Diamondbacks roster moves: John Curtiss, Ildemaro Vargas become free agents
The Arizona Diamondbacks needed to make a slew of 40-man roster moves as free agency got underway on Thursday.
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The Arizona Diamondbacks reinstated nine players from the 60-day injured list on Thursday, as is required by Major League Baseball within five days of the World Series’ conclusion.
Pitchers Corbin Burnes, Kevin Ginkel, Tommy Henry, Justin Martinez, Cristian Mena, Christian Montes De Oca, A.J. Puk and Blake Walston, plus first baseman Pavin Smith, each returned to the 40-man roster after suffering season-ending injuries in 2025.
With a roster crunch, Arizona had to make a series of moves to create room this week, as there are several moving parts at the onset of free agency:
– The Diamondbacks outrighted pitchers Johns Curtiss, Casey Kelly, Austin Pope and Kyle Nelson, along with shortstop Connor Kaiser. They are all free agents.
– Infielder Ildemaro Vargas elected free agency.
– The D-backs declined a $1.35 million club option for reliever Elvin Rodriguez.
– Zac Gallen — who was extended the qualifying offer — James McCann and Jalen Beeks officially entered free agency after the World Series.
– Lourdes Gurriel Jr. opted into a $13 million player option.
These moves left the Diamondbacks with 38 players on the 40-man roster, and the team will save over a projected $4 million from Vargas, Rodriguez, Curtiss and Nelson.
Curtiss had the most notable role for the 2025 Diamondbacks among the outrighted pitchers with a 3.93 ERA in 36.2 innings. Vargas stepped in as a versatile defender who played 38 games with a .674 OPS.
Diamondbacks have group of players primed to return to 60-day IL
As for the players reinstated from the IL, Burnes, Henry, Martinez and Puk will continue their rehab from elbow surgeries into the 2026 season and will likely go back on the 60-day IL. Walston had Tommy John surgery last March and should be ahead of the aforementioned four.
Gurriel tore his ACL in September but only went on the 10-day IL. He will also assuredly start the 2026 season on the 60-day IL.
The Diamondbacks will have significant money invested in players who will not be ready for the start of next season.
Burnes is owed $30.8 million as he eyes an All-Star break return. Gurriel’s $13 million is second highest among the team’s position players for next year behind Ketel Marte’s $16 million.
Puk is set to make around $3 million in arbitration, while Martinez signed an extension that will pay him $2.4 million in 2026.
That’s nearly $50 million in payroll for four players who won’t be ready by Opening Day, which in a way frames several key needs this offseason in the rotation, bullpen and possibly outfield.
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