Diamondbacks release outfielder Josh Reddick

The Diamondbacks announced they’ve released veteran outfielder Josh Reddick. He had been designated for assignment last week.

A release was the anticipated outcome once Arizona bumped Reddick from the 40-man roster. The 34-year-old has more than enough big-league service to reject an outright assignment, and the rebuilding Diamondbacks are long past focusing on the 2021 season. Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic wrote last week that Reddick’s designation was part of a broader organizational plan to give some more run to younger players as the front office looks for more information about who could comprise the Diamondbacks' core in future years.

Upon clearing release waivers, Reddick will be free to sign elsewhere. He’ll presumably be looking at minor-league offers, as he settled for a minors pact over the offseason before being selected to Arizona’s big-league club in late May. He struggled to the worst offensive showing of his career — .258/.285/.371 over 158 plate appearances — in the desert.

Nevertheless, Reddick figures to find decent interest from other clubs willing to offer him a Triple-A opportunity. The left-handed hitter has generally been a productive player over the course of his career, and he posted league average offensive numbers between 2018-20. If Reddick signs elsewhere on or before Aug. 31, he’d be eligible for a new team’s postseason roster.