ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

Report: D-backs sign reliever Joakim Soria to 1-year deal

Feb 3, 2021, 2:30 PM

(Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)...

(Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

(Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

The Arizona Diamondbacks continue to rebuild their bullpen.

The team agreed to sign reliever Joakim Soria to a one-year deal Wednesday, reported The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal.

AZCentral’s Nick Piecoro adds the deal is worth $3.5 million. Soria can earn an additional $500,000 in bonuses based on appearances.

According to MLB Network’s Jon Morosi, the Seattle Mariners were also interested in the pitcher’s talents.

Soria spent the last two seasons with the Oakland Athletics. In 93 games (91.1 innings pitched), Soria sported a 3.94 ERA and three saves to go along with a 4-6 record.

Last season proved to be Soria’s better of the two, dropping his ERA from 4.30 to 2.82. He also decreased his home runs allowed from nine to just one in his 13th season in the majors.

The 36-year old reliever got his MLB start with the Kansas City Royals in 2007. He was named an American League All-Star in 2008 and 2010. He combined for 85 saves in those two seasons and didn’t have an ERA reach more than 1.78.

Soria would eventually join the Texas Rangers in 2013 before making stops in Detroit (2014-15), Pittsburgh (2015), Kansas City (2016-17) and Oakland the past two seasons.

Soria now joins a D-backs team with a closer spot up for grabs.

He joins Humberto Castellanos, Chris Devenski and Ryan Buchter (minor league deal) as the latest relievers to join the fray this offseason.

Outside of the newcomers, the Arizona’s bullpen rotation includes Yoan Lopez, Stefan Crichton and Kevin Ginkel, who along with longer relievers Alex Young, Taylor Clarke and Taylor Widener appeared at least 20 times last year and remain members of the 40-man roster.

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