Atlanta reassigned Widener to minor-league camp Thursday.
Widener logged 49 appearances in the majors with the Diamondbacks between the 2020 and 2022 seasons before making a one-year stop in the Korea Baseball Organization in 2023 with the Samsung Lions. After compiling a 4.54 ERA and 1.32 WHIP over 115 innings for the Lions, Widener returned stateside this offseason, settling for a minor-league deal with Atlanta. As anticipated, Widener fell short in his bid for Atlanta's Opening Day roster, so he'll likely open the 2024 season as a member of the Triple-A Gwinnett rotation.
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Braves' Taylor Widener: Gets minors contract from ATL
Rotowire
Widener signed a minor-league contract with Atlanta on Dec. 11.
Widener is headed back stateside after a one-season stint in the Korea Baseball Organization. The 29-year-old right-hander will likely open the 2024 campaign at Triple-A Gwinnett.
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Taylor Widener: Headed to Korea
Rotowire
Widener signed with the NC Dinos of Korea on Tuesday, Jee-ho Yoo of the Yonhap News Agency reports.
Widener will be paid $743,000 to head overseas after being removed from the Diamondbacks' 40-man roster earlier this month. The 28-year-old holds a 4.26 ERA and 1.44 WHIP across 49 appearances -- 13 starts -- at the major-league level.
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Diamondbacks' Taylor Widener: Clears waivers
Rotowire
Widener was outrighted to Triple-A Reno on Jan. 5 after clearing waivers.
The 28-year-old right-hander thus remains in the Arizona organization after being recently moved off the 40-man roster. Widener made 14 appearances out of the Diamondbacks bullpen in 2022, logging a 3.63 ERA and 1.56 WHIP in 17.1 innings.
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Diamondbacks' Taylor Widener: Designated for assignment
Rotowire
Widener was designated for assignment by Arizona on Friday.
The 28-year-old reliever recorded a career-best 3.63 ERA alongside a 1.56 WHIP through 17.1 major-league frames last season. He dominated against left-handed batters -- they hit just .087 off Widener in 2022 -- though righties were able to hit him around quite a bit (.392 AVG). There's a good chance Widener gets claimed by another team, where he could still serve as a serviceable bullpen option in 2023.
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Diamondbacks' Taylor Widener: Recalled to big leagues
Rotowire
Widener was recalled from Triple-A Reno on Friday.
This will mark Widener's fourth major-league stint this season, with his last appearance coming all the way back on June 6. He's given up five earned runs over 4.2 innings for Arizona in 2022, and in Triple-A he holds a 5.40 ERA and 1.44 WHIP. Tommy Henry was optioned to Triple-A Reno in a corresponding move.
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Diamondbacks' Taylor Widener: Optioned to Triple-A
Rotowire
Widener was optioned to Triple-A Reno on Wednesday.
Widener was called up by Arizona on Monday, but he didn't appear in any games during his time on the active roster. He'll head back to the minors after Tommy Henry's contract was selected Wednesday.
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Diamondbacks' Taylor Widener: Recalled from Reno
Rotowire
Widener was recalled from Triple-A Reno on Monday.
The Diamondbacks had an open roster spot after trading fellow pitcher Luke Weaver, so they decided to bring up Widener from the minor-league ranks.
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Diamondbacks' Taylor Widener: Sent down Tuesday
Rotowire
Widener was optioned to Triple-A Reno on Tuesday.
Widener rejoined the Diamondbacks' bullpen Friday, but he'll head back to the minors after he gave up three runs on four hits and a walk while striking out one in 1.2 innings Monday against the Reds. Left-hander Tyler Gilbert was recalled to start Tuesday's game in Cincinnati.
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Diamondbacks' Taylor Widener: Recalled by Arizona
Rotowire
Widener was recalled from Triple-A Reno on Friday.
Widener was sent to Reno in early May, but he'll rejoin the big-league club after spending just over a month in the minors. He's allowed two runs in three innings over three relief appearances for the Diamondbacks in 2022.
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Diamondbacks' Taylor Widener: Optioned to Triple-A
Rotowire
Widener was optioned to Triple-A Reno on Monday.
The reliever was moved as a result of the Diamondbacks' active roster dropping from 28 to 26 players Monday. Widener has appeared in three games this season, surrendering two runs on five hits and a walk while striking out two batters over three innings. The 27-year-old will likely get another shot in the big leagues at some point this season.
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Diamondbacks' Taylor Widener: Recalled from Triple-A
Rotowire
Widener was recalled from Triple-A Reno on Sunday.
The 27-year-old missed out on Arizona's Opening Day roster but will join the team Sunday with Humberto Castellanos heading to the paternity list. Widener started in 13 of 23 appearances for Arizona last year and had a 4.35 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 73:37 K:BB over 70.1 innings, but he should fill a low-leverage role out of the bullpen this time around.
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Diamondbacks' Taylor Widener: Sent to Triple-A
Rotowire
Widener was optioned to Triple-A Reno on Saturday.
Widener recorded a 4.35 ERA in 70.1 innings as a swingman last season, but his FIP came in at 5.56 thanks in part to an 11.6 percent walk rate. He'll be an option when the Diamondbacks need more pitching depth but will have to make his case for playing time at the Triple-A level for now.
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Diamondbacks' Taylor Widener: Works two innings in start
Rotowire
Widener allowed one run on four hits while striking out two over two innings in Thursday's spring training game against the Brewers.
Widener, who split time between the Diamondbacks' rotation and bullpen in 2021, started Thursday's game and has an outside chance for the No. 5 starter job. Arizona's signing of Zach Davies earlier this week appears to make him the frontrunner, but if Davies and/or Zac Gallen (shoulder) aren't ready for the first week of the season, there could be a slot for Widener -- or several other candidates also being stretched out.
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Diamondbacks' Taylor Widener: Moving to bullpen
Rotowire
Widener is moving to the bullpen, Jose M. Romero of the Arizona Republic reports.
Widener's turn in the rotation is due this weekend, but he won't be making the start. It's unclear who will fill in, but Merrill Kelly (COVID-19 protocols) is an option. "We had a discussion with him and we feel at this point and time ... we want to see what others can do," Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said. "That's one part of it. The other part of it is, we want to manage his work load a little bit. He's come off of two stints on the IL and we want to give him the ability to go in the bullpen and catch his breath a little bit." Widener has a 4.28 ERA and 1.39 WHIP over 13 starts this season.
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Diamondbacks' Taylor Widener: Gives up two runs in no-decision
Rotowire
Widener allowed two runs on five hits and three walks while striking out four in five innings in Friday's loss to the Phillies. He didn't factor into the decision.
Widener lasted five innings for a fourth consecutive outing, but he's settled for no-decisions in three of those four appearances. However, the right-hander has been much more effective recently after he gave up five runs in each of his first three outings after the All-Star break. He's posted a 2.70 ERA in 20 innings across his last four outings and tentatively lines up to make his next start at home against the Padres on Wednesday.
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Diamondbacks' Taylor Widener: Claims second win
Rotowire
Widener improved to 2-1 after limiting the Rockies to one run over five innings Sunday in Arizona's 8-4 victory. He allowed one hit and issued five walks while striking out five.
A five-walk start usually spells disaster for a pitcher at Coors Field, but Widener was able to skirt damage on balls in play to help Arizona ends its seven-game losing streak in Colorado. Though he's been able to bring his season ERA down to 4.34 after turning in back-to-back five-inning, one-run outings, Widener's .095 BABIP, 4.9 K-BB% and 94.3 percent strand rate between those starts are all metrics that suggest he benefited from some incredible good fortune. Fantasy managers shouldn't bet on Widener coming out of his upcoming start next weekend in Philadelphia unscathed.
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Diamondbacks' Taylor Widener: No-decision through five innings
Rotowire
Widener didn't factor into the decision Tuesday against the Phillies after tossing five innings of one-run ball, giving up two hits and three walks while fanning five.
Widener might have issued three free passes, but he still tossed over 60 percent of his pitches for strikes and limited the damage to just one run. The right-hander has given up two or fewer runs in each of his last two starts, but the issues with the long ball remain -- he's now given up at least one homer in six straight starts.
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Diamondbacks' Taylor Widener: Set to start Tuesday
Rotowire
Widener (illness) was activated from the injured list to start Tuesday's game against the Phillies.
Widener was scratched from his scheduled start Thursday and placed on the shelf due to cold-like symptoms, and his quick return confirms he was on the COVID-19 IL. The right-hander shouldn't face any significant limitations after missing less than a full turn through the rotation.
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Diamondbacks' Taylor Widener: Scratched as precaution
Rotowire
Widener was experiencing cold-like symptoms and did not report to Thursday's game against the Padres as a precaution, Zach Buchanan of The Athletic reports.
Widener was lined up to start Thursday's game but was instead scratched and placed on the injured list. It's unclear whether Widener was placed on the COVID-19 injured list -- in which case he can be activated once clearing protocols -- or the 10-day injured list. If the latter, he will be out until at least Aug. 22, meaning the team will likely have to fill his rotation spot for at least one turn.
