The Diamondbacks have released 36-year old lefty swinging 1B/OF Daryle Ward. Ward played in 28 games in AA-ball for the D-Backs this year and he was 27 for 85 (.318 avg, .916 OPS) with 12 runs scored, 2 homers, 18 RBIs and 1 stolen base. He also showed impressive plate discipline as he walked 22 times while only whiffing 9 times in AA. I’m a little bit surprised that the D-Backs cut him loose as he could have helped them as a pinch hitter in September.

The Diamondbacks have released 24-year old righty starting pitcher Wes Roemer. Roemer pitched in 28 games (27 starts) in AA+AAA-ball this year and he was 8-8 with a 4.39 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP. He pitched in 114 games (103 starts) in his first five years in the minors and he is 32-37 with a 4.44 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP. This is not a big loss for the Diamondbacks as Roemer hasn’t shown much improvement as of yet in his minor league career.

20-year old lefty starting pitcher Tyler Skaggs came into this season as the D-Backs’ #3 prospect according to Baseball America. He was the key to the Dan Haren trade with the Angels last year at the trade deadline. Skaggs has pitched in 23 games (all starts) in A+AA-ball so far this year and he is 8-6 with a 3.13 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP. He has only given up 109 hits in his first 132 1/3 innings this year while whiffing 166 batters as he has been overpowering. He has now pitched in 51 games (43 starts) in his first three years in the minors and he is 17-11 with a 3.14 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP. The Diamondbacks might decide to bring him along a little quicker now.

The Diamondbacks have signed 31-year old righty reliever Brian Stokes.  Stokes hasn’t pitched anywhere this year.  He pitched in 16 games (0 starts) for the Angels last year and he was 0-0 with a 8.10 ERA and a 2.52 WHIP.  Stokes has now pitched in 173 games (0 starts) in his first five years in the majors and he is 6-11 with 1 save, a 5.27 ERA and a 1.69 WHIP.  He has always had a strong right arm, so the D-Backs might give him a shot when rosters expand on September 1st, if he looks good in the minors.

The D-Backs have signed 36-year old lefty swinging 1B/OF Daryle Ward to a minor league deal and they have sent him to AA-ball.  Ward last played in the majors in 2008.  Ward has played in 948 games in his first 11 years in the majors and he is 588 for 2,234 (.263 avg, .768 OPS) with 242 runs scored, 90 homers, 379 RBIs and 1 stolen base.  The Diamondbacks will stash Ward at AA and see if he still has anything left.  If he does, the D-Backs might call him up when rosters expand on September 1st.  If he doesn’t have anything left they will just release him.