D-backs tender contracts to arb-eligible trio

PHOENIX -- The D-backs tendered contracts to all three of their players who are eligible for salary arbitration -- catcher Carson Kelly, left-hander Caleb Smith and righty Luke Weaver -- ahead of Wednesday’s 6 p.m. MT deadline.

All remaining unsigned players on the D-backs’ 40-man roster also were tendered contracts for the 2021 season.

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The D-backs last month released right-hander Junior Guerra, who would have been eligible for arbitration, and they outrighted another arbitration-eligible player, righty Silvino Bracho, in October.

Kelly and Weaver both came to the D-backs before the 2019 season in the trade that sent Paul Goldschmidt to St. Louis.

Kelly impressed the organization in 2019, when he hit 18 home runs while posting a .245/.348/.478 slash line and compiling an OPS+ of 111. Last season was a struggle for him, though, as he slumped to .221/.264/.385, but the D-backs have expressed confidence that he will bounce back in 2021. He is still regarded as the team’s starting catcher.

Weaver was outstanding through the first six weeks of the 2019 season before an elbow injury limited him to just two innings the rest of the season. He, too, struggled in ’20, compiling a 6.58 ERA, but is expected to be part of the rotation in ’21.

Smith was acquired by the D-backs at the Trade Deadline last summer from the Marlins. He appeared in four games (three starts) for Arizona and had a 2.45 ERA. He will be a strong contender for a rotation spot next year.