The Diamondbacks designated right-hander Cesar Valdez for assignment to make room for catcher Konrad Schmidt, according to a team press release. Valdez, a 25-year-old righty, struggled through 20 innings for the D'Backs this year in his first season at the major league level. He posted a 5.90 ERA in 97.2 Triple A innings in what was likely the worst minor league season of his pro career. One bright spot for Valdez: 8.5 K/9, a career high.
Schmidt, 26, will make his MLB debut after four minor league seasons. He batted .315/.373/.490 at AA in 440 plate appearances this year. He appeared in five Triple A games a year ago, but has otherwise spent his entire career in the lower minors and at AA.
You must be a pretty bad relief pitcher to get DFA’d by the D-Backs.
Looked good as a starter in Triple-A at first, decent as a starter for the D-backs, awkward/just plain bad as a reliever for the D-backs, then horrible when he returned to starting at Triple-A. Something about trying to move to the ‘pen just threw off his command.
Looked good as a starter in Triple-A at first, decent as a starter for the D-backs, awkward/just plain bad as a reliever for the D-backs, then horrible when he returned to starting at Triple-A. Something about trying to move to the ‘pen just threw off his command.