D-backs back Walker, tender 3 others
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PHOENIX -- The D-backs tendered contract offers to four arbitration-eligible players and avoided salary arbitration with three others by reaching agreements on one-year contracts ahead of the tender deadline Tuesday.
Only one player, right-hander Taylor Clarke, was non-tendered, making him a free agent.
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Earlier in the day, the team reached contract agreements with right-hander Noé Ramirez ($1.25 million), left-hander Caleb Smith ($2 million) and right-hander J.B. Wendelken ($830,000).
Of the four players who were tendered contacts -- catcher Carson Kelly, first baseman Christian Walker, outfielder Jordan Luplow and right-hander Luke Weaver -- only Walker seemed like a non-tender candidate following a year when he had a slash line of .244/.315/.382.
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Walker, though, is a right-handed bat on a team that is very heavy on left-handed hitters. In addition, the D-backs believe his track record suggests that 2022 could be different.
"It was a tough year," D-backs GM Mike Hazen said. "I think that was where we made the decision that we believe that there's a bounce-back there, that he's committed to putting in [work] on his side of things to see that happen."
In another roster move, the D-backs outrighted right-hander Brett de Geus to Triple-A Reno and outrighted infielder Andrew Young to Double-A Amarillo. Their 40-man roster sits at 38.