The Diamondbacks have tendered a contract to six of their seven arbitration eligible players. The lone player that wasn't tendered was outfielder Kyle Lewis, who was set to earn $1.61 million in his second trip through the arbitration process, thus making him a free agent and free to sign with any team this offseason. Arizona's 40-man roster currently sits at 39 players.
Lewis, 28, was acquired by Arizona in exchange for Cooper Hummel last November. After a strong spring, the 2020 American League Rookie of the Year made the Opening Day roster to be their right-handed option at designated hitter and a fifth outfielder. Lewis was placed on the injured list on April 10th due to an undisclosed illness that kept him out until June 12th. His season was defined by a strong showing with Triple-A Reno, but being unable to translate that to the major leagues. In 16 games with Arizona, he hit .157 with a home run.
The initial move for Lewis was a very low-risk deal, as they got a former Rookie of the Year winner for the cost of a player who would have been a potential roster cut. His career has been derailed by various injuries. Just weeks after getting drafted Lewis suffered a gruesome injury to his right knee in a home plate collision, tearing two ligaments (ACL and MCL) and his meniscus. He suffered a concussion after getting hit in the head by a pitch in 2022, which required months of therapy and treatment to overcome. The various injuries led to Seattle trading him to Arizona, where another lengthy absence has prevented him from capitalizing on an opportunity.
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