Diamondbacks sign Jarrod Dyson to 2-year deal

The Diamondbacks have signed veteran outfielder Jarrod Dyson to a two-year contract, per ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick. The deal will pay Dyson a total of $7.5 million, according to Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports.

Dyson, 33, ostensibly replaces the departed Gregor Blanco as Arizona’s fourth outfielder, though he may have a chance to be part of some sort of platoon arrangement with Yasmany Tomas at a corner spot. Dyson has a .267/.332/.372 career slash line against right-handers, compared to a .215/.291/.259 line against lefties, so he could be a good match with Tomas, who is a .299/.349/.548 hitter against lefties compared to a .256/.291/.431 hitter against righties.

Dyson will give Arizona some protection in center field in case A.J. Pollock departs in free agency after the 2018 season, and he provides depth in case any of Pollock, Tomas, or David Peralta — each of whom has spent a lengthy stint on the disabled list at some point over the past two seasons — suffers an injury. His greatest immediate value, however, will come on the basepaths — where he’s swiped at least 20 bags in six straight seasons, including 28 in 2017 — and in the outfield, where he recorded a combined 15 defensive runs saved last year while seeing action in both center and left field.