The Diamondbacks signed Clarke to a one-year contract Thursday.

EDGE Analysis

It's a homecoming for Clarke, who was drafted by the Diamondbacks and initially broke into the majors with Arizona. The right-handed reliever spent the 2025 campaign with the Royals, collecting a 3.25 ERA and 44:9 K:BB across 55.1 frames. Clarke has eight career saves and the Diamondbacks have an unsettled bullpen, but it would still be a surprise if he sees many, if any, save opportunities in the desert.

The Royals non-tendered Clarke on Friday.

EDGE Analysis

Clarke enjoyed the best season of his MLB career in 2025, turning in a 3.25 ERA and 0.85 WHIP alongside a 44:9 K:BB across 55.1 innings. Despite his success, the Royals will elect to let the 32-year-old righty enter free agency, where his breakout campaign is likely to draw some interest from bullpen-needy teams.

Clarke allowed no hits and a walk with no strikeouts over a scoreless inning Saturday against the Blue Jays to record his fifth hold of the season.

EDGE Analysis

The 32-year-old was trusted with the eighth inning of a one-run game Saturday and came through, issuing only a harmless two-out walk before handing the ball off for Carlos Estevez to close. Clarke hasn't been a fixture in high-leverage spots this year, but he's been excellent in the second half, compiling a 1.98 ERA and 0.77 WHIP over 26 outings and 27.1 innings since the All-Star break.

Clarke allowed four runs on five hits and one walk with no strikeouts over one-third of an inning in Tuesday's 10-2 loss against the Yankees.

EDGE Analysis

The right-hander entered in relief of Noah Cameron with two outs and a runner on in the sixth inning, but he quickly unraveled, surrendering a flurry of hits that allowed the inherited runner to score along with four more runs of his own. Clarke entered Tuesday with a stellar 1.29 ERA and 0.43 WHIP, but those marks ballooned to 3.77 and 0.84, respectively, after the rough outing.

The Royals activated Clarke from the paternity list Monday.

EDGE Analysis

Clarke missed the weekend series versus the Cardinals while welcoming a new addition to the family, but he's back for the start of a three-game set in San Francisco. The righty has tossed 5.1 scoreless frames with the Royals this season.

The Royals placed Clarke on the paternity leave list Friday.

EDGE Analysis

Clarke will likely be away for the entirety of the weekend series at home against the Cardinals before rejoining the Royals ahead of the start of their road trip next week. He's tossed 5.1 scoreless frames since being added to the Kansas City bullpen in early May.

The Royals selected Clarke's contract from Triple-A Omaha on Thursday.

EDGE Analysis

Clarke last pitched in the majors in 2023 with the Royals, posting a 5.95 ERA and 65:24 K:BB over 59 frames that season. The 31-year-old allowed nine runs (seven earned) with a 9:5 K:BB across 14.1 innings this season with Omaha.

The Royals reassigned Clarke to minor-league camp Tuesday.

EDGE Analysis

Clarke was unable to secure a spot in Kansas City's Opening Day bullpen, despite a strong showing during the Cactus League in which he allowed just two earned runs on six hits and three walks over nine innings. The 31-year-old righty worked as a swingman at Triple-A Nashville in the Brewers organization throughout the 2024 campaign, logging a 4.92 ERA and 1.30 WHIP over 64 innings in 21 appearances (14 starts). He looks set to move back into a more traditional relief role in 2025 and is expected to report to Triple-A Omaha.

Clarke signed a minor-league contract with the Royals on Thursday.

EDGE Analysis

Clarke spent the entire 2024 campaign with the Brewers' Triple-A affiliate, turning in a 4.92 ERA and 1.30 WHIP over 64 innings. He'll now return to the organization he spent two seasons with from 2022-23, though he doesn't project to act as anything more than organizational depth this time around.

Clarke elected to become a free agent Thursday, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

EDGE Analysis

The Brewers acquired Clarke from Kansas City in December, but after undergoing knee surgery in March and posting a 4.92 ERA over 64 innings at Triple-A Nashville, the 31-year-old was never able to make an appearance for Milwaukee. He'll now look to latch on with another organization, most likely on a minor-league deal.