Vargas started at second base, batted leadoff and went 1-for-5 with a three-run home run in Tuesday's 4-3 win over the Orioles.
Vargas was pressed into duty at second base and the leadoff spot when Ketel Marte (back) was scratched. The utility infielder didn't miss a beat, cracking a three-run home run as part of Arizona's four-run fifth inning. Vargas has hit in all 11 games played thus far, slashing .381/.409/.667 with seven extra-base hits (two home runs) and eight RBI. Marte's injury is not considered serious, and Vargas could move back to first base, where's been a regular fill-in for Pavin Smith (elbow, 60-day IL) and Carlos Santana (thigh).
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Diamondbacks' Ildemaro Vargas: Idle Saturday
Rotowire
Vargas isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against Philadelphia.
Vargas has logged a hit in each of the first eight games he's played in to begin the year, but he'll move to the bench Saturday after making four consecutive starts. Jose Fernandez will replace him at first base and bat fifth.
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Diamondbacks' Ildemaro Vargas: Remains at 1B
Rotowire
Vargas went 1-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored in Friday's 4-1 win over Philadelphia.
Vargas extended a season-opening hit streak to eight games with a run-scoring single in the middle of Arizona's five-run fifth inning. He started at first base again, his third start there in the last four games since Carlos Santana (groin) joined Pavin Smith (elbow) on the 10-day injured list. Vargas has been a serviceable utility player throughout his career, but the 34-year-old's production early in 2026 (.429 AVG, 1.146 OPS) is off the charts.
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Diamondbacks' Ildemaro Vargas: Makes third straight start
Rotowire
Vargas started at first base and went 1-for-4 with a walk, a double and a run scored in Thursday's 7-1 win over the Mets.
Vargas started for the third consecutive game, two at first base sandwiched around one at second. There's a path to playing time for the veteran switch hitter with both Pavin Smith (elbow) and Carlos Santana (groin) on the 10-day injured list, and Vargas has hit safely in all seven games he's played to begin the season, going 11-for-24 (.458) with four extra-base hits and four RBI.
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Diamondbacks' Ildemaro Vargas: Fills in at 1B
Rotowire
Vargas started at first base and went 1-for-5 in Tuesday's 4-3 extra-inning loss to the Mets.
Vargas got the first crack at first base after the Diamondbacks placed Carlos Santana (adductor) on the 10-day injured list Tuesday. Arizona called up Luken Baker to replace Santana, adding another body to a rotation of players that could see time with both Santana and Pavin Smith (elbow) sidelined. in addition to Vargas and Baker, the Diamondbacks could deploy Jose Fernandez and Tim Tawa at first base.
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Diamondbacks' Ildemaro Vargas: Enters for injured teammate
Rotowire
Vargas entered Sunday's game after first baseman Carlos Santana was removed due to a groin injury. Vargas went 1-for-2 with a walk, a triple and two RBI in a 6-5 extra-inning win over Atlanta.
Santana was done for the day in the second inning, and the two players that might normally have filled in at first base -- Jose Fernandez or Tim Tawa -- were already in the starting lineup. As such, manager Torey Lovullo turned to Vargas, who gave Arizona a lift. He tripled in two runs in his first plate appearance in the fourth inning and has hit safely in all four games in which he's played, going 6-for-11 with three extra-base hits and four RBI. Now that both Pavin Smith (elbow) and Santana are on the shelf, manager Torey Lovullo will roll with a rotation at first base that includes Vargas, Fernandez and Tawa.
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Diamondbacks' Ildemaro Vargas: Serves as DH
Rotowire
Vargas went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and an additional run scored in Monday's 9-6 win over Detroit.
Vargas started at designated hitter Monday after the Diamondbacks placed Pavin Smith (elbow) on the 10-day injured list. The switch-hitting Vargas got the assignment against a right-hander, although manager Torey Lovullo typically likes to rotate bodies through the DH spot. Vargas is more experienced at second and third base, but he has played 14 games at first base during his career and could be part of the rotation there along with Carlos Santana and Tim Tawa.
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Diamondbacks' Ildemaro Vargas: Expected to make roster
Rotowire
Vargas is expected to be on Arizona's Opening Day roster, after the team reassigned Jacob Amaya to minor-league camp Sunday, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.
The Amaya transaction seemingly resolves the roster fates of Vargas, Jorge Barrosa and Tim Tawa. Vargas received the news well Sunday, going 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in a Cactus League contest against the Padres. He's batting .378 (17-for-45) with four doubles, two homers and nine RBI over 15 spring games. He's expected to serve as a backup utility infielder along with Tawa, who will also find time in the outfield.
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Diamondbacks' Ildemaro Vargas: Back with D-backs on minors deal
Rotowire
Vargas signed a minor-league contract with the Diamondbacks on Friday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
Vargas spent most of his time at Triple-A Reno this past season but still managed to appear in 38 games for the D-backs, during which he slashed .270/.292/.383 with 19 RBI and 12 runs scored. He'll officially return to the organization to begin the 2026 campaign, although he's expected to remain an organizational depth piece.
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Ildemaro Vargas: Heads to free agency
Rotowire
Vargas elected free agency Thursday.
