The Diamondbacks designated Pavin Smith for assignment on July 9, 2026, opening a five-day window in which the club can trade him or place him on waivers. Arizona recalled Ryan Waldschmidt from Triple-A Reno in the corresponding move.
The transaction comes after a difficult stretch for the Diamondbacks at first base. Smith had been used as the strong side of a first base platoon this season after Arizona traded Josh Naylor at the deadline and did not add another first baseman in the offseason. But the production simply was not there, and the group has been the worst in MLB by far.
Why the move matters
Smith’s DFA marks a major turning point for a player who has been in the organization since Arizona selected him with the 7th overall pick in 2017. That kind of draft pedigree does not guarantee a long runway, but it usually gives a player more chances than most. In Smith’s case, the Diamondbacks are now facing the possibility that this could be the end of nearly a decade in the system.
The timing also reflects how quickly roster decisions can change when a position group is struggling. Arizona went into the year with Smith and others expected to cover first base, but the club never found steady production. Smith’s.210/.253/.303 line across 366 plate appearances made it hard to justify keeping the status quo.
Smith’s recent production
This season was a sharp step back after Smith had shown more offensive value in previous stretches. In 2021, he posted 11 home runs and 27 doubles in his first full big league season, and he later put together a strong stretch in 2024, when he hit nine homers and produced a.270/.348/.547 line in 60 games. He also opened that season with a.258/.362/.434 line across 288 plate appearances before a midseason setback.
In mid-April 2026, Smith underwent surgery to remove loose bodies from his left elbow. That helps explain some of the context around his season, but it does not change the fact that Arizona needed more from the position. Smith had more than 1600 plate appearances over seven seasons with the club, yet the Diamondbacks were still left searching for a clearer answer at first base.
Waldschmidt gets another look
Waldschmidt returns after being optioned to Triple-A in mid-June. He struggled to make contact consistently in his first MLB look, but he has hit well against Triple-A arms. Arizona is now asking him to take on a bigger role as the club tries to get more offense from a spot that has lagged all year.
The move gives the Diamondbacks a fresh look, but it also adds pressure. If Waldschmidt can bring steadier production, the roster shuffle will make sense quickly. If not, Arizona may need another solution before long. For now, though, the message is clear: the Diamondbacks were willing to move on from Pavin Smith to try something different.
Smith’s contract situation also makes the next few days important. He is owed $2.25MM this year, with $950K still tied to a player with five years of service time. Over the next five days, Arizona can work to find a trade partner or wait to see whether another club claims him on waivers.
