Arizona Diamondbacks: Does Brad Boxberger add value?
By Mark Brown
The acquisition of reliever Brad Boxberger by the Arizona Diamondbacks adds depth, but could also foreshadow the end of Fernando Rodney as the team’s closer.
On the surface, this looks like a move by the Arizona Diamondbacks to simply add depth to the bullpen. A more in-depth look may suggest the Diamondbacks’ bullpen could be going in a different direction.
Despite a 39-save season, closer Fernando Rodney remains unsigned for 2018, but Arizona GM Mike Hazen has made public comments that the club is interested in signing the veteran closer. At age 41 by the season opener next March, Rodney would have to show value and a willingness to jump back into the intense fire of a pennant race.
For that reason, Hazen went out Thursday and acquired former all-star right-hander Brad Boxberger from the Tampa Rays for lefty Chris Taylor, a minor-league pitcher. The issue with Boxberger could be health. At 29-years-old, Boxberger turned in a respectable 2017 season with a 3.38 ERA. Yet, he missed nearly half the season with various injuries.
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At the same time, he is arbitration-eligible and could obtain a raise over the $1.6 million he earned last season.
With Archie Bradley now as one of the top set-up relievers in the game, it’s likely the Diamondbacks will use Boxberger in a seventh-inning role.
He could also be in a position to give Bradley an occasionally day-off and allow manager Torey Lovullo greater flexibility in the bullpen.
The acquisition of Boxberger could also limit Lovullo’s options. With tree lefties currently on the 40-man roster, Andrew Chafin, Jorge De La Rosa and T. J. McFarland, Hazen is likely to continue shopping in the open market for another lefty. That would apparently mean the GM remains active in the upcoming winter meetings.
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In the meantime, the Arizona Diamondbacks have added experienced depth to a bullpen which performed well 2017. With a combined 3.78 ERA, the Arizona bullpen was the fifth-best in the majors a year ago.