Arizona Diamondbacks sign former Toronto Blue Jays right-handed reliever
Photo credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images
The Arizona Diamondbacks have signed former Toronto Blue Jays right-handed relief pitcher Derek Law.
According to Fansided's Robert Murray, the Arizona Diamondbacks and righty Derek Law are in agreement on a minor league contract with an invitation to major league spring training.
Sources: Reliever Derek Law and the Arizona Diamondbacks are in agreement on a minor-league contract that includes an invite to spring training.
Murray reports that the CAA Sports client would earn $1.5 million if he makes the big league roster, with an additional $500,000 available through performance incentives.
Those bonuses include $50,000 for reaching 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, and 45 appearances, followed by $100,000 bonuses at both 50 and 55 games pitched.
Law delivered strong results with the Reds and Nationals during the 2023–24 seasons but did not appear in the majors last year due to arm issues.
Diamondbacks and Law aiming for April return from flexor surgery
He opened the season on the injured list, and in mid-July, Washington announced he would undergo season-ending flexor surgery.
The procedure carried an expected recovery timeline of nine to ten months, placing Law on track to return sometime in April or May.
Across 145 innings of relief work between Cincinnati and Washington, Law compiled an impressive 2.98 ERA.
When healthy, Law has typically operated with both a four-seam fastball and sinker around 95 mph, though in recent seasons he has leaned more heavily on a 91 mph cutter and an 87 mph slider.
Notes on Derek Law signing with the #Dbacks:
- Quality fastball and sinker metrics, both mid-90s offerings
- Disgusting upper-80s slider, produced a 40% whiff rate in 2024
- His high-80s changeup didn't produce much whiff, but had a fantastic .225 xwOBA against
- Quality fastball and sinker metrics, both mid-90s offerings
- Disgusting upper-80s slider, produced a 40% whiff rate in 2024
- His high-80s changeup didn't produce much whiff, but had a fantastic .225 xwOBA against
The slider, in particular, has proven highly effective. In 2024, opposing hitters managed just a .157 batting average and .220 slugging percentage against the pitch, driven by an elite swinging-strike rate.
Unless Law is ahead of schedule in his recovery, he is unlikely to be a factor for an Opening Day bullpen spot.
He is expected to rehab with the major league staff during spring training while getting acclimated to his new organization and coaching staff.
Based on his original timeline, a return to the Diamondbacks’ bullpen within the first few months of the season remains a realistic possibility.
Also read on Blue Jays Central :
Former Toronto Blue Jays catcher outrighted by Washington Nationals
Former Toronto Blue Jays catcher outrighted by Washington Nationals
| POLL | ||
JANVIER 29|23 ANSWERS Arizona Diamondbacks sign former Toronto Blue Jays right-handed reliever Do you think Derek Law will be back with the Arizona Diamondbacks by April? | ||
| Yes | 8 | 34.8 % |
| No | 7 | 30.4 % |
| Too early to tell | 8 | 34.8 % |
| List of polls | ||