Vargas recorded 121 plate appearances with the Diamondbacks in 2025 but lost his roster spot as the team had to move several players onto the 40-man roster. His defensive utility should help him land another contract for 2026, though he's hardly guaranteed to net a big-league deal.
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Diamondbacks' Ildemaro Vargas: Absent from lineup
Rotowire
Vargas is not in the lineup for Thursday's tilt against the Dodgers.
Vargas had started each of the previous four contests at first base, but he'll begin Thursday's festivities on the bench. Tim Tawa is handling first base and batting eighth for the Diamondbacks in the series finale.
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Diamondbacks' Ildemaro Vargas: Supplies winning hit
Rotowire
Vargas started at first base and went 2-for-4 with an RBI in Saturday's 4-3 win over the Phillies.
Vargas delivered a two-out, run-scoring single in the sixth inning to plate the eventual game-winning run. Since Pavin Smith (quadriceps) and Tyler Locklear (elbow) landed on the injured list, Vargas has helped fill the void at first base, making five starts there in Arizona's last 11 games. He's hit safely in 10 of his last 11 appearances (nine starts), going 12-for-35 (.343) with one home run and eight RBI during that stretch.
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Diamondbacks' Ildemaro Vargas: Resting Saturday
Rotowire
Vargas isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against Minnesota.
After collecting a base hit in each of his last four games, Vargas will receive a day to rest while Tim Tawa starts at first base for the Diamondbacks.
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Diamondbacks' Ildemaro Vargas: Enters for injured teammate
Rotowire
Vargas entered Wednesday's game in seventh inning to play second base after Ketel Marte left with a foot injury. Vargas singled in his lone plate appearance.
Imaging on Marte's foot came back negative, and the Diamondbacks are hoping he'll be ready to go for the series in Minnesota that begins Friday. Vargas remains on hand if needed, as are Blaze Alexander and Tim Tawa.
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Diamondbacks' Ildemaro Vargas: Not in Wednesday's lineup
Rotowire
Vargas is not in the lineup for Wednesday's contest in San Francisco.
Vargas started the previous two games at first base as the Diamondbacks scramble to fill the position following injuries to Pavin Smith (quadriceps) and Tyler Locklear (elbow), but Vargas will take a seat in Wednesday's series finale. Tim Tawa is handling first base and batting eighth as Arizona tries to avoid the sweep.
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Diamondbacks' Ildemaro Vargas: Handles first base
Rotowire
Vargas started at first base and went 1-for-4 with a run scored in Monday's 11-5 loss to the Giants.
Vargas received the start at first base in the first game without the injured Tyler Locklear (elbow), who placed on the 10-day injured list Monday. The Diamondbacks are now without their top two first basemen, as Locklear joins Pavin Smith (quadriceps) on the IL. Arizona is expected to get by with a combination of Vargas, Tim Tawa and James McCann.
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Diamondbacks' Ildemaro Vargas: Clubs three-run homer
Rotowire
Vargas went 2-for-4 with a three-run home run in Friday's 10-5 win over the Red Sox.
Vargas has gone deep twice over his last five games, giving him three homers on the year. He's also racked up 10 RBI over his last eight contests as he continues to get a chance to play semi-regularly as the Diamondbacks have faced five southpaws over their last eight games. Through 65 plate appearances this season, Vargas has a .254/.262/.460 slash line. The switch hitter figures to continue filling a utility role for the remainder of the season.
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Diamondbacks' Ildemaro Vargas: Boosts lead with homer
Rotowire
Vargas went 2-for-4 with a three-run home run in Saturday's 6-1 win over the Dodgers.
Vargas logged his first multi-hit effort since his Aug. 18 return from a foot injury. He's gone 5-for-23 with two extra-base hits and six RBI over his last eight contests, and his homer Saturday was just his second of the year. The infielder has added a .255/.269/.451 slash line with 10 RBI, six runs scored, two doubles, one triple and no stolen bases across 52 plate appearances. Vargas remains in a part-time role, though he has multiple paths into the lineup due to his defensive versatility.
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Diamondbacks' Ildemaro Vargas: Delivers two runs in win
Rotowire
Vargas started at designated hitter and went 1-for-4 with two RBI in Thursday's 6-4 win over the Brewers.
Vargas recorded one of the Diamondbacks' two hits with runners in scoring position, delivering a bases-loaded single in the second inning. He's played sporadically since coming off the injured list last week, but there may be more opportunities for him as the DH with Pavin Smith (quadriceps) unavailable.
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Diamondbacks' Ildemaro Vargas: Set to begin rehab assignment
Rotowire
Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said that Vargas (foot) will begin a rehab assignment Tuesday with Triple-A Reno, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports.
Vargas will likely remain on assignment with Reno through the weekend before potentially returning from the 10-day injured list Aug. 18 for the start of Arizona's six-game homestand. Arizona may give Vargas to exposure to multiple infield spots during his time in the minors, but the 34-year-old could end up seeing most of his opportunities at third base once he's reinstated. Since Vargas landed on the IL on June 25 due to a fractured fifth metatarsal on his left foot, the Diamondbacks traded away Eugenio Suarez, which has opened the door for Blaze Alexander to see the bulk of the starts at the hot corner.
