Overview
- Rating: 2.53
- 2025 stats: 2 G, 2.2 IP, 3.38 ERA, 0.89 FIP, 0.0 bWAR (all stats AZ only)
- Date of birth: May 15, 1993 (age 32 season)
- 2025 earnings: Minor-league contract
- 2026 status: Born free, as free as the wind blows.
2025 review
I’m somewhat impressed that Getty Images had as many as two (2) pictures of Richards in a D-backs uniform, with which to illustrate this article. After all, he only appeared in two (2) games for Arizona,
over a three-day span, both against the Houston Astros. Trevor did spend a total of eight (8) days on the major-league roster, streaking across the firmament at Chase Field like a meteor, before departing the collective consciousness and returning whence he came. Which would be Reno. But he can now cross the Diamondbacks off, becoming the seventh team for which Richards has played since his debut in 2018.
He wasn’t actually drafted, but was signed out of independent ball by the Marlins, after playing a year and a half for the Gateway Grizzlies of the independent Frontier League. Richards actually grew up nearby, and went to Grizzlies games as a kid – after he reached big leagues, they had a bobblehead night for him in 2018 (below). Since debuting for Miami that same year, outduelling Clayton Kershaw in April, he has been a bit of a trade chip, being part of four separate deals. These included the one which brought Rowdy Tellez to the Brewers, and another which involved future Diamondback J.P. Fayer… Fyre… Oh, this guy.
Most of his career work has come over four seasons in Toronto, including a scoreless inning in the 2022 Wild Card series against Seattle. They traded him to the Twins at the 2024 deadline for a minor-leaguer, and Trevor hit free-agency last winter. He joined the first of three organizations for whom he appeared this year, when he signed a minor-league deal with the Cubs in January. He did not make the team out of spring training, and was released at the beginning of May, hooking up with the Royals a few days later. His stay there was not great: seven hits, two walks and three wild pitches in three innings, leading to four earned runs, and he left them on June 13.
But again, he was unemployed for less than a week, before becoming a Diamondback on a minor-league deal. After an ugly start for Reno, including a six-run inning in his second appearance, he settled down, allowing one earned run over 9.1 innings before getting called up. That came just after the All-Star break, after Ketel Marte went off on his somewhat controversial trip to the Dominican Republic. Richards made his debut closing out a 6-3 loss at Chase Field against Houston on July 21, and pitched again versus the Astros two days later. He benefited from Yainer Diaz being caught stealing home (below), but later allowed a key run in the 4-3 loss.
That’s likely the highlight of his time in the desert. He was designated for assignment shortly after, cleared waivers and returned to Reno. Richards worked long relief for the Aces the rest of the way, with a 5.31 ERA across 20.1 further innings, around some time on the minor-league IL with a vague, but apparently minor ailment. He elected to become a free agent on October 14, having been one of five pitchers to make exactly two appearances for the Diamondbacks this year. When you are taking the mound as often as Jose Herrera… Yeah, I doubt even his mother will be likely to remember Richards’ time in Arizona.
2026 outlook
He hasn’t been a terrible pitcher, with an ERA+ of 91 across eight years and 295 major-league appearances. But over the past few years, that has been more like his high-water mark. His opportunities were sharply curtailed this season: after appearing 50+ times every year in the post-COVID era, he only got into a handful of games between Kansas City and Arizona. A 5.19 ERA across 52 minor-league innings doesn’t jump out, but the bulk of those were in the PCL, where that’d actually make you a better than average pitcher. I’d imagine he’ll catch on to a minor-league contract somewhere next spring.
