Free agent infielder Kevin Newman, who spent 2024 with the Arizona Diamondbacks, agreed Thursday morning to sign with the Los Angeles Angels on a one-year deal with a team option, reports MLB Network’s Jon Heyman.
The Angels announced the deal was signed Thursday afternoon.
The deal will pay out $2.75 million in 2025, according to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale.
Newman appeared in 111 games with 79 starts for the D-backs in his single season in the desert, spelling Geraldo Perdomo at shortstop (49 games) and Ketel Marte at second (36 games). He also made spot appearances at first and third.
The Arizona Wildcat product was a pleasant surprise for a team that dealt with its share of injuries to All-Star caliber players at those positions, slashing .278/.312/.375 with 80 hits and 28 RBIs on the season.
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Arizona signed the 31-year-old Newman in January to a minor-league contract, but he was reassigned and did not make the Opening Day roster. Ultimately, injuries forced the D-backs’ hands, and Newman proved helpful enough to stick around.
A first-round pick by the Pirates in 2015, Newman played five years with Pittsburgh before a stop with the Cincinnati Reds in 2023.
Where is the infield depth on the D-backs with Kevin Newman departed?
With Newman departed, the Diamondbacks have options behind Marte, an MVP finalist and Silver Slugger this past season, and Perdomo, the heartbeat of the team who is a one-time All-Star.
Blaze Alexander got his feet wet in 2024 by making the Opening Day roster and playing in 61 games with 48 starts, though he struggled against right-handed pitchers. He played at shortstop (19 games), second (15) and third (7).
Top prospect Jordan Lawlar, who primarily plays shortstop, also could reenter the picture after he played in 14 MLB games toward the end of the 2023 season.
He suffered through thumb and hamstring injuries this past season to appear in just 23 combined games across the Arizona Complex League, Double-A and Triple-A in 2024.