while his .863 zone rating* is second-best behind the Rockies' Mark Ellis (.866) and his .988 fielding percentage is tied for 13th-best.

Over parts of 13 Major League seasons with the Cleveland Indians, Detroit Tigers, Blue Jays and D-backs, he has batted .238 (498-for-2092) with 93 doubles, 14 triples, 21 home runs and 179 RBI in 884 games. Defensively, he has seen action at second base (201 games, 138 starts), third base (122 games, 63 starts), shortstop (501 games, 371 starts) and leftfield (6 games, 4 starts).The D-backs 40-man roster is at 32 players.