Overview
- The Diamondbacks designated first baseman Pavin Smith for assignment on Friday, creating a roster spot and starting a seven-day window to trade, release, or outright him to the minors.
- Smith returned from mid-April surgery to remove loose bodies from his left elbow and has hit just .141 with one home run across 28 games this season.
- Arizona recalled rookie outfielder Ryan Waldschmidt from Triple-A Reno to fill Smith’s active-roster spot immediately.
- The club is expected to try to pass Smith through outright waivers to send him to Triple-A if unclaimed, a move that would keep him in the organization while freeing a 40-man roster slot.
- The decision alters Arizona’s first-base plans after a planned platoon never materialized and feeds into general manager Mike Hazen’s stated search for left-handed power before the trade deadline.