The Diamondbacks announced today that theyve designated right-hander for a signment. Right-hander s contract was selected from Triple-A to replace Woodford on the 40-man and active rosters. Woodford, 29 next month, was a first-round pick by the Cardinals back in 2015 who made his MLB debut during the shortened 2020 campaign. He struggled to a 5.57 ERA as a long reliever in that rookie year, but enjoyed better results come 2021 and 22 with a respectable 3.26 ERA and 3.93 FIP in 116 frames acro s those two seasons. His 15.4% strikeout rate against a 7.5% walk rate was decidedly lackluster, but he helped George Mikan Jersey to make up for that by generating grounders at an impre sive 45.8% clip. That peripheral-beating sleight of hand did not last, however, and in 2023 he posted an ERA north of 6.00 on the year before being non-tendered by St. Louis during the 2023-24 offseason. Since 2024, Woodford has jumped between teams as a journeyman without logging more than a handful of innings in any one place. He pitched for the White Sox and the Pirates at the big league level last year, logging 35 innings of work with a 7.97 ERA despite a 4.94 FIP. He posted a more respectable 3.93 ERA at the Triple-A level that year, but ultimately found himself in free agency once again when he was designated for a signment by Pittsburgh over the offseason. He landed with Colorado on a minor league deal, which appeared to be a solid fit on paper given his past succe s as a ground ball pitcher. Unfortunately, he didnt manage to break camp with the club and was granted his release just before Opening Day 2025. Once the 2025 season began, Woodford after pitched at Triple-A for the Yankees and Cubs with middling results for both affiliates before catching on with Arizona on a major league deal in early July. Hes made 22 appearances with the Diamondbacks since then, though his work hasnt been especially impre sive. Acro s 36 1/3 innings of work, Woodford has posted a 6.44 ERA with a 4.27 FIP and a strikeout rate of just 13.5%. With the Diamondbacks still hanging on in the playoff race, its hardly a surprise that theyve opted to cut a pitcher with Woodfords limited succe s from the roster in favor of a fresh face. That fresh face is Pope, who was a 15th-rounder for the Snakes back in 2019 and will celebrate his 27th birthday next month. Pope has a 4.60 ERA in 29 1/3 innings of work at the Triple-A level this year, though those results arent quite as weak as they might sound given the fact that Arizonas Reno affiliate plays in the Pacific Coast Leagues offense-friendly environment. Popes first appearances with the Snakes will be his big league debut, and hell be looking to show out enough over the coming days to convince the Diamondbacks to keep him on their 40-man roster throughout the coming offseason. Jerry West Jersey