Arizona Diamondbacks, Bronson Arroyo Agree to 2-Year Deal

Sep 28, 2013; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Bronson Arroyo (61) takes the field during the first inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Frank Victores-USA TODAY Sports

The Arizona Diamondbacks have agreed to a two-year, $23.5 million contract with free-agent pitcher Bronson Arroyo. The deal includes a club option for a third year at $11 million and a $4.5 million buyout.

While it isn’t a move that’s going to make an enormous splash, it is a move that will pay dividends to a club looking to contend in the National League West in 2014.

Arroyo is the kind of workhorse that any team would love to have. Is he going to win the Cy Young award this year? No, but you can almost certainly pencil him in for 200 innings, as he’s hit that mark eight out of the last nine years. The only year he missed was 2011, when he threw 199 innings and had Valley Fever, mono and whooping cough.

In addition to the workload, Arroyo is the kind of pitcher that defensive players can get behind. He doesn’t walk many hitters (only 34 in 202 IP last year) and he doesn’t tend to strike many out, either (124 in 2013). That keeps the defense in the game and on their toes.

Arroyo hasn’t had a ton of success in the postseason, winning just one of his four starts. However, that was is 2012, when he gave up just one hit in seven innings for the Cincinnati Reds.

Bronson may end up pushing Randall Delgado or Brandon McCarthy out of the rotation and he’ll certainly push back the arrival of Archie Bradley for now. That’s ok though — the Diamondbacks are looking to compete now and will have room for Bradley when he’s ready.

This move won’t lead off ESPN’s Sportscenter, but it’s a solid move intended to improve an already solid club. If Arroyo throws for 200 innings while winning 13 games, this move will have to be considered a success.

Michael Dunlap is an NBA credentialed writer who is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief for the Sports Illustrated/Fansided NBA site HoopsHabit.com and the Arizona Sports site HeatWaved.com. He also covers high school sports for The Arizona Republic. Follow me on Twitter @DunlapNBA.