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10:10am: It’s a minor league cope with a Spring Coaching invite, per Steve Gilbert of MLB.com.
8:59am: The Diamondbacks and infielder Kevin Newman are in settlement on a deal, per Jon Heyman of the New York Post. The specifics of the deal should not but identified.
Newman, 30, was a first-round choose by the Pirates within the 2015 draft and made his debut in Pittsburgh again in 2018 after being referred to as up in late August. Newman appeared in 31 video games for the membership down the stretch however struggled badly in 97 journeys to the plate, slashing simply .209/.247/.231 throughout that point. Fortuitously, Newman’s second style of massive league motion went significantly better because the infielder posted the very best season of his profession in 2019. Whereas performing as Pittsburgh’s common shortstop, Newman slashed a stable .308/.353/.446 (109 wRC+) in 531 journeys to the plate whereas putting out at a clip of simply 11.7%.
Newman’s success didn’t final, nevertheless, as his offense cratered throughout the shortened 2020 season and his struggles on the plate continued into the 2021 season. Whereas the Pirates caught with Newman as their common shortstop, he hit simply .226/.268/.302 in a mixed 726 journeys to the plate throughout these two seasons. That manufacturing was good for a wRC+ of 52 that was 48% worse than league common and represents the worst slash line within the majors throughout that point amongst all regulars (min. 700 plate appearances). That weak manufacturing and a groin damage left Newman supplanted at shortstop by Oneil Cruz early within the 2022 season. Upon coming back from damage in July and transferring to second base, Newman offered the Pirates with respectable manufacturing within the second half, slashing .279/.318/.371 (91 wRC+) in 257 journeys to the plate from July 8 onward. Nonetheless, that improved manufacturing didn’t cease the Pirates from dealing Newman to Cincinnati final November in trade for right-hander Dauri Moreta.
Becoming a member of the Reds forward of the 2023 marketing campaign left Newman to maneuver right into a part-time position because the membership’s wave of younger infielders together with Matt McLain, Spencer Steer, and Elly De La Cruz took on common roles all through the season. Newman carried out decently in his new position as a utility participant, spending time in any respect 4 infield positions whereas slashing .253/.311/.364 (78 wRC+) in 253 journeys to the plate, although his season was ultimately lower brief in mid-August by an indirect pressure. The Reds then launched Newman in late September, at which level he hit the open market.
The addition of Newman affords Arizona a high-contact bat able to taking part in anyplace on the infield filth. Whereas his total offensive profile leaves one thing to be desired, Newman’s means to keep away from strikeouts provides him worth as a pinch-hitting possibility off the bench. Simply 19 gamers with a minimum of 200 plate appearances final season posted a strikeout charge decrease than Newman’s 13.4% determine, and his profession strikeout charge of 12% ranks sixth amongst lively gamers with a minimum of 1500 plate appearances for the reason that begin of 2018 season. That locations him in rarefied air alongside the likes of Jeff McNeil, David Fletcher, and Yuli Gurriel.
Newman figures to proceed in a utility position with the membership. Although the small print of his contract with the reigning NL champions should not but accessible, Newman seems prone to battle with fellow utilityman Jace Peterson and infielder Emmanuel Rivera for a spot on the membership’s bench this spring. Newman is the one member of that trio able to taking part in shortstop, a truth that might give him a leg up even regardless of his comparatively meager offensive manufacturing as he would seemingly function the membership’s major back-up to Gerlado Perdomo within the occasion that prime prospect Jordan Lawler begins the season at Triple-A.
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