SCOTTSDALE — The Arizona Diamondbacks are in the market for relief help, and general manager Mike Hazen on Thursday provided some clarity as to how they will most likely find it.
“My guess is more free agency than trade,” Hazen said.
The D-backs, Hazen and manager Torey Lovullo have noted, would like to name a closer by the end of camp, but there is still uncertainty as to how it will play out. A bullpen addition would not automatically take over that role.
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Someone has to earn that trust, be it A.J. Puk, Justin Martinez, Kevin Ginkel or a current free agent.
“We’re still looking at what the external mix may look like if it came in here and what that would mean,” Hazen said. “All things being equal, living the life and lessons we all live in these jobs, I would prefer to have that (closer), but it’s not something that we could just go out and fabricate either.”
The free agent pool of back-end relievers has mostly but not entirely dried up at this stage.
David Robertson is a name to watch, someone Arizona Sports’ John Gambadoro posted could be an option “if the price is right.” The right-hander will be 40 years old in April, but he’s been a steady presence throughout his 16-year career. Over the last three seasons, he’s averaged 67 innings with a 2.82 ERA and 40 saves.
Craig Kimbrel, Phil Maton and Kyle Finnegan are among other free agent relievers.
The Diamondbacks have also brought in and may continue to look at non-roster invitees on minor league deals to find a diamond in the rough.
The club has explored trades for bullpen help this offseason, but Hazen explained the rigamarole of getting something done at the start of spring training.
“I think trades are gonna be difficult at this point, honestly,” Hazen said. “There have been spring training trades. I don’t feel like those things happen much anymore. I think teams get into their camps and they just kind of (say), ‘this is our team now.’ … It’s hard to see a trade where somebody gives up an established reliever for prospects at this point. There’s nowhere to pivot in some cases, another trade, free agent market starting to thin out.”
The D-backs received calls for starting pitchers and outfielders throughout the offseason given their depth, but those have calmed down as well.
“My the feeling I get is, if I make an outbound call, the the excitement to engage even in a conversation at this point of the year is definitely less than if I’m making that call in December,” Hazen said.
“That doesn’t mean that it’s not going to happen. There are teams probably carrying surplus guys into their camps. Some of these guys may not end up with jobs … or we may get more aggressive on something that we weren’t before.”
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