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Thompson is about ready to return from a strained back, but he’s ineligible to do so because of the decision to move him to the 60-day IL at the beginning of the month. He won’t be able to come off the IL until the postseason, and it doesn’t currently look like the Diamondbacks will be taking part.

The procedural move opens up a spot on Arizona’s 40-man roster. Thompson has been out with a lower back strain since early August.

Thompson heads to the shelf after compiling a pedestrian 4.43 ERA, 1.57 WHIP and 29/13 K/BB ratio across 40 2/3 innings of work. He’s likely to miss at least a couple weeks.

Thompson, 33, was limited to 41 1/3 innings last season and his 3.92 ERA was his worst mark since his rookie year in 2020, making him a non-tender candidate. Still, the D-backs though it was worth about $4 million to bring him back for his last season before free agency. There’s very little in front of him in the Arizona pen, so though he’s never been thought of as a closer, he could be in position to earn some saves this year.