Diamondbacks' Ildemaro Vargas: Cleared to return from 10-day IL
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Arizona reinstated Vargas (foot) from the 10-day injured list Monday.
Vargas has fully recovered from a fractured fifth metatarsal in his right foot that landed him on the 10-day IL in late June. He recorded a hit in each of his last three rehab games with Triple-A Reno, going 3-for-11 (.273) with two runs, one triple and one RBI over that span. Vargas will likely serve in a depth role in the infield upon his return, though he could get starts at third base in games which Blaze Alexander is out of the lineup.
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Diamondbacks' Ildemaro Vargas: Rehabbing in Reno
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Vargas (foot) began a rehab assignment at Triple-A Reno on Tuesday and is 0-for-6 with a walk over two games for the Aces.
Vargas played third base for seven innings Tuesday and followed up with a full game as the designated hitter Wednesday prior to getting Thursday off. With the Diamondbacks playing out the string, Vargas is not expected to have a significant role for the club over the final weeks of the regular season.
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Diamondbacks' Ildemaro Vargas: Set to begin rehab assignment
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Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said that Vargas (foot) will begin a rehab assignment Tuesday with Triple-A Reno, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports.
Vargas will likely remain on assignment with Reno through the weekend before potentially returning from the 10-day injured list Aug. 18 for the start of Arizona's six-game homestand. Arizona may give Vargas to exposure to multiple infield spots during his time in the minors, but the 34-year-old could end up seeing most of his opportunities at third base once he's reinstated. Since Vargas landed on the IL on June 25 due to a fractured fifth metatarsal on his left foot, the Diamondbacks traded away Eugenio Suarez, which has opened the door for Blaze Alexander to see the bulk of the starts at the hot corner.
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Diamondbacks' Ildemaro Vargas: Goes on IL with fractured foot
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The Diamondbacks placed Vargas on the 10-day injured list Wednesday with a fractured fifth metatarsal in his right foot.
Vargas suffered the injury in Tuesday's game versus the White Sox when he was hit by a pitch. He's been fitted with a walking boot and will miss the next several weeks of action. Blaze Alexander was called up from Triple-A Reno to absorb Vargas' spot on the roster.
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Diamondbacks' Ildemaro Vargas: In walking boot
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Vargas (foot) left Rate Field in a walking boot Tuesday and will be placed on the 10-day injured list, MLB.com reports.
Vargas was hit by a pitch on his right foot and suffered a fractured fifth metatarsal. He started at third base in place of the injured Eugenio Suarez (foot) and was replaced by Tim Tawa. The Diamondbacks have not estimated a timeframe for Vargas' return, while Suarez had his hand in a wrap and will undergo an MRI once the swelling subsides, per Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports.
Vargas was removed from Tuesday's game against the White Sox with a fractured fifth metatarsal in his right foot.
Vargas took a pitch off his foot during the second inning of Tuesday's contest but remained in the game until the fourth. A trip to the injured list is likely in the 33-year-old's future, though there's currently no telling how long he'll be sidelined.
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Diamondbacks' Ildemaro Vargas: Fills in at third base
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Vargas went 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored in Monday's 10-0 win over the White Sox.
Vargas entered the game in the bottom of the first inning after Eugenio Suarez was hit on the hand in the top of frame. X-rays of Suarez's hand came back negative, but it would not be a shock if he's held back Tuesday. This was the fourth consecutive appearance for Vargas, who started the previous three games while giving both Suarez and second baseman Ketel Marte a break from the field. Vargas has hit safely in all four contests, going 7-for-17 with three extra-base hits, three RBI and three runs scored.
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Diamondbacks' Ildemaro Vargas: Joins homer party in win
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Vargas started at second base and went 3-for-5 with a double, a home run, three RBI and two additional runs scored in Friday's 14-8 win over Colorado.
Vargas' two-run homer in the fifth inning snapped a 7-7 tie. It was the first home run of the season for Vargas, who was summoned from Triple-A Reno on May 29. Friday's start was just his fourth start (sixth appearance) in 20 games with the Diamondbacks.
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Diamondbacks' Ildemaro Vargas: Back with Snakes on MLB deal
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Vargas signed a major-league contract with the Diamondbacks on Thursday, John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 FM Phoenix reports.
Vargas opted out of his minor-league deal with Arizona on Tuesday but will now return to the organization on a big-league deal, replacing Jordan Lawlar on the MLB roster. The 33-year-old utility man slashed .261/.330/.397 across 221 plate appearances during his time in Triple-A and will give the D-backs extra depth at every infield position. He's also capable of playing in left field.
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Ildemaro Vargas: Headed for free agency
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Vargas opted out of his minor-league contract with the Diamondbacks on Tuesday and became a free agent, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
Vargas had attended spring training with Arizona as a non-roster invitee before reporting to Triple-A Reno after being informed that he wouldn't be included on the Diamondbacks' Opening Day roster. Despite producing a respectable .261/.330/.397 slash line to go with five home runs and four steals over his 221 plate appearances at Reno, Vargas was passed over for a promotion to the big club in favor of younger options in Tim Tawa and Jordan Lawlar when the Diamondbacks had needs for utility infielders. The 33-year-old Vargas shouldn't have too much difficulty landing a minor-league deal elsewhere with an organization that can present him with a clearer path to getting another look in the majors at some point later on this season.
