Pat Valaika SS

Valaika was claimed off waivers by the Diamondbacks on Thursday.

Valaika was designated for assignment by the Orioles last Friday after posting a .190 batting average and one home run over 40 major-league games with the Rockies in 2019. He had a strong showing at the Triple-A level with a .320/.364/.589 slash line with 22 home runs, but he'll need to show more consistency against higher-end competition if he hopes to secure a major-league roster spot.

Valaika was designated for assignment by the Orioles on Friday, Rich Dubroff of BaltimoreBaseball.com reports.

Baltimore claimed Richard Urena off waivers Friday, and Valaika was sent to waivers to make room on the 40-man roster. He spent the 2019 season with the Rockies, struggling to a .190 average to go along with four RBI and seven walks.

Valaika was claimed off waivers by the Orioles on Wednesday.

The 27-year-old was effective in the minors in 2019, hitting .320/.364/.589 with 22 home runs in 84 games at the Triple-A level, but he couldn't translate his success to the majors, even though he got to play his home games at Coors Field. In 40 major-league games last season, Valaika hit .190/.256/.316 with 34 strikeouts. While he has some defensive versatility, Valaika will likely only fill a major-league bench role in Baltimore at best unless he can turn things around.

Valaika was recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque on Sunday.

Valaika made the Rockies' Opening Day roster but hasn't played in the majors since before the All-Star break. The 26-year-old went 6-for-47 (.128 average) before his last demotion, but he fared better at Triple-A with a .953 OPS in 84 games. He'll start at second base and bat seventh Sunday versus the Pirates.

Valaika was optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque on Saturday, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

Valaika recorded a wRC+ of 9 in 133 plate appearances last season and has managed to get even worse in 53 plate appearances this year, hitting .128/.226/.213, good for a wRC+ of 5. There's little reason to believe that he'll be an interesting fantasy option when he returns to the big leagues, even at Coors Field. Kyle Freeland was recalled in a corresponding move.

Valaika went 2-for-2 with a two-run home run in Friday's 13-9 win over the Dodgers.

Valaika's blast ignited a rally by the Rockies in the fifth inning, as he took Hyun-jin Ryu deep before adding an infield single on his second turn at the plate in place of starter Antonio Senzatela. It's the infielder's first hits since he returned to the big leagues June 18, having gone hitless in his previous 13 at-bats and adding only two walks and a run scored. With an .095 average, Valaika will likely continue to be limited to pinch-hitting duties.

Valaika was recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque on Tuesday.

Coors Field turns many players into interesting fantasy options, but not Valaika, who owns a career .207/.249/.395 slash line in 208 big-league games. Mike Dunn was designated for assignment in a corresponding move.

Valaika was optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque on Friday, Kyle Newman of The Denver Post reports.

Valaika rejoined the Rockies on Tuesday and struck out in his only two at-bats during the brief major-league stint. The 26-year-old has only two hits in 33 plate appearances in 2019 while striking out 15 times.

Valaika was recalled by the Rockies on Tuesday.

Valaika made 31 plate appearances for the Rockies earlier in the season, hitting .074 while striking out 41.9 percent of the time. He'll likely remain stuck in a bench role. Garrett Hampson was optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque in a corresponding move.

Valaika was optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque ahead of Tuesday's game against Washington, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports.

Valaika has struggled at the dish so far this season, hitting .074 with a double and four walks over 15 games. In a corresponding move, Jeff Hoffman has been recalled and will toe the rubber for Colorado on Tuesday night.

Valaika is starting at second base and hitting seventh against the Padres on Tuesday.

Valaika gets the start after sitting four of the last six games. He's logged just two hits in 19 at-bats since getting called up from Triple-A Albuquerque on April 1 after Daniel Murphy (finger) was forced to the injured list, and carries just a .661 OPS over his 342 career big-league at-bats.

Valaika was recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque on Monday.

Valaika will join the big club ahead of Monday's series opener against the Rays with Daniel Murphy (finger) headed to the injured list. It's unclear how long Murphy will remain sidelined at this point, but Valaika figures to fill a utility role in his absence. He hit .156/.214/.246 in 133 plate appearances last season.

Valaika will be called up Monday to replace the injured Daniel Murphy (finger), Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports.

Murphy's exact timeline is not yet clear, but he has a fractured finger, so Valaika could settle into a utility role for a fair amount of time. Even playing half his games at Coors Field wasn't enough to make him a viable fantasy option last season, however, as he hit just .156/.214/.246 in 133 plate appearances, good for a wRC+ of 9.

Valaika was sent to minor-league camp Saturday, Kyle Newman of The Denver Post reports.

Valaika has been passed by Ryan McMahon and Garrett Hampson in the battle for playing time in the Rockies' infield. His .156/.214/.246 line in 133 plate appearances last season means it's tough to see him play a significant role this year.

Valaika went 2-for-2 with two home runs and three RBI against the Giants on Sunday.

Valaika put on a show of power, clubbing a two-run homer to left field in the seventh inning and a solo blast in the eighth to cap off a 9-3 victory. The UCLA product served in a super-utility role last season during his time in the big leagues, although he struggled to a .156 batting average with two home runs and five RBI over 68 games.

The Rockies recalled Valaika from Triple-A Albuquerque on Saturday, Kyle Newman of The Denver Post reports.

The versatile veteran will hold down a backup role at every infield spot and possibly left field and might see a handful of starts against lefty pitching before the end of the season, but Valaika (.150/.213/.239 in 124 plate appearances with the Rockies) is unlikely to offer fantasy value for mixed-league players.

Valaika was optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque on Saturday, Jenny Cavnar of AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain reports.

Valaika will return to the Isotopes after spending nearly two months with Colorado during his latest big-league stint. Through 57 games with the Rockies, he hit .150 with two home runs and four RBI. Antonio Senzatela (shoulder) was activated from the disabled list in a corresponding move.

Valaika went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and two RBI on Saturday against the Athletics.

Valaika took advantage of a rare opportunity to start, taking left-hander Brett Anderson deep in the fourth inning for his second home run of the season. Even with D.J. LeMahieu's oblique injury forcing him to the disabled list, Garrett Hampson has jumped Valaika for playing time at second base. That leaves him as little more than a desperation streaming option in daily lineup leagues or DFS contests.

Valaika will start Saturday against Seattle in place of the injured D.J. LeMahieu (back).

Valaika will bat eighth and play second base. He'll face the left-handed Wade LeBlanc.

Valaika will be starting at shortstop Saturday in place of Trevor Story, who was scratched with a bruised foot, Nick Groke of The Athletic Denver reports.

Valaika has found the going much tougher at the plate this season after posting an .817 OPS in 195 plate appearances last year, hitting just .133/.191/.217 in 90 plate appearances so far.