RADIO
Diamondbacks Have Discussed Using Nolan Arenado at First Base
Arizona Diamondbacks general manager Mike Hazen said the organization has discussed using infielder Nolan Arenado at first base next season, according to Steve Gilbert of MLB.com. On the surface, it seems counterproductive to move a player who has won 10 Gold Glove Awards and six Platinum Gloves off third base, but the D-backs are not talking about a full position switch. "I think it's taken a toll on him physically a little bit," Hazen said. "So we're trying to be mindful of that." In his first year in Arizona in 2026, Arenado had his best season since his 2022 campaign in which he finished third in the National League MVP race. He slashed .255/.331/.475 and had a 122 OPS+ in 152 games while also hitting 30 home runs, driving in 86 runs, scoring 80 runs, and stealing four bases in 533 at-bats. Arenado is open to the possibility of moving across the diamond and said he might go play some winter ball for the first time to get some work in at first base. His bounce-back 2026 was nice, but fantasy managers should not expect the eight-time All-Star to be as productive offensively again in 2027, even if he reduces some wear and tear physically by moving to first base occasionally.
Source: MLB.com - Steve Gilbert
Source: MLB.com - Steve Gilbert
Nolan Arenado a Priority Waiver-Wire Target Amid Late-Season Surge
Across 572 plate appearances in 2026, Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Nolan Arenado is hitting .247/.322/.455 with 27 home runs, 78 RBI, 73 runs scored, and four stolen bases. After hitting just 28 home runs across over 1,000 plate appearances in his final two seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2024 and 2025, it's been a resurgent campaign for the 35-year-old. Arenado has also been red-hot of late, hitting .317 with six home runs and 13 RBI across 68 plate appearances in September. Arenado also has a favorable schedule in the final week of the regular season, as the Diamondbacks will open a three-game set at Coors Field against the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday. In any league where he is available on the waiver wire, Arenado profiles as a priority target for fantasy managers.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Nolan Arenado is Scratched with Thumb Injury
Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Nolan Arenado (thumb) was scratched from the starting lineup ahead of Thursday's game against the San Francisco Giants. Arenado was removed ahead of this game due to right thumb inflammation, Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports. The veteran slugger was dealing with a left side issue last week, but this absence is unrelated. Jose Fernandez will draw the start at third base during Thursday's game. Fantasy managers should consider Arenado as day-to-day. There should be another update on his status ahead of Saturday's contest. Arenado has been struggling at the plate lately, but is still worth rostering in deep leagues.
Source: Nick Piecoro
Source: Nick Piecoro
Tim Tawa Emerging as a Priority Waiver-Wire Target
Across 248 plate appearances entering play on Wednesday, Arizona Diamondbacks utility man Tim Tawa was slashing .248/.301/.404 with eight home runs, 32 RBI, 26 runs scored, and seven stolen bases. The 27-year-old has emerged as an everyday piece of the Diamondbacks lineup in August, hitting .299 with four home runs and five stolen bases across 96 plate appearances this month. Tawa's underlying batted ball metrics are rock solid, as he's posted a 9.2% barrel rate and a 45.7% hard-hit rate. Tawa has also lowered his strikeout rate to 22.0%, a much more manageable figure than his 28.4% strikeout rate across 225 big-league plate appearances in 2025. With his ability to produce across all categories and his multi-positional eligibility, Tawa profiles as a priority waiver wire target for fantasy managers.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
D-Backs Reinstate Jordan Lawlar From the Injured List
The Arizona Diamondbacks announced on Monday that they reinstated third baseman/outfielder Jordan Lawlar (hamstring) from the 10-day injured list and optioned infielder Tyler Locklear to Triple-A Reno in a corresponding move. It is unclear if he'll be in Arizona's starting lineup for the series opener on Monday against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. The 24-year-old former top prospect has been out nearly two months with a strained left hamstring. He will be returning to a .316/.409/.447 slash line with an .856 OPS, a home run, four RBI, six runs scored, and four stolen bases in a small sample size of 12 games played over 44 plate appearances. Lawlar hit .250 with five home runs and two stolen bases in nine minor-league rehab games for Double-A Amarillo and could be a sneaky deep-league pickup for power and speed the rest of the way if he sees enough playing time in the desert. His best path to playing time will be in center field. Lawlar is rostered in under 10% of Yahoo leagues, so he is widely available after his hamstring injury.
