Diamondbacks agree to 1-year deal with reliever T.J. McFarland
Jan 23, 2019, 6:47 PM | Updated: Jan 24, 2019, 8:18 am
Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher T.J. McFarland (30) pitches during the second inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park Sunday, April 29, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
(AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
The Arizona Diamondbacks announced Wednesday they have agreed to a one-year deal with left-handed relief pitcher T.J. McFarland.
McFarland’s deal includes a team option for the 2020 season.
Per source, T.J. McFarland's deal with the D-backs guarantees him $1.4 million in 2019 with a $1.85 million option for 2020 ($50,000 buyout). So he's guaranteed $1.45 million.
— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) January 24, 2019
The 29-year-old appeared in a career-high 47 games for the D-backs last season while also posting his bests for ERA (2.00), WHIP (1.19), fewest runs (18) and opponent average (.239).
When facing left-handed hitters, McFarland allowed opposing hitters to bat only .165 in 97 at-bats.
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McFarland was not only a specialist for Arizona against lefties. He was also able to go longer in games, recording 21 outings of more than 1.0 innings.
After spending four seasons with the Baltimore Orioles, McFarland was released after the 2016 season. He then signed as a free agent with the D-backs in March of 2017 on a one-year deal and re-upped with Arizona again the following offseason.
McFarland joins Yoshihisa Hirano, Andrew Chafin, Archie Bradley and Matt Andriese as the other members of the bullpen set to return to the D-backs next season.
The D-backs’ offseason has been headlined by the club trading first baseman Paul Goldschmidt to the St. Louis Cardinals and losing left-handed starting pitcher Patrick Corbin in free agency to the Washington Nationals.
