Building up: ESPN says bullpen is Diamondbacks’ top priority
Dec 2, 2016, 6:25 AM | Updated: 9:31 am
(AP Photo/Matt York)
It’s not been two months since the Diamondbacks hired Mike Hazen as general manager, but his first significant decision shed light on what he perceives as needing change.
Trading infielder Jean Segura in a five-player deal highlighted by the return of pitcher Taijuan Walker was about longterm financial relief and adding young talent to the starting pitching staff. But as winter meetings near, there’s much work to be done for an Arizona team that, despite having several talented players, is in rebuilding mode.
ESPN’s Jim Bowden writes that the D-backs’ first priority will be adding to its bullpen.
The Diamondbacks are focused on improving their bullpen after landing top starting pitching prospect Taijuan Walker last week in a five-player deal with the Mariners. They like their starting pitching and position-player depth, and now have the one goal of improving their bullpen. They will listen on both their infield and outfield depth in trades but are well engaged on free-agent relievers.
Arizona’s relievers walked the fourth-most opponents per nine frames last season and were ninth in home runs per nine. The bullpen also was fourth-worst in the majors with a 4.94 ERA.
If Arizona can’t address the bullpen in trades, Bowden offers these fives players as fallback options.
Brad Ziegler, Sergio Romo, Santiago Casilla, Travis Wood, Neftali Feliz
Ziegler, 37, pitched in 69 games and recorded 22 saves and eight holds with six blown saves last year.
Romo and Casilla, both free agents who played for the rival NL West San Francisco Giants, have proven track records as veteran pitchers.
Wood is coming off a World Series victory with the Chicago Cubs, while the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Feliz is the youngest of the group at 28.