D-backs’ Archie Bradley: I wanted to be the closer ‘so I could get paid’

Arizona Diamondbacks reliever Archie Bradley isn’t one to mince his words.

Just last season, the reliever made most laugh — while others lost their lunch — after nonchalantly saying he had an “accident” while pitching in a game.

While he might not have topped last year’s story, the reliever once again told the honest, and a lot less graphic, truth ahead of the D-backs game against the Boston Red Sox on Friday.

But this time, it was about his position, not his pants.

“Only reason I wanted to close was to get paid, I’m dead serious, man,” Bradley told Bickley & Marotta on 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station.

“Baseball has put a dollar amount on what saves mean to a team and what that value is, I’m not saying the guys aren’t worth it. I know they’re really hard outs to get, I would say the guys I face in the seventh and eighth are also hard outs to get. And I don’t necessarily get a save for it, I get a hold or sometimes nothing.”

Brutally honest.

While closing pitchers like Wade Davis make around $17 million per year, Bradley, who went through arbitration this season, is making $1.83 million this season.

Even though he isn’t earning saves, Bradley is still doing his part to help the team.

In 2018, Bradley’s ERA rose from 1.73 to 3.64, but the right-hander managed to strikeout 75 batters with a 1.14 WHIP in 71.2 innings pitched. He finished the season tied for the MLB lead in holds with 34. In three games (3.0 innings) in 2019, the reliever has two registered two holds.

“I know the value of what I bring, I know the value of that seventh, eighth inning and a lot of the times I’m getting matchups that are sometimes more difficult than throwing in the ninth,” Bradley said. “Really it has been something for me where it’s a team thing. If that’s the best role for me and that’s where the team can thrive the most and you can be versatile with putting me in and out of seven, eight, nine instead of just ‘hey, you’re only the ninth’ I’m all for it.

“And like I said, it’s kinda funny but seriously, the only reason I wanted that title [closer], is you get paid for it.”

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