The Diamondbacks released a reliever Shawn Dube from his minor league deal, according to the MiLB.com transaction log. Arizona also re-signed the first baseman Luke Baker on a new minor league contract. Baker temporarily opted for free agency after being designated for assignment Monday but will return to Triple-A Reno.
Dubin joined the Snakes on a non-draft invitation in the offseason. He made five spring appearances and made two stops for Reno during the first few days of the regular season. Dubin gave up four runs on five hits and a walk over two innings and was immediately transferred to the development list. That’s usually to give uninjured minor leaguers time to make mechanical adjustments outside of game action.
The righty didn’t end up returning to Reno’s active roster. Now he’ll look for an opportunity elsewhere, perhaps on another minor league contract. Dubin has spent a good chunk of the last two seasons in the big leagues. He pitched a career-high 45 1/3 innings for the Astros in 2024. The former 13th-rounder split between Houston and Baltimore, allowing a 5.08 earned run average in 33 2/3 innings. He has a 4.81 ERA with a league average of 22.3% over 88 MLB innings.
Baker is back on the Reno lineup tonight. The hitter played in nine games for the Aces early in the season, hitting .242 with a homer. He was called there Carlos Santana He went down with an injury and held a bench spot for a few weeks. Arizona selected him last weekend once Lourdes Gurriel Jr. he is back on the injured list.
The Diamondbacks got surprisingly strong production Ildemaro Vargas and the rookie Jose Fernandez between first base and the designated hitter. Arizona first basemen have hit .305/.317/.492 in 60 plate appearances since Santana’s injury. Vargas is a short-hitter, while Fernandez is an elite pitcher who had played one Triple-A game before being pressed into action. They probably won’t continue to hit at this rate, but it’s been a nice improvement from zero potential spots after Santana’s injury, Pavin Smithagain Tyler Locklear.