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Diamondbacks' Ildemaro Vargas: Assigned to minor-league camp
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The Diamondbacks reassigned Vargas to minor-league camp on Sunday, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.
Vargas competed for the final bench spot on the roster but lost out to Garrett Hampson due to the latter's positional versatility. Hampson's ability to play three infield positions, all three outfield spots and his speed/baserunning advantage won out.
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Diamondbacks' Ildemaro Vargas: Pushes for roster spot
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Vargas started at shortstop and went 3-for-4 with two doubles, one RBI and two runs scored in Saturday's spring game against San Francisco.
Vargas is making manager Torey Lovullo's decision difficult as the Cactus League wraps up. He and Garrett Hampson are vying for a utility role, as the manager decides on an Opening Day roster. Saturday's three-hit effort followed up a 4-for-5 output Thursday, when Vargas started at second base. Entering Sunday, he's batting .375 with six doubles, two home runs, 10 RBI, 10 runs scored and one stolen base. Hampson, who started in center field Saturday, is batting .300 through 17 Cactus League contests.
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Diamondbacks' Ildemaro Vargas: NRI deal with Arizona
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The Diamondbacks signed Vargas to a minor-league contract Tuesday that includes an invitation to spring training, Aram Leighton of Just Baseball reports.
Vargas was non-tendered by the Nationals last month after he slashed just .246/.295/.316 in 2024. The 33-year-old first reached the majors with the Diamondbacks in 2017 and has spent parts of five seasons in the big leagues with Arizona. Vargas has a shot to win a utility job with the Diamondbacks.
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Ildemaro Vargas: Becomes free agent
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Vargas elected free agency Monday, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.
Vargas played quite a bit for the Nationals the last couple years, but he slashed just .246/.295/.316 in 2024 and the club didn't want to pay him a raise in arbitration. The utility player will hit the free-agent market rather than accepting an outright assignment.
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Nationals' Ildemaro Vargas: Fills in for resting Garcia
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Vargas will start at third base and bat eighth in Wednesday's game against Atlanta.
Vargas has now picked up just two starts through the Nationals' first nine games of the month, with both coming against left-handed pitchers. He'll be filling in Wednesday for Luis Garcia, who will cede the keystone to Jose Tena while Vargas covers Tena's usual spot in the infield.
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Nationals' Ildemaro Vargas: Sitting in second straight
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Vargas is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Angels.
After making five consecutive starts, Vargas now finds himself on the bench for the second day in a row, with both absences coming against right-handed pitching. Though the Nationals optioned Vargas' main competition for playing time at third base, Trey Lipscomb, to Triple-A Rochester on Saturday, the club called up Jose Tena in a corresponding move. Tena will get his second straight start at the hot corner Sunday and looks like he'll be given a look as an everyday player while Vargas shifts to a utility role.
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Nationals' Ildemaro Vargas: Back in bench role
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Vargas is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cardinals.
Vargas picked up five straight starts in the infield between last Sunday and Thursday, but he benefited largely from Washington facing three left-handed pitchers over that stretch. He'll now hit the bench for the third game in a row, with a right-hander taking the hill for the opposition in each of those contests.
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Nationals' Ildemaro Vargas: Nabs fifth steal
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Vargas went 2-for-4 with a run scored, an RBI and a stolen base in Sunday's win over the Guardians.
Getting another start at shortstop in place of CJ Abrams (shoulder) and batting ninth, Vargas swiped his fifth bag of the season in a productive afternoon. Abrams could be back in the lineup as soon as Monday against the Mets, bumping Vargas back to the bench, but the veteran utility player has been effective when called upon this season, slashing .288/.368/.385 through 120 plate appearances.
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Nationals' Ildemaro Vargas: Swipes fourth bag
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Vargas went 1-for-3 with a run scored and a stolen base in Wednesday's win over Atlanta.
The 32-year-old utility player began the game on the bench but took over at third base when Nick Senzel fouled a ball off his knee in the second inning. Vargas has posted career-best numbers to begin this season, slashing .298/.383/.404 through 109 plate appearances with four steals, seven RBI and 11 runs. If Senzel misses any time, Vargas would be the next man up at the hot corner.
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Nationals' Ildemaro Vargas: On base four times Monday
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Vargas went 1-for-2 with three walks, a double, a run scored and two RBI in Monday's win over the Giants.
Getting the start at shortstop with CJ Abrams (finger) sidelined, Vargas continued a hot start to the season that has seen him go 7-for-20 (.350) with three doubles, three RBI, three runs, a stolen base and an impressive 5:2 BB:K. The 32-year-old utility player has already seen action at four different positions this season -- four games at second base, three at shortstop, and one each at third base and left field -- and even once Abrams returns to the lineup, Vargas might see more playing time than expected as long as he's contributing at the plate.