Source: Arizona Diamondbacks
Source: Arizona Diamondbacks
Manuel Pena Has Power Numbers to Warrant Stash Look
Arizona Diamondbacks utility prospect Manuel Pena has hit for power all this season with 31 combined homers between Double-A Amarillo and Triple-A Reno. He has combined for 91 RBI while hitting .294. Since being recalled to Reno on June 16, Pena has hit five homers with 27 RBI for the Aces with a .269 batting average. The 22-year-old left-handed hitter is the No. 29 prospect for the Diamondbacks and has 55-grade power with just a 40-grade hit tool. So the power numbers look legit while the overall hitting (and batting average) could leave something to be desired. Pena has a lot of position flexibility with the ability to play multiple infield positions as well as the outfield. So he could be useful if Arizona wants to give him a big-league opportunity the rest of the way. In deep leagues, he could be worth a stash look for the potential power output.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Jordan Lawlar is Primed for Second-Half Breakout
Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman/outfielder Jordan Lawlar (hamstring) was recently cleared to begin doing baseball activities. He has been sidelined since June 20 due to a strained right hamstring, but is expected to return in early August. The hope is that Lawlar can be a key contributor for the D-Backs down the stretch of the season. This season, Lawlar is slashing .316/.409/.447 with one home run and four RBI in 12 games. It's a small sample size, but Lawlar has looked good at the plate when he's healthy. The 24-year-old carries high expectations after being taken in the first-round during the 2021 draft. Fantasy managers in deep leagues should consider stashing Lawlar, who appears on the verge of returning and is primed to break out at the plate.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Jordan Lawlar Heads Back to Injured List With Hamstring Strain
Arizona Diamondbacks infielder/outfielder Jordan Lawlar (hamstring) was placed on the 10-day injured list on Saturday. Ouch, Lawler can't catch a break as he'll head back to the shelf this weekend. Lawler missed two months after suffering a fractured wrist in his sixth game of the season. He returned about a week ago and is already heading back to the IL with a hamstring strain that he suffered during Friday's game. In a corresponding move, infielder Tim Taza has been recalled from Triple-A Reno. He figures to serve as depth with Jorge Barrosa seeing the bulk of the playing time in center field without Lawler around. Lawler is expected to miss around 4-to-6 weeks of action, so fantasy managers in redraft formats might want to move on.
Source: Arizona Diamondbacks
Source: Arizona Diamondbacks
Jordan Lawlar to Have MRI for Hamstring Strain
Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman/outfielder Jordan Lawlar (hamstring) suffered a strained right hamstring in Friday's series opener against the visiting Minnesota Twins and will undergo an MRI exam on Saturday, according to MLB.com's Steve Gilbert. Before leaving the team's eventual 9-5 win at Chase Field, Lawlar went 2-for-4 at the plate with a strikeout. We won't know the severity of the 23-year-old's hamstring injury until the imaging comes back on his MRI, but it's a disappointing development after Lawlar just recently returned from a stint on the injured list due to a wrist injury. At the very least, he probably will not be ready to play in Game 2 of the series against the Twins on Saturday. Rookie Tommy Troy entered the game in place of Lawlar on Friday night and could be thrust into a regular role for the D-backs if Lawlar goes back on the IL. Lawlar, a former sixth overall pick in 2021, has hit just .207/.289/.296 with one homer, nine RBI, seven steals, and a 30.9% strikeout rate in 54 games since debuting in the majors in 2023. He's played in just 12 games for Arizona this year and has gone 12-for-38 (.316) with a homer, four RBI, four steals, three walks, and 10 K's. Lawlar is rostered in only 12% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: MLB.com - Steve Gilbert
Source: MLB.com - Steve Gilbert
Jordan Lawlar Pulled With Undisclosed Injury on Friday Night
Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman/outfielder Jordan Lawlar (undisclosed) was pulled from Friday night's game against the Minnesota Twins early at Chase Field with an undisclosed injury after beating out a bunt single in the eighth inning, according to Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports. Before being removed prematurely, Lawlar went 2-for-4 at the plate with a strikeout. Fantasy managers in deeper leagues will want to check back on Saturday morning for a better idea of what the 23-year-old is dealing with, but don't expect him to be back in the starting lineup for Game 2 of the series against the Twins. The former sixth overall pick in 2021 has a history of injuries and just recently returned from the injured list. In just his third year in the big leagues after coming up as one of the top prospects in the game, Lawlar entered play on Friday with a .294 average (10-for-34) with a homer, four RBI, four steals, and six runs scored in just 11 games played for the Snakes. Lawlar is currently rostered in only 13% of Yahoo leagues, and another trip to the IL would be a major disappointment for a player who so far has been a first-round bust.
Source: Arizona Sports - Alex Weiner
Source: Arizona Sports - Alex Weiner
Jordan Lawlar Activated From Injured List, a Must-Add Ahead of Return?
