The Arizona Diamondbacks had a dismal season last year suffering through a 52-110 season that saw them finish the year 55 games behind the first place Giants. That is not something that one superstar sign is going to fix. But, the team does have an above average rotation and a few nice pieces on the offensive side of the ball. Therefore I would suggest signing several smaller 1 year contracts. And even if you sign let's say 5 different players to these sort of contracts and 3 of them do well, and you are not in contention for the play-offs at or around the trade deadline, you simply trade them for other useful pieces. Granted, those pieces will more than likely be from double A, but that will help you build a team in 2 to 3 years, and we all know that is when, if done right, we will be competitive again. This team desperately needs bullpen help even though as of this writing they have signed Mark Melancon and Ian Kennedy. The bullpen finished last season with a 5.08 ERA placing 29th of the 30 MLB teams. They also need a center fielder and a third baseman. But, this article will look at 10 options to help in the bullpen or as a 5th starter.
Let's look at the two pitchers who could be the Diamondbacks 5th starters. The first is the longest shot of the two Collin McHugh. He is listed at 6-2 191lbs and over his 9 year career he is 20 games over .500 at 64-44. After not playing in 2020, last year with Tampa Bay he was 6-1 with a 1.55 ERA and a strikeout to walk ratio of 74-12. But, he could be used out of the bullpen, or at least in long relief because he has not pitched over 75 innings since 2016. He has had a history of elbow problems which is why Houston placed him in the bullpen for the majority of the 2019 season. He has never made more than $5.8MM in a single season and last season he signed a 1 year $1.8MM contract with the Tampa Bay Rays. He should be affordable, but several media outlets say the Red Sox are exploring signing him.
The second possible 5th starter is Vince Velasquez. He is 5 years younger than McHugh at age 29. Throughout his career his hits and innings pitched are almost identical, and for his 7 year career he has pitched a total of 651 innings while giving up 638 hits. He has struck out over 100 batters 4 times in those 7 years and for his career his strikeout to walk ratio is 716 to 268. So per nine innings he gives up a career 8.8 hits, 3.7 walks and 9.9 strikeouts. He has never made more than $4MM per season, and that was in a 2021 season that saw him get released by the Phillies and not do much better for the Padres. I would think you could get Velasquez off the scrap heap for $1-2MM and roll the dice.
And the relievers are...........
As far as relievers go let's start with someone you may have never heard of, Chris Ellis. He has been drafted 3 times by both LA teams and once in the Rule Five Draft. Traded twice, released, and is now a free agent. Thus, he will be sign-able for under $1MM, is not arbitration eligible until 2025 and is not a free agent until 2028. As far as his stats, in 30.1 innings he has given up 7 earned runs has a 5-0 record with a 2.08 ERA walking 15 while only striking out 23. The definition of low risk high reward.
Luke Farrell is our next consideration. He is the definition of average. His 5 year record is 5-5 his career ERA is 4.93, in 87.2 career innings he has given up 81 hits, 48 earned runs with 93 strikeouts and 47 walks. His ground ball percentage is 32.3% and his fly ball percentage is 34.3% for his career. He is similar to Chris Ellis above; he can be signed for under $1MM, is arbitration eligible in 2023 and won't be a free agent until 2026.
Seattle Mariners v Texas Rangers / Tom Pennington/GettyImages
Now we are going to look at a former 1st round pick in Mike Foltynewicz. 2018 was an All-Star year for him in Atlanta and 2021 was a no star year for him in Texas. In 2018 he won 13 games, had a 2.85 ERA with 2 complete games and struck out 202 batters. In 2021 he won 2 games and lost 12 with a 5.44 ERA but in 139 innings he still struck out 97 while walking 36. He has started 142 of his career 166 games. Therefore, he may be an ideal candidate to put in the bullpen to sign him to a "prove it" 1 year $1MM contract based on the fact that he signed a 1 year $2MM contract last year with Texas and went 2-12.
Half down.........click below to see the other half and a Mike Hazen quote about the state of the Diamondback bullpen.
Heath Hembree is next. The money is right as he has only made a total of $4.7MM in his 9 year career and only $100,000 last season. He had good numbers in Cincinnati last season in 42.1 innings his batting average against was .203 and his OBP against was .319 (which was the league average). For Cincinnati he had 8 saves while striking out 68 and walking only 19. The Reds did release him, but he can be had more than likely on a minor league contract.
Mike Hazen met with the media including MLB Arizona Diamondback beat writer Steve Gilbert shortly after the lockout ended. On the topic of adding to the bullpen it seems he wants to add a couple veteran pitchers, "I think we have a stable of young arms that you’re going to see some of whom end up continuing on their progression as Major League starters," Hazen said. "I think some of whom are going to end up matriculating as relievers. I think historically giving those guys a little bit of a runway instead of having your better [young] arms thrust into [high] leverage out of necessity is a better strategy for me from a development standpoint."
This guy is not much of a strike thrower when in 227.1 innings pitched he has only struck out 279 batters, but he is also 10 games above .500 for his career with a 23-13 record. He is a ground ball pitcher 41.7% of them over his 7 years and his hard hit rate is only 38.6% in those same 7 years. He was 2-2 with a 5.06 ERA last season with the Padres and signed a $1.2MM contract with them so Keone Kela should be able to be signed to a deal less than a million for 1 year.
Our next guy did not pitch in 2018 or 2020 and in 2019 and 2021 combined he only pitched only 51 innings. He has won 11 and 12 games in a year and he has lost 16 games in a year. His career has truly been up and down. Jimmy Nelson is a guy who you don't know what your going to get, but you may want to take a chance that you get a good year considering he signed a $750,000 contract with the Dodgers in 2020 and made $500,000 in 2021. Sign him for the league minimum and give him an incentive laden contract where he will get paid if he gives you a good season.
Richard Rodriquez spent 202 of his 228 career innings in Baltimore and Pittsburgh. In his 5 year career he is 16-14 with a 3.28 ERA, 33 saves, walking 60 while striking out 230. His batting average against is .229 and his line drive percentage is 19.7%. He received $1.7MM last year, is arbitration eligible in 2022 and can be a free agent in 2024. I told you all of this to suggest the following contract; a 2 years $6MM with a mutual option for a third year at $4MM so it can be presented as a 3 year $10MM contract.
I guess it will only be 9 pitchers as the San Francisco Giants just signed Jakob Junis to a 1 year $1.75MM contract. But I do appreciate them signing him to a little contract with a big upside. Also a big thank you to Baseball Reference for all the stats and figures.
