Davies signing adds starting pitcher depth to D-backs

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- With the ink barely dry on his contract, right-hander Zach Davies donned an Arizona Diamondbacks jersey and threw two innings in a simulated game on a back field at Salt River Fields.

Davies deal with the D-backs is for one year with a mutual option and guarantees him $1.75 million with the potential to earn up to $4.5 million with incentives. The club has not confirmed the financial details of the contract.

Davies recorded a career-worst 5.78 ERA and 1.52 K/BB ratio over 32 starts with the Cubs in 2021, while also tying for the National League lead in walks allowed (75), but he had a 3.79 ERA (114 ERA+) and a 2.5 K/BB ratio across his first six seasons -- five with the Brewers and one with the Padres.

"I think everything kind of played into it -- mechanics, mental -- just struggled trying to get over the hump and figure things out," Davies said before the D-backs beat the Brewers, 10-3, in Phoenix. "It just never really worked out for me last year. That's something that I'll focus on this year for sure -- getting ahead of hitters, putting them away and limiting walks."

The D-backs are betting on the track record of command that Davies had prior to last year more than his struggles in 2021.

"We like a couple things, one the strike-throwing ability," D-backs GM Mike Hazen said. "Certainly the command, the changeup kind of fits a lot of what we're looking to solidify. I don't think those things [like command] just go away. I mean, guys have seasons sometimes where it doesn't go as great for them in those areas. Those are the areas that we're going to help try to get him back on track with."

The signing was the latest move by the D-backs that adds starting pitching depth, something that they lacked during a 110-loss 2021 season.

Coming into camp, the D-backs were looking for a fifth starter to slot in behind Madison Bumgarner, Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly and Luke Weaver. While that now looks to be Davies, the D-backs might still have an opening for a fifth starter with Gallen a bit behind schedule this spring after a bout with bursitis in his right shoulder.

If Gallen misses his first turn through the rotation, the D-backs could be in a position to just skip his spot or they could turn to another starter. It's a lengthy list of candidates, which includes Tyler Gilbert, Taylor Widener, Caleb Smith, Corbin Martin, Dan Straily and Humberto Castellanos.

Last season when Bumgarner, Weaver, Gallen and Widener each went down with injuries, the D-backs had to rush some young pitchers to the big leagues.

Davies, who attended high school in Gilbert, Ariz., before being selected in the 26th round of the 2011 MLB Draft by the Orioles, along with veteran right-hander Straily gives the D-backs some experienced depth, which should keep them from having to push some of the next group of young starting pitching prospects like Luis Frias, Ryne Nelson, Drey Jameson, Brandon Pfaadt, Tommy Henry and Bryce Jarvis among them to the big leagues before they feel they're ready.

Both Gallen and Weaver watched Davies throw from behind the backstop Thursday.

"It's good," Gallen said of the signing. "This guy's been doing it for a few years now, he's had some success. He has, I feel like, a very similar pitch mix to mine. So I'll try and pick some things from the way he sequences his changeup off other pitches. He seems like a good dude and a good guy to have around the clubhouse. So he's going to be a good fit for sure."