The Arizona Diamondbacks announced on Friday that they reinstated infielder/outfielder Jordan Lawlar (wrist) from the 60-day injured list and designated catcher Aramis Garcia for assignment in a corresponding move. Lawlar is starting in center field and will bat seventh in his return in Friday's series opener in Cincinnati against the Reds and left-hander Nick Lodolo. The 23-year-old former top prospect has been out since fracturing his wrist back in early April. Before getting hurt, the former sixth overall pick in 2021 went 6-for-18 at the plate with a homer, two RBI, three runs scored, and a stolen base for the Snakes. Lawlar has yet to break through at the MLB level in Arizona since debuting in 2023, slashing .191/.266/.287 with a .533 OPS, one homer, seven RBI, 14 runs scored, and four stolen bases in 48 games and 128 plate appearances. He could very well be a post-hype breakout prospect the rest of 2026 if he can stay healthy, and he's rostered in under 10% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: Arizona Diamondbacks
Source: Arizona Diamondbacks
Jordan Lawlar to Return to D-Backs on Friday
Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman/outfielder Jordan Lawlar (wrist) will come off the 60-day injured list to rejoin the major-league roster for Friday's series opener against the Cincinnati Reds, according to John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports. Lawlar will be returning to the Snakes this weekend for the first time since hitting the IL back in early April with a right-wrist fracture. During his minor-league rehab assignment, the 23-year-old former top prospect went 6-for-28 with two RBI and five runs scored in eight games. The former sixth overall pick in 2021 out of Jesuit College Preparatory School of Dallas has yet to impress in the big leagues in just 48 games played since debuting in 2023, hitting .191 (22-for-115) with just one home run, seven RBI, four steals, and a 33.6% strikeout rate. Fantasy managers in mixed leagues will probably want to take a wait-and-see approach with Lawlar, but he should play regularly in Arizona's outfield once he returns. Lawlar is widely available in Yahoo leagues, as he's rostered in just 6% of leagues.
Source: Arizona Sports - John Gambadoro
Source: Arizona Sports - John Gambadoro
Ildemaro Vargas Remains Out of Diamondbacks Lineup on Sunday
Arizona Diamondbacks infielder Ildemaro Vargas (thigh) remains out of the starting lineup for his team's Sunday matchup against the Washington Nationals. The 34-year-old has not made a start since colliding with Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy on Thursday. Vargas has emerged as a key piece early on in 2026 for Arizona, hitting .282/.313/.441 with seven home runs, 37 RBI, 30 runs scored, and one stolen base while logging near-everyday playing time at first base. However, Vargas has cooled off considerably after a red-hot start to the year. The veteran hit just .227 with one home run in May after finishing April with a .378 average and six long balls. In Vargas' absence on Sunday, recently promoted Diamondbacks prospect LuJames Groover will make his third straight start at third base and bat eighth.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Diamondbacks Promote Prospect LuJames Groover After Dominant Start at Triple-A
The Arizona Diamondbacks announced on Friday that they selected the contract of rookie infielder LuJames Groover from Triple-A Reno and optioned infielder Jose Fernandez to Reno in a corresponding move. James, who is considered the team's No. 10 prospect per MLB Pipeline, earned his first big-league call-up after hitting .322/.421/.452 with an .873 OPS, three home runs, 16 doubles, a triple, 39 RBI, 37 runs scored, and two steals in 56 games across 256 plate appearances this year for the Aces. The 24-year-old former second-rounder in 2023 out of North Carolina State University can play both third and first base, and he could get some run against left-handed pitching if infielder Ildemaro Vargas misses some time after colliding at first base with Max Muncy on Thursday night. Fantasy managers in mixed leagues can hold off on acquiring the 6-foot-2, 212-pounder, who has a hit over power profile.
Source: Arizona Diamondbacks
Source: Arizona Diamondbacks
With Return Nearing, Should Managers Stash Jordan Lawlar?
Arizona Diamondbacks infielder/outfielder Jordan Lawlar (wrist) has been rehabbing with the team's Complex League affiliate, but is poised to move his rehab to Triple-A Reno by the end of the week, according to manager Torey Lovullo. The former top prospect is 2-for-8 with a double, a 2:2 BB:K, and a steal through three rehab games. Lawlar cracked the team's Opening Day roster as an outfielder and had collected at least one hit in five of six games, including his first major league home run, before suffering a fractured wrist as the result of getting hit by a pitch. The 23-year-old has always had the promise of a multi-category producer for fantasy, but has consistently run into issues staying healthy. The former first-rounder hit .313 with 11 home runs and 20 steals in only 63 games for Reno last season, and with the potential to hit for power and the ability to steal bases, Lawlar should be one of the top IL stashes with his return to the majors likely to come by mid-June.
Source: Alex Weiner
Source: Alex Weiner
