The Arizona Diamondbacks could require a veteran infielder, with the team listening to offers on superstar second baseman Ketel Marte.
To help prepare for this outcome, the Diamondbacks have brought back veteran infielder Ildemaro Vargas on a minor league deal, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post.
Vargas has quite a bit of familiarity with the Diamondbacks. He came up with them back in 2017 and has played three separate big-league stints with Arizona.
He has accumulated a 1.9 bWAR in nine major league seasons, playing mostly as a bench or utility infielder.
What Does Vargas Bring to the Arizona Diamondbacks?
Although he has only appeared in 458 games with just 1219 at-bats across his nine seasons, Vargas has proven himself to be a strong veteran presence in the clubhouse and a solid contributor on the field.
In 38 games with Arizona during the 2025 season, Vargas hit .270 with a .674 OPS. While he doesn’t walk or hit for power often, he doesn’t strike out. This is evident by his 12.4 strikeout percentage in 2025, per Baseball Savant.
He is a switch-hitter, which is always valuable. His career numbers are much better hitting from the right side (.698 OPS vs. .613). In a lefty-dominated lineup, this could bode well for Arizona.
His speed is below average, as shown by just 16 career stolen bases, and his arm is weak (5th percentile).
But where Vargas earns his spot on a major league roster is his fielding ability. In just 38 games, Vargas had +3 Outs Above Average.
Although he didn’t qualify for his range (OAA) in 2025 due to the limited number of games he played, his defensive metrics would’ve been well above average.
After an exodus of players left at the 2025 trade deadline, Arizona was forced to play others out of position.
First baseman Josh Naylor and third baseman Eugenio Suarez were traded to the Seattle Mariners, leaving two big holes in the infield. Marte was also struggling with injuries.
Once Vargas came back up, he played all over the infield. Vargas played at every infield position other than catcher. He split most of his time between first base and second base.
This will be beneficial for Arizona moving forward.
Vargas’ Fit in Arizona
With Vargas playing all over the infield, this could very well be a great under-the-radar signing. As of now, the Diamondbacks have not addressed first base in free agency, despite it being the biggest need for Arizona outside of pitching.
While a reunion with veteran first baseman Paul Goldschmidt could be in the cards, Vargas can hold down the position at the very least in a platoon role.
Tim Tawa, Pavin Smith and Tyler Locklear are other options at first base. However, with Marte trade rumors swirling, Vargas could be tapped to play second base for the team as well.
With holes all over the infield except shortstop, there are many options for Vargas to not only make the roster but also play meaningful innings for the team.
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This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
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