Diamondbacks designate RHP Greg Holland for assignment
Aug 7, 2019, 8:58 AM | Updated: 2:27 pm
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - JULY 07: Greg Holland #56 of the Arizona Diamondbacks prepares to step onto the pitchers mound against the Colorado Rockies at Chase Field on July 07, 2019 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
(Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
Two days after designating one pitcher for assignment, the Arizona Diamondbacks have decided to cut bait with another.
D-backs GM Mike Hazen confirmed the team’s plans to DFA former closer Greg Holland while on with Doug & Wolf on 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station on Wednesday.
The Athletics’s Robert Murray first reported the move. The team officially announced it later in the afternoon.
The three-time All-Star looked right at home early on in the season for Arizona, recording 12 saves out of 14 opportunities. He started the season with seven consecutive saves before blowing his first opportunity with the team on May 8 against the Tampa Bay Rays.
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Then the month of July rolled around.
After blowing just two saves in three months of work, Holland regressed, adding three blown saves in eight chances in July. He also picked up two losses over that span.
All told, Holland recorded a total of 17 saves with the team, giving up 18 earned runs on 25 hits and five homers to go along with a 4.54 ERA in 40 games (35.2 IP). He struck out 41 batters.
The move comes after manager Torey Lovullo demoted the pitcher out of the closer role on July 28.
While Lovullo hasn’t come out and officially named the team’s next closer, the skipper has used a combination of arms, including Archie Bradley, in the role.
“He’s certainly fulfilling that role right now,” Hazen said of Bradley being the closer moving forward. “Archie has pitched in a number of different roles for us. … He has thrown the ball very, very well for us and I will say that’s been a big piece to how we’ve done here in the last seven to eight days.
“And in order for us to do what we want to do moving forward, we’re going to need that.”
On Sunday, Zack Godley was designated for assignment by the D-backs.
By DFAing Holland, the D-backs can remove the pitcher from the 40-man roster and have seven days to trade him or put him on waivers. If he clears waivers, he can be sent to the minor leagues or released.
