Diamondbacks Sign Kyle Garlick, Albert Almora

The D-backs introduced Friday that they’ve signed right-handed-hitting outfielders Kyle Garlick and Albert Almora to minor league contracts. Each have been invited to main league spring coaching.

Arizona has been looking out for right-handed-hitting bats to enrich lefty-hitting designated hitter Joc Pederson in addition to lefty outfielders Alek Thomas and Corbin Carroll. The Snakes lately signed Randal Grichuk to a one-year, $2MM big league contract, and he’ll get the primary crack at that function consequently. Nevertheless, each Garlick and Almora make some sense for a staff searching for extra right-handed depth within the outfield — although the pair brings pretty completely different talent units.

Garlick, 32, is a traditional lefty masher who affords restricted defensive worth within the outfield corners. He’s hit simply .240 with a .289 OBP towards lefties in his profession however has slugged a hefty .510 towards them. Garlick has popped 14 homers and 10 doubles in simply 208 plate appearances towards southpaws on the MLB degree. He’s a profession .207/.264/.348 hitter towards righties, nonetheless. Garlick has spent the previous three seasons within the Twins group and has been used much more typically towards lefties than righties, as one would anticipate.

As for the 29-year-old Almora, he’s extra of a glove-first possibility within the outfield with much less energy however strong all-around manufacturing towards southpaws. The previous Cubs high prospect is a .259/.300/.383 hitter in 1605 massive league plate appearances — together with .267/.321/.389 towards left-handed pitching. Almora has ample expertise in any respect three outfield spots and affords a plus glove at every of the three. The majority of his manufacturing on the MLB degree got here early in his profession; he didn’t seem within the majors final season and posted a tepid .219/.265/.344 line in 686 plate appearances from 2019-22.