Arizona Diamondbacks: Lovullo: Tomas could be back

By Mark Brown |

GLENDALE, AZ - MARCH 03: Yasmany Tomas

Poor defense and lack of speed were principle catalysts for sending Yasmany Tomas of the Arizona Diamondbacks outright to the minor leagues.

Despite that the 29 remaining major league organizations passed on Yasmany Tomas Monday, the Arizona Diamondbacks hold the belief that the Cuban’s career in the desert may not be over. This was after the Diamondbacks outrighted Tomas to Triple-A Reno and dropped him from the 40-man-roster.

That was the assessment manager Torey Lovullo gave to Call to the Pen before Monday night’s home game with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Despite being outrighted to the minors and no team claimed him, Tomas’ path directly to the minors will cost the Arizona Diamondbacks $10 million this season.

That’s a steep price for a minor leaguer, but the Diamondbacks have former GM Dave Stewart and Tony LaRussa, the club’s previous Chief Baseball Officer, to blame. It was the Stewart-LaRussa regime which told managing general partner Ken Kendrick, the man with the checkbook, to sign Tomas to a six-year, $68 million contract.

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While teams initially passed on signing the Cuban exile, the Diamondbacks thought Tomas first as a potential third baseman and then as a corner outfielder. Because there was little concern for his bat, the worry lay with his glove, speed and direct assess to the ball. In those three vitals areas, Tomas was an abysmal failure and the principal reasons why he is no longer in the desert.

That direct point was made clear by Lovullo, who told Call to the Pen, that defensive metrics represents the main reason why the club values a certain payer.

“We believe pitching and defense win championships,” he said. “Yes, Yasmany needs to work on his defense and get the point where his play there is satisfactory to us.”

Now clearing waivers, Tomas has three years remaining on his original deal with Arizona, who is now responsible for $42.5 million owed. Sidelined with two significant injuries in 2017, Tomas was placed on the disabled list on June 6 with right groin tendinitis. Then he underwent core surgery on Aug 22 in Philadelphia and was lost for the remainder of the season. In only 47 games last season, Tomas, who is 27-year-old, hit .241 with eight homers and 32 RBIs in 166 plate appearances.

This spring, there was little room for Tomas, a player with no speed in an Arizona Diamondbacks outfield populated by David Peralta, A. J. Pollock, Steven Souza, Jr., Jarrod Dyson and Chris Owings.

Despite defensive flaws and susceptible speed, Tomas’ bat was not enough to keep him in the majors. Still, Lovullo told Call to the Pen that Tomas could be back.

“Tomas is not a failure,” he said. “We may see him again and just because we sent him to the minors, it’s not a dead-end street. We expect players to play consistent baseball on both sides, offense, and defense. Yasmany took the news well and said he will do what it takes to get back here. Now, it’s on him.”

Next: Tomas placed on waivers

For a Tomas recall to Arizona, one player needs to be dropped from the current 40-man roster. After the Diamondbacks acquired right-hander Stefan Crichton from Baltimore for cash consideration and optioned him to Reno on Monday, the roster stands at 40 players.

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