Diamondbacks Free Agent Discussion #10: Chris Stewart

Christ Stewart was acquired on August 31st from the Atlanta Braves for cash consideration. Stewart had only 16 plate appearances for the Braves this year, and appeared in just five games, with the bulk of his playing time coming in AAA. Stewart was 3 for 14 with a walk for the Braves this year, and was hitting .219/.299/.277 in 156 PAs. Stewart played in a mere three games for the Diamondbacks this year, and struck out in his lone plate appearance.

In 12 seasons, Stewart is a career .230/.297/.291 hitter, but does have a reputation for providing serviceable defense. Stewart could play a role as a third catcher next year, if the team chooses to carry three catchers again, or he could latch on to a minor league deal and serve as added depth in case of an injury. Regardless, Stewart will likely latch on to a team with a minor league deal once again.

To be honest, I not only had no idea that Chris Stewart played for the Diamondbacks this year, but I also had no idea what position he played. (For some reason I thought he was a pitcher?). After looking up his stats, the one plate appearance definitely relegates him to “forgettable D-back” status, but where does he rank in all time forgettable D-back hitters? Looking up all time D-back stats and sorting by plate appearances, Stewart joins two other D-backs who had just one plate appearance with the team, Ken Huckaby and Juan Sosa, both who played in 2001.

There are a few other contenders who received more plate appearances, but played in equal or less games. Gerald Laird played in two games with the D-backs back in 2015, and like Stewart, Huckaby, and Sosa was hitless and walkless. Bobby Wilson played two games in 2014 and Jason Smith two games in 2007, both going 1 for 4.

There is one final contender for this list, Tyler Graham, who appeared in ten games and received only two plate appearance. Graham appeared mostly as late inning defensive replacement or pinch runner, which explains both the one run he scored and the caught stealing. Jack Cust should be on this list, given that he received just three plate appearances in his time with the D-backs, but he’s probably the most memorable out of any of those guys. Albeit more for what he did thereafter, including a 33 homer season for the Athletics in 2008.

What do you think? Should the Diamondbacks re-sign Chris Stewart? And just how forgettable do you think Chris Stewart’s stint with Arizona was, among the all-time forgettable D-backs?