The Arizona Diamondbacks are betting on potential with a trio of minor league deals, but are they filling real needs or just taking fliers? The organization's Triple-A affiliate in Reno recently announced the signings of infielder Jacob Amaya and right-handed relievers Taylor Rashi and Gerardo Carrillo, all to minor league contracts. The exciting part? All three will receive non-roster invitations to Spring Training, giving them a legitimate shot to impress the big league club.
Let's break down each player and what they bring to the table:
Jacob Amaya, a 27-year-old infielder, is looking for a fresh start after a tough year with the White Sox. While he saw a career-high 36 major league games, his bat struggled to catch up, resulting in a meager .106 batting average with only one extra-base hit (a double!) in 73 plate appearances. Ouch. He spent the majority of the 2025 season with Triple-A Charlotte, where he showed glimpses of his potential, hitting .250/.352/.420 with nine home runs across 219 plate appearances. But here's where it gets controversial... His underlying batted ball metrics were decent, but his 29% strikeout rate raises some serious questions about his consistency at the plate. Can he cut down on the strikeouts and tap into that potential power? Only time will tell.
A former 11th-round pick by the Dodgers, Amaya profiles as a versatile, defense-first player. He's logged nearly 5000 professional innings at shortstop and over 1100 at second base, with some experience at third as well. The Diamondbacks are likely hoping he can provide a steady glove and fill a utility role. He'll be competing with Tim Tawa for that utility spot in spring training, but it's likely he'll start the season in Reno, providing depth at multiple positions. Is Amaya a realistic option to fill a utility role for the big league club, or is he simply organizational depth?
Taylor Rashi is a familiar face, returning to the Diamondbacks after being non-tendered just a couple of weeks ago. The team needed to clear a 40-man roster spot to re-sign catcher James McCann, and Rashi was the odd man out. The 29-year-old righty made 10 appearances for the D-backs this past season, allowing eight runs in 16 1/3 innings, with 22 strikeouts and eight walks. And this is the part most people miss... While his MLB numbers weren't stellar, Rashi dominated in the Pacific Coast League, posting an impressive 3.48 ERA and striking out a quarter of opposing hitters across 67 1/3 innings. Despite throwing only around 90 MPH, he clearly knows how to get outs. Can he translate that Triple-A success to the major league level with more consistency?
Gerardo Carrillo is the wild card of this group, still searching for his major league debut. A former Dodgers prospect, he was traded to the Nationals as part of the blockbuster Max Scherzer/Trea Turner deal in 2021. He reached Double-A in the Nationals system and briefly touched Triple-A with the Rangers last year, spending most of his time at Double-A Frisco. There, the 27-year-old posted a solid 3.69 ERA with a 26.8% strikeout rate against generally younger competition. It's worth noting that his success came against younger competition, so it remains to be seen how he'll fare against more experienced hitters. Will Carillo finally get his chance to pitch in the majors with the Diamondbacks?
These signings represent low-risk, high-reward gambles for the Diamondbacks. Each player possesses intriguing potential, but significant questions remain. What do you think? Are these smart moves to bolster organizational depth and potentially find a hidden gem, or are they simply filling roster spots with players unlikely to make a significant impact at the major league level? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
