Position: 1B/3B
Height: 6’3”
Weight: 215 lbs
Bats/Throws: L/R
Born: 10/09/1990
College: University of Washington
How Acquired: Minor League Free Agent
Bonus: $161,000
40-man Roster: No
Rule 5 Eligible: Yes
Minor League Free Agency: 2024
Options Left: N/A
Overview
Lamb had two strong seasons as the third baseman for Arizona in 2016-17, totaling 59 home runs and 196 RBIs. A series of shoulder problems, though, culminated in rotator cuff surgery in 2018, and his hitting has never been the same since. He bounced around with numerous teams, each evidently wanting to see whether he can recover. The D’backs drafted him in the sixth round in 2012 as an athletic infielder with plus power. Both UZR and OAA see him as average or below defensively. He has some experience at first. Lamb’s speed is a little below average. Over his career, he’s had a large platoon split, posting a .789 OPS against RHPs and .592 against LHPs. The Pirates signed Lamb to a minor league deal for 2023.
2012-14
Lamb reached the majors quickly. He hammered the pitching in advanced rookie ball in 2012 and in High Class A in 2013. In 2014, he hit 318/399/551 in AA and moved up to AAA for five games at the beginning of August. Arizona called him up for the final two months of the season and he just held his own.
2015-19
Lamb took over the Arizona third base job in 2015 and hit respectably, with a .717 OPS. He had his big years in 2016 and 2017, putting up nearly identical numbers each year: 249/332/509, then 248/358/487. He struck out a lot, 306 times total, but also had good walk rates.
The injuries really started in 2018. He missed about six weeks early in the season with a left AC joint sprain, then went on the injured list in July with a shoulder contusion. He was eventually transferred to the 60-day IL and didn’t return. In 2019, Lamb missed much of the first half with a left quad strain. When he played, he put up OPS figures of .655 and .676.
2020-23
In the abbreviated 2020 season, Lamb played sporadically for Arizona and went just 5-for-43. The D’backs released him in September and Oakland signed him to a major league deal. He put up an .882 OPS in 13 games with the A’s. Lamb became a free agent after the season and signed for $1M with Atlanta, but he had a rough spring and the Braves released him at the end of March. He signed two days later with the White Sox. He spent most of the season with them, playing sporadically and also missing several weeks with a quad strain. Lamb bounced back a little with the bat, hitting 212/321/389. The White Sox put him on waivers at the beginning of September and Toronto claimed him. He went just 4-for-31 with the Jays.
The Dodgers signed Lamb to a minor league deal for 2022. They called him up in June, then sent him to Seattle for cash about five weeks later. The Mariners released him in late September. In 77 plate appearances with the Dodgers, Lamb hit a little more like his pre-injury self, with a .771 OPS. He went 5-for-30 with the Mariners.
The Angels signed Lamb to a minor league deal for 2023. He made the team out of spring training, but hit just 216/259/353 and the Angels optioned him to AAA in mid-May. He put up a .945 OPS there, over 34 games. The Angels released him anyway at the beginning of July and he signed a minor league deal with the Yankees two weeks later. Lamb spent the rest of the season in AAA with the Yankees, posting an .823 OPS.
2024
The Pirates signed Lamb to a minor league deal for 2024 and he spent much of the season as the primary first baseman for Indianapolis. He hit very well in the early going, putting up a .982 OPS in April. He tailed off after that. The team released him in mid-June pursuant to his opt-out rights, then ten days later re-signed him to another minor league deal. He finished the season with Indy, batting 264/350/393 for the year, leaving him with an OPS that was 19 points below the league average.
Stats
Transactions
June 11, 2009: Drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 38th round, 1135th overall pick.
June 5, 2012: Drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 6th round, 213th overall pick; signed on June 9.
August 7, 2014: Contract purchased by the Arizona Diamondbacks.
September 12, 2020: Released by the Arizona Diamondbacks.
September 14, 2020: Signed as a free agent by the Oakland Athletics.
October 28, 2020: Became a free agent.
February 23, 2021: Signed as a free agent by the Atlanta Braves.
March 28, 2021: Released by the Atlanta Braves.
March 30, 2021: Signed as a free agent by the Chicago White Sox.
September 3, 2021: Claimed off waivers from the Chicago White Sox by the Toronto Blue Jays.
September 29, 2021: Released by the Toronto Blue Jays.
March 18, 2022: Signed as a minor league free agent by the Los Angeles Dodgers.
June 28, 2022: Called up by the Los Angeles Dodgers.
August 2, 2022: Traded by the Los Angeles Dodgers to the Seattle Mariners for cash considerations.
September 24, 2022: Released by the Seattle Mariners.
December 19, 2022: Signed as a minor league free agent by the Los Angeles Angels.
March 29, 2023: Called up by the Los Angeles Angels.
July 1, 2023: Released by the Los Angeles Angels.
July 14, 2023: Signed as a minor league free agent by the New York Yankees.
November 6, 2023: Became a free agent.
December 21, 2023: Signed as a minor league free agent by the Pittsburgh Pirates.
June 18, 2024: Released by the Pittsburgh Pirates.
June 28, 2024: Signed as a minor league free agent by the Pittsburgh Pirates.