Report: Randal Grichuk declines option with Diamondbacks, enters free agency

Outfielder Randal Grichuk declined his $6 million mutual option with the Arizona Diamondbacks, entering free agency on the first day of the offseason, MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand reported on Thursday.

Grichuk signed a one-year contract worth $2 million with Arizona during spring training 2024 with the option tacked on. The club wanted a right-handed bat to platoon with left-handed slugger Joc Pederson, who also has a mutual option this offseason for $14 million.

Grichuk played 106 games and produced an .875 OPS (.291/.348/.528) and 12 home runs in a part-time role, especially catching fire down the stretch.

In September, Grichuk hit .404 with seven home runs, and his OPS of 1.408 led all of Major League Baseball among players with at least 50 plate appearances. He had a solid yet unspectacular .755 OPS entering September and seemed to raise his market value with an exceptional finish.

The 33-year-old reached the 10-year service time milestone and 200-home run club during his season in Arizona. He hit a walk-off double to beat the Chicago Cubs in April.

200 @MLB homers for @RGrich15! 🎉 pic.twitter.com/qTGxx9gLLH

— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) September 11, 2024

Grichuk did the job he was brought in for by crushing left-handed pitchers, even though he admitted that not playing every day was an adjustment. He finished the year with a .914 OPS against southpaws while Pederson crushed righties.

Grichuk split his time pretty evenly between designated hitter and outfield, and Arizona for the first time had a thriving DH spot in the middle of the order.

The D-backs’ DHs accounted for an .891 OPS, only trailing the Los Angeles Dodgers with Shohei Ohtani and the Atlanta Braves with Marcell Ozuna.

During the first five days after the World Series, players can negotiate with their clubs, trades can start and options will need to be exercised or declined. After the five days are over, free agents will be able to sign anywhere.

Christian Walker headlines Arizona’s free agent class, along with Josh Bell, Kevin Newman and Paul Sewald.

Jordan Montgomery has a player option for $22.5 million, while Eugenio Suarez ($15 million) and Merrill Kelly ($7 million) have club options.

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