ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

D-backs’ Archie Bradley is either closing or tweeting about that song

Jan 16, 2019, 2:49 PM

Archie Bradley knows how to rile up Arizona Diamondbacks fans with a two-word tweet.

The D-backs reliever on Wednesday simply posted “Closing time” with a warning sign emoji accompanying a photo of himself coming off the mound and slapping hands with catcher John Ryan Murphy.

Might that mean someone has told Bradley he could be Arizona’s closer in 2019?

It would be hard to imagine D-backs manager Torey Lovullo already green-lit Bradley as the team’s closer in mid-January.

Arizona still has a great many roster decisions to consider before players report for spring training next month, and that goes for the restructured bullpen that started off strong but fell off last year as the D-backs fell out of the playoff race.

Bradley figures to be a key part of the bullpen once again in 2019 after producing a 3.64 ERA and 1.14 WHIP in 71.2 innings with three saves and 34 holds last season. The D-backs would hope, of course, he edges back toward the production from his 2017 campaign, in which the right-hander finished with a 1.73 ERA.

With the team allowing former closer Brad Boxberger to walk this offseason, Bradley would be a relatively inexpensive in-house option to take the closing role — or at least compete for it along with returning reliever Yoshi Hirano.

Bradley will make $1.83 million in 2019, a reasonable deal compared to a free agent addition. Arizona’s last closer signed in free agency, the then-39-year-old Fernando Rodney, commanded a $2.75 million salary over a year, plus incentives. This past season, Rodney made $4.5 million plus incentives with the Minnesota Twins.

So is Bradley’s tweet about that time to close, or is he just a big fan of every bars’ last-call-affiliated song by Semisonic?

Comments

Comment guidelines: No name-calling, personal attacks, profanity, or insults. Please keep the conversation civil and help us moderate comments by reporting abuse.
comments powered by Disqus

Arizona Diamondbacks

Arizona Diamondbacks logo...

Haboob Blog

Diamondbacks minor leaguer accomplishes rare 5-strikeout inning

D-backs RHP prospect Jhosmer Alvarez struck out five hitters in a single inning for Single-A Visalia against the Inland Empire 66ers.

12 minutes ago

Corbin Carroll swings and breaks his bat...

Arizona Sports

Corbin Carroll slides to 7th in Diamondbacks’ batting order vs. Cardinals

The Arizona Diamondbacks are shaking up the lineup against the St. Louis Cardinals with Corbin Carroll sliding down the batting order.

3 hours ago

D-backs assistant GM Mike Fitzgerald joins Wolf & Luke to discuss recent injuries to the team, incl...

Bailey Leasure

Assistant GM Mike Fitzgerald: It’s hard to read the Diamondbacks due to injuries

D-backs assistant general manager Mike Fitzgerald admitted judging Arizona has been difficult considering the rash of injuries.

4 hours ago

Pavin Smith drives in six runs as the D-backs beat the Cardinals 14-1....

Associated Press

Pavin Smith drives in 6 runs as Diamondbacks rout Cardinals

Pavin Smith hits a grand slam and drove in a career-high six runs to help the Diamondbacks to a 14-1 win over the Cardinals Tuesday.

14 hours ago

D-backs put up 14 runs in six innings against the St. Louis Cardinals Tuesday....

Bailey Leasure

Diamondbacks drop Cardinals with home-run party

Pavin Smith hits a grand slam as the D-backs swung early Tuesday, putting up 14 runs as they beat the Cardinals 14-1.

15 hours ago

Starting pitcher Merrill Kelly...

Arizona Sports

Diamondbacks place starter Merrill Kelly on injured list, recall Tommy Henry

The injuries continue for the Arizona Diamondbacks as the team announced Tuesday that Merrill Kelly will go on the 15-day injured list.

19 hours ago

D-backs’ Archie Bradley is either closing or tweeting about that song