RHP Zach Davies reportedly agrees to sign with Arizona Diamondbacks
Mar 22, 2022, 7:58 AM | Updated: 8:03 am
CHICAGO, IL - SEPTEMBER 05: Zach Davies #27 of the Chicago Cubs pitches in the first inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Wrigley Field on September 05, 2021 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)
(Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)
Starting pitcher Zach Davies has agreed to sign with the Arizona Diamondbacks, throwing another name in the competition for a rotation spot, as first reported by FanSided’s Robert Murray.
MLB Network’s Jon Heyman adds the deal is one year with a buyout for 2023 and could pay Davies up to $4.5 million this season.
The right-handed pitcher is coming off his worst statistical season. In 32 starts for the Chicago Cubs, Davies went 6-12 with a 5.78 ERA and 1.60 WHIP.
Davies tied for the second-most walks allowed in Major League Baseball, and his 4.6 walks per nine frames was individually his worst since his rookie season (4.0). In the prior five seasons, Davies had not walked more than 2.9 batters per nine innings.
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The 29-year-old also got hit harder than ever in 2021, with his home run-to-fly ball ratio jumping to 16.8% when it had never gone beyond 13.1%.
Davies pitched for the Milwaukee Brewers from 2015-19 and then the Padres in 2020 before he was traded to Chicago in a package for San Diego to acquire starting pitcher Yu Darvish and catcher Victor Caratini.
Arizona can hope Davies returns to form from just two years ago, which statistically stand up as his best season. Though it came in 12 starts during the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign, he posted a 2.73 ERA and 1.07 WHIP.
Davies, who grew up in Arizona and attended Mesquite High School in Gilbert, will compete to join a rotation that includes Zac Gallen, Madison Bumgarner, Merrill Kelly and Luke Weaver.
