Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher Brad Ziegler announced his retirement from baseball on Wednesday. The veteran sidearmer turned 39 on Wednesday and finished 2018 with a 3.91 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 10 saves and a 6.1 K/9 over a career-high 82 appearances (73 2/3 innings). He'll finish his 11-year career with a 2.75 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 105 saves and a 6.0 K/9 in 739 outings.
Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher Brad Ziegler is officially active for Thursday's contest against the San Francisco Giants. Relief pitcher Silvino Bracho has been optioned to Triple-A Reno to make room for Ziegler on the active roster. Ziegler was the closer in Miami during the beginning of the season, but over the last couple of months he's been pitching in a setup role for the Marlins. The D-Backs still have Brad Boxberger at closer, so it looks like Ziegler will continue to pitch in a setup role. That is going to hinder plenty of his fantasy value going forward, but there is a chance he does see save chances if Boxberger struggles.
The Miami Marlins acquired 24-year-old right-hander Tommy Eveld from the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday in exchange for relief pitcher Brad Ziegler. Eveld was 3-2 with a 1.11 ERA at two levels in the minors for the D-backs this year. He also sports a shining 0.93 WHIP and had 47 strikeouts in 40 2/3 innings.
The Arizona Diamondbacks agreed to acquire relief pitcher Brad Ziegler from the Miami Marlins on Tuesday, pending medical information, according to a source. It's unclear what the D-backs sent the Marlins. Ziegler returns to the desert but will pitch in a setup role. The sidearmer has rebounded from an ugly start to the 2018 season, but his limited fantasy value won't change all that much with this move.
The Arizona Diamondbacks are close to acquiring Miami Marlins relief pitcher Brad Ziegler, according to sources. He'd be making a return to the desert where he spent six years from 2011 to 2016. He even managed a career-high 30 saves for the Snakes back in 2015. Ziegler was terrible to begin the year and lost the closer's role in Miami, but he's been lights-out since June and would bring familiarity to Arizona's 'pen.
The Chicago Cubs are not close to acquiring Miami Marlins relief pitcher Brad Ziegler, according to a source. The two sides have talked, but the status of a deal remains unclear. Ziegler struggled to begin the year and was removed from the closer's role, but he's been excellent since and would fortify Chicago's bullpen. The sidearmer has a 0.93 ERA in 29 outings since June 1.
The Seattle Mariners are reportedly interested in acquiring Miami Marlins relief pitcher Brad Ziegler. Ziegler struggled as the closer earlier in the season, but has found his groove in middle relief and has become a solid trade piece for the Marlins. On the season, Ziegler is pitching to a 4.11 ERA and a 35/16 K/BB ratio over 50 appearances. In Seattle, he would continue to work in middle relief and see no fantasy value. The Marlins seem likely to trade Ziegler prior to the July 31 deadline and the Mariners could be the front-runner to land him.
The Los Angeles Dodgers have reportedly shown interest in Miami Marlins relief pitcher Brad Ziegler. Ziegler struggled as a closer earlier in the year, but has really turned it on and has a 0.86 ERA since June 1. Collectively he has a 4.50 ERA on the season with a 34/15 K/BB ratio. A move to the Dodgers wouldn't change anything about Ziegler's fantasy value as he wouldn't close, however, it might help him earn his first World Series ring after 11 years in the majors.
Before Thursday night's game, Miami Marlins manager Don Mattingly confirmed that relief pitcher Brad Ziegler will no longer be the closer going forward, according to Joe Frisaro of MLB.com. Kyle Barraclough seems to be the best candidate to replace Ziegler, having posted a 1.48 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 9.99 K/9 over 24 1/3 innings this season. Barraclough should be added in all leagues at this point, but if he is already owned, you might want to look at adding either Drew Steckenrider or Tayron Guerrero, who could also have a shot at the closer role if Mattingly goes with a committee approach.
Brad Ziegler Blows Save Against Padres, Falls to 0-5
Miami Marlins closer Brad Ziegler blew his first save of the season on Wednesday night, as the Padres got the walk-off 3-2 win over the Marlins. Ziegler recorded only one out in the appearance, allