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D-Backs make offer to free agent Vazquez
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The Diamondbacks have identified free agent Ramon Vazquez as their primary target to replace Orlando Hudson at second base and have offered him a one-year contract.
Vazquez, coming off the best two offensive seasons of his career, is seeking a longer term, according to agent Melvin Roman.
“It has to be multi-year,” Roman said Monday morning.
The sides are expected to speak again soon.
Vazquez, who hit .290 with 40 RBIs in 300 at-bats with Texas last season, has received several offers, Roman said.
“If the right deal comes along, we’re going to jump at it,” Roman said. At the same time, “we don’t mind if we have to wait. Ramon is up for anything.”
Free agent Hudson, who is out of the D-Backs’ price range, has received recent interest from San Francisco, which also is expected to be a player in the C.C. Sabathia sweepstakes.
Vazquez, 32, played mostly third base in Texas the last two seasons, although most of his previous experience was in the middle infield at shortstop.
He was San Diego’s starting second baseman in 2002 and starting shortstop in 2003 before falling into a reserve role in 2004.
Vazquez hit .274 with 21 doubles, two home runs and 32 RBIs in 2002, when he started 104 games. He hit .261 with three homers and 30 RBIs in 107 starts in 2003.
“When he plays on a more consistent basis, he has better at-bats,” Roman said.
He signed in Boston in 2005, D-Backs general manager Josh Byrnes’ final season with the Red Sox.
Also Monday, the D-Backs released infielder Jamie D’Antona so that he may sign a contract with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows of Japan’s Central Leagues.
D’Antona hit .176 (3-for-17) with two runs scored and an RBI in 18 games for the D-Backs last season -- his first in the big leagues. D’Antona spent most of the season with Class AAA Tucson, where he hit .365 with 21 home runs, 79 RBIs and 69 runs scored in 110 games.
Originally a second-round selection by Arizona in the 2003 draft, D'Antona is a career .303 hitter in 646 games in the D-Backs’ minor league system.
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