The D-backs have made the signing of outfielder Randal Grichuk official. Grichuk, 32, slashed .267/.321/.459 last season, but against left-handed pitching, the veteran slashed .328/.388/.607 with a .995 OPS.
Grichuk could serve to help complete the D-backs' DH tandem, becoming the right-handed compliment to OF Joc Pederson, but the righty also has an ability to play the field. Either way, he's an affordable add that helps seal another hole in Arizona's roster.
General manager Mike Hazen said that the D-backs were looking for "any way possible" to help boost the roster, and Grichuk fit well into that plan.
"We like him as a baseball player, first and foremost, overall. Going out there in the outfield, and his ability to hit lefties for us gives [manager Torey Lovullo] more options to deploy his roster on a nightly basis. I think it also strengthens the entirety of our 26-man roster," Hazen said.
Lovullo also had high praise for Hazen's new addition, citing Grichuk's pedigree of lefty-mashing, as well as his ability to be a clutch hitter when the team could need him the most.
“It’s somebody that has a proven track record of being able to hit at this level. He’s had a lot of success, especially against left-handed pitching," said Lovullo, "I think [Mike Hazen] and company have done a good job of filling the needs that this team has. I’ve always been a big fan of [Grichuk], sitting across the field from him, and I know that he can come up and have a quality at-bat at the most critical time of the game."
Grichuck did struggle greatly in the latter half of 2023, after departing from Colorado and playing 54 games with the Los Angeles Angels. Grichuck struggled to a .216 batting average and .264 OBP as a member of the Angels, but still slugged north of .400.
Hazen said that the large dip in numbers didn't necessarily stand out as a red flag for the D-backs, and that sometimes the new environment can be a factor for guys who struggle post-trade.
“I don't think that's necessarily something that we’re reading a ton into. I think when guys get traded sometimes, you never know in the new environment. Sometimes the role's different, sometimes the coaching's different, sometimes the environment's different. We’ve had the opportunity to acquire a lot of guys at the deadline, sometimes guys come into the new environment and they excel, sometimes they don't.
"It’s hard to put a lot of stock into exactly what that was. We didn't see anything specifically that we would put a lot of stock into." Hazen said.
The biggest question for Grichuk is with regard to his positional fit. At first glance, he might appear to be a pure DH, used only against left-handers, but does offer the ability to play in the outfield.
Hazen said he would defer to Lovullo with respect to the decision, but did note that there would be "a path" for Grichuck through both the DH slot and in the outfield. Hazen said he hopes to be able to use Grichuk occasionally in center field, as a part of an effort to keep star outfielder Corbin Carroll from playing a multitude of outfield positions.
As of now, Lovullo was noncommittal about a definitive role for Grichuk, but is confident in his ability to bring value to the D-backs.
"I haven't had a chance to really look at it, but we feel like we’ve got a very good complement of players, where we’re trying to eliminate some gaps and holes and maximize some run scoring opportunities, and he's a quality right-handed bat, so how he slots in, I'm not really sure right now, but we’ll figure it out," Lovullo said.
The D-backs find their right-handed outfielder, and the other half of a potential DH. While there are still questions about Grichuk's role, Arizona will undoubtedly look to his bat against lefties, and both Hazen and Lovullo are excited for his arrival.
"We’ve got to get him in here, just see where he’s at. I know that it’s probably been a long runway for him, a lot of excitement to get here, so getting him here is going to be real important for us to evaluate him and see what he's capable of doing," Lovullo said.
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