The Diamondbacks and first baseman/outfielder Trey Mancini have agreed to a minor league deal, studies Jeff Passan of ESPN. The Frontline consumer will likely be in massive league camp as a non-roster invitee.
Mancini, 33 in March, didn’t play final 12 months. He signed a minor league cope with the Marlins in January of 2024 however he opted out of that deal on the finish of camp, presumably after being informed he wouldn’t make the staff. He didn’t signal wherever else. Firstly of November, it was reported that Mancini was planning to make a comeback in 2025. It appears the Snakes will give him a shot, not less than by giving him some appears to be like in spring.
It wouldn’t be the primary comeback for Mancini, who famously returned to baseball after lacking the 2020 season battling Stage 3 colon most cancers. Over the 2021 and 2022 seasons, he hit .247/.323/.412 for a 105 wRC+. Most of that got here with the Orioles, although that membership traded him to the Astros on the 2022 deadline, which allowed Mancini to win a World Sequence ring with Houston a number of months later. That was a bit under his 2016 to 2019 kind, when he slashed .276/.335/.485 for a 116 wRC+, however it was a powerful efficiency and an inspiring comeback nonetheless.
He parlayed that efficiency right into a two-year cope with the Cubs, although that deal didn’t go as hoped. Mancini put up a line of .234/.299/.336 in 263 plate appearances with Chicago and was off the roster by the beginning of August. He then landed a minors cope with the Reds however acquired launched from that pact. As talked about, a minor league cope with the Marlins final offseason didn’t get him again to the majors.
Although he missed all of final 12 months and struggled badly in 2023, he’ll be seeking to get again on observe with the Diamondbacks. Mancini has performed some outfield in his profession however he by no means acquired nice marks on the market and his final important stint on the grass was in 2019. Provided that he has extra expertise at first base and is now pushing into his mid-30s, he’s most likely extra more likely to wind up at first or slot in because the designated hitter.
Final 12 months, the Diamondbacks had Christian Walker as their main first baseman, although he hit free company and signed with the Astros. The Snakes acquired Josh Naylor from the Guardians to take over because the common there. Joc Pederson was the first DH, not less than towards right-handed pitching. He additionally turned a free agent and signed within the AL West, in his case with the Rangers.
As of now, Pavin Smith would possibly venture as the highest possibility for the DH spot after a strong displaying in 2024. Although he was typically despatched to Triple-A and again, he acquired into 60 massive league video games and slashed .270/.348/.547 for a 140 wRC+. Like Pederson, Smith is a lefty hitter who struggles towards southpaws, so a platoon associate would make sense.
The Diamondbacks signed righty-swinging Randal Grichuk this week. He appears more likely to serve a fourth-outfielder, short-side platoon position. The Snakes have lefties Corbin Carroll, Jake McCarthy and Alek Thomas of their outfield, in addition to Naylor and Smith within the first base/designated hitter combine. Maybe Mancini can work his approach into that calculus as nicely, relying on how he appears to be like in spring after a 12 months away from official motion.
