RHP Zach Davies agrees to re-sign with D-backs, J.B. Bukauskas DFAd

Zach Davies is returning to the Arizona Diamondbacks on a one-year deal while relief pitcher J.B. Bukauskas was designated for assignment, the team announced Wednesday.

The New York Post’s Jon Heyman and MLB.com’s Steve Gilbert were the first to report the news.

Davies finished 2022 with a 2-5 record, 4.09 ERA and 1.30 WHIP over 27 games played. The righty had a 2023 option, but he and the team mutually agreed for him to enter free agency.

He signed a one-year, $1.5 million contract last offseason and received a $250,000 buyout from that mutual option for 2023.

Davies, 29, got off to a fantastic beginning to the year, allowing three or fewer runs in six of his first seven starts while posting a 3.57 ERA. His name became one to watch at the trade deadline before he injured his shoulder and missed the whole month of July.

Returning for 2023, Davies remains part of a starting rotation led by Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly.

Madison Bumgarner remains on the roster as a 33-year-old who went 7-15 with a 4.88 ERA last season, and the D-backs will hope he can rebound to remain a part of the starting crew as well.

From there, Arizona could complete its rotation with some combination of Drey Jameson, Ryne Nelson and Tommy Henry, three youngsters who earned late starts in 2022.

The Diamondbacks will also have Brandon Pfaadt to watch, as he posted a 2.36 ERA over 10 starts with Triple-A Reno a year ago.

Bukauskas disappointed since coming over from the Houston Astros to Arizona in the Zach Greinke deal.

In one season in Arizona in 2021, he went 2-2 with a 7.79 ERA in 21 games and 17.1 innings. He allowed a 1.788 WHIP and allowed 12.5 home runs per nine innings.

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