Diamondbacks cut former All-Star with .210 batting average

The Arizona Diamondbacks designated outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. for assignment on Sunday, Sept. 13. An All-Star in 2023, Gurriel had played only 51 games this season, slashing .210/.254/.290 — all career-lows.

The Diamondbacks held a team option on Gurriel, 32, for the 2027 season.

In effect, they're giving him advance notice of their intention not to bring him back with less than three weeks to go in MLB 's regular season.

In a corresponding move, the Dbacks added designated hitter José Fernández to their roster Sunday.

Gurriel began the season on the injured list after undergoing right ACL surgery in September 2025. His season was a series of stops and starts.

In May, he strained his left hamstring. In July, he strained his right adductor. When Gurriel returned from that IL stint on Sept. 1, he went 3-for-12 (.250) in four games.

Ostensibly the Diamondbacks were more comfortable eating the prorated portion of Gurriel's 2026 salary (and his $5 million buyout clause) than keeping him in the lineup with a wild-card berth at stake.

The San Diego Padres (80-68) have won five straight games to take a 1.5-game lead on the Diamondbacks (79-70) in the race for the NL's final wild-card berth.

The Dbacks host the Texas Rangers later in the day Sunday.

Fernandez, a 22-year-old rookie, slashed .262/.305/.356 in 65 games this season before he was optioned to Triple-A Reno on Aug. 31.

Gurriel is a veteran of nine MLB seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays (2018-22) and Diamondbacks (2023-26). He's a career .271/.316/.445 hitter with 131 home runs and 513 RBIs.