Baseball fans, get ready for a surprising twist in the Arizona Diamondbacks' offseason moves! Just when you thought the roster was set, the D-backs have quietly brought back a familiar face—right-handed reliever John Curtiss—on a minor league deal. But here's where it gets interesting: Curtiss, who was outrighted in November, is now back with the organization, joining the Triple-A Reno Aces alongside lefty Tommy Henry and righty Taylor Rashi. This move raises eyebrows, especially after Curtiss' solid 2025 performance, where he made 30 appearances, notched one save, and posted a respectable 3.93 ERA. Did the D-backs see something in his potential that others missed? And this is the part most people miss: during his first season with Arizona, Curtiss showcased impressive control with a 0.93 WHIP and a minuscule 3.5% walk rate over 36.2 innings. His standout month? August, where he dominated with a 2.12 ERA and a 0.59 WHIP across 12 appearances. But here’s the controversial part: despite his four-pitch arsenal—heavily featuring a four-seam fastball (54%) and cutter (30%)—Curtiss was part of the D-backs' MLB-record 17 relievers to record a save. Is this a sign of bullpen depth or a lack of consistency? Meanwhile, Arizona isn’t stopping there—they’ve reportedly signed free agent Merrill Kelly to bolster their starting rotation and are still hunting for 2026 bullpen depth. So, here’s the question: Is John Curtiss’ return a smart gamble on untapped potential, or a missed opportunity to bring in fresh talent? Let us know your thoughts in the comments! For more updates, follow @pwmoses11 on Twitter and stay tuned as the D-backs continue to reshape their roster.
