Veteran right-handed reliever Derek Law is searching for his next opportunity after electing free agency following his brief stint with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Law, 36, joined Arizona on a minor-league contract in January but spent much of the season recovering from flexor tendon surgery. After making his way back from the injury, he eventually reached the major leagues in late August, providing the Diamondbacks with another experienced option for their bullpen.

His time with Arizona was short-lived, however. The Diamondbacks designated Law for assignment in September, and he subsequently cleared waivers before being outrighted to Triple-A. He has now elected free agency, allowing him to explore opportunities with other organizations ahead of the 2027 season.

Law's road back to the majors was complicated by a setback during his rehab assignment, delaying his Diamondbacks debut until the final month of the regular season.

He surrendered a run in his first appearance with Arizona but followed that outing with six consecutive scoreless appearances. That stretch gave the Diamondbacks a glimpse of what the veteran could provide, even as he continued working his way back from surgery.

Law previously demonstrated his ability to handle a substantial bullpen workload with the Washington Nationals. In 2024, he recorded a 2.60 ERA across 90 innings, establishing himself as a reliable option in the relief corps.

His 2025 campaign was derailed by arm injuries, though, leaving him with another recovery to navigate before joining Arizona.

While Law managed to keep runs off the board during his time with the Diamondbacks, his diminished velocity remained a concern. His fastball averaged 93.2 mph in 2026, down from 95.1 mph during his final season with Washington.

That decline could factor into how teams evaluate him during the offseason, particularly as organizations determine which veteran relievers can provide dependable innings.

Law's departure comes as Arizona prepares to make additional decisions regarding its relief corps.

The Diamondbacks dealt with numerous bullpen injuries throughout 2026, limiting their ability to maintain consistency in late-inning situations. Justin Martinez did not return until mid-August, while left-handers A.J. Puk and Andrew Saalfrank missed the entire season.

Arizona also moved on from Paul Sewald after a difficult campaign, leaving the organization with additional questions about how to construct its bullpen for 2027.

Martinez is expected to return to a prominent role, but several other pitchers who handled significant workloads for the Diamondbacks are also approaching free agency. Kevin Ginkel, Taylor Clarke, Jonathan Loaisiga and Ryan Thompson are among the relievers whose departures could create further openings.

That situation could leave Arizona looking for experienced arms to complement its returning pitchers. Law's departure removes one potential option, although his limited availability and reduced velocity make it difficult to determine whether the Diamondbacks would have considered him for a larger role.