The Arizona Diamondbacks made the following roster moves. The D-backs’ 40-man roster is at 39.

That’s the end of another failed bullpen signing by Hazen. At least this one was relatively cheap, Graveman getting a total of $1.5 million from Arizona. That’s $1.25 million in base salary, another $150K in incentives for appearances (I’m amused he was DFA’d after 19 games – his next time on the mound would have earned him another $150K!), and a $100K buyout of next year’s team option, at a frankly ludicrous $5 million. Last night’s failed mop-up appearance left Graveman’s ERA as a Diamondback up at 7.13 across 17.2 innings on 23 hits, with an ugly K:BB of 9:12. Instead, Morillo will get a chance to stake his claim for a bullpen spot in 2026. He went to Reno just before the break, with a 4.94 ERA over 27.1 innings.

Who is Gus Varland? He was originally a 14th-round pick by Oakland, back when there was a team in Oakland, during the 2018 draft. He went through the Dodgers and Brewers on his way to the White Sox, and across a total of 46.2 innings since making his debut in March 2023, has a 4.82 ERA and a K:BB of 47:24. But he won’t be doing much for the rest of the year, since he’s reportedly out for the season with a strained lat. So it’s apparently a move with regard to Varland potentially being in contention for a possible bullpen spot in 2026. I guess he could be moved to the 60-day IL should a 40-man roster spot be needed. However, there is still a slot available there, without the need for such a transaction.

Expecting s low-scoring game tonight, with a pair of solid pitchers on the mound, and in an environment which has been remarkably good at suppressing runs this year (as discussed in the preview). Which is fine by me, since I’m recapping this one, and an early finish might give me a chance to knock out the recap, and still watch some TV before bedtime. We have a long list of series which we’re watching or intending to watch, from 1923 through to Wednesday, and keeping track of them all has become quite the process. So, a crisply-played game tonight should give us the opportunity to carve an episode or two off the stockpile! Here’s to a 1-0 win for the Diamondbacks, in a tick or so over two hours!