Willie Bloomquist, the first Arizona State Sun Devil to
play for the Arizona Diamondbacks, will be back with the
team.

The 33-year-old Bloomquist reportedly agreed to a two-year
contract with the team after declining his player’s
option, and will make $3.8 million over the life
of the contract.

While that may seem like a lot for a utility player,
Bloomquist’s role with the team cannot be understated.

A .266 hitter with four home runs, 26 RBI and 20 SB, the
veteran played three different positions for the team, and
started for the team at shortstop after Stephen Drew went
down with an injury. He provided steady defense and great
leadership for a young team that needed both.

Now, Bloomquist’s return could mean bad news for Stephen
Drew, as there may not be much playing time for those two
plus the newly re-signed John McDonald. Or, perhaps, the
Diamondbacks are just hedging their bet should their
starting shortstop not be ready to go when the season
begins.

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