Diamondbacks sign INF Elvis Andrus to minor league deal

Veteran infielder Elvis Andrus signed a minor league deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday.

The contract includes an invitation to spring training.

Andrus, 35, is a two-time All-Star with 2,091 career hits over 15 major league seasons. He has been a shortstop most of his career but did play 63 games (60 starts) at second base last season for the Chicago White Sox.

"I've always been a fan of Elvis, plays the game hard, he plays the game right, he's been doing it at a very high level from a very young age," Arizona manager Torey Lovullo told reporters Sunday.

"So the fact he was available and we can bring somebody we feel like still has good baseball left in him into the fold here to go out and compete is very exciting. Getting a chance to meet him for the first time was exciting for me. I'm a baseball fan, and he's been a proven winner. He's been a proven good player and just wanted to pick his brain and talk for a few minutes."

The Diamondbacks are looking for a backup middle infielder to play behind 2023 All-Star shortstop Geraldo Perdomo and second baseman Ketel Marte, a 2019 All-Star who was a postseason hero last season when the Diamondbacks reached the World Series.

Andrus batted .251 with six homers and 44 RBIs in 112 games for the White Sox last season.

Andrus has a .269 career average with 102 homers and 775 RBIs in 2,059 games with the Texas Rangers (2009-20), Oakland Athletics (2021-22) and the White Sox (2022-23). His 347 career steals lead all active major league players.