Veteran utilityman Ildemaro Vargas triggered an opt-out in his minor league take care of the Diamondbacks and has been granted his launch, experiences Jon Heyman of the New York Publish. Arizona may have added him to the 40-man roster to retain him however have as an alternative granted Vargas his launch. He’s now a free agent.
The 33-year-old Vargas has appeared in components of eight main league seasons and carries a lifetime .246/.289/.354 batting line in 1192 plate appearances cut up between the D-backs, Twins, Cubs, Pirates and Nationals. Arizona gave Vargas his main league debut again in 2017, and noticed huge league motion with the Snakes in every subsequent season up via 2021. His return to the group gained’t culminate in an enormous league look this time round (barring a re-signing and a few accidents that create a necessity at Chase Subject).
Vargas has continued to showcase terrific bat-to-ball abilities in Triple-A this 12 months, fanning in solely 9.5% of his 221 plate appearances. In 49 video games with Reno, he’s batting .261/.330/.397 (78 wRC+) with 5 dwelling runs, eight doubles, a pair of triples, 4 steals (in 5 tries) and an 8.6% stroll fee. The versatile defender has seen time at second base, shortstop and third base this 12 months — his three main positions all through his skilled profession. Vargas additionally has restricted expertise at first base and in any respect three outfield slots.
The switch-hitting Vargas has sometimes been higher from the precise aspect of the dish, however he’s had higher luck swinging left-handed in 2025. He’s slashing .270/.329/.421 with 13 of his 15 extra-base hits whereas dealing with right-handed pitching in 2025; as a right-handed batter, he’s logged solely a .234/.333/.319 output (albeit in a small pattern of 54 plate appearances).
Although he can play all around the diamond, Vargas is finest deployed as a second baseman or third baseman at this stage of his profession. A crew in search of some depth at these positions and maybe extra of an emergency choice at brief or within the outfield may check out the journeyman as he explores the marketplace for new alternatives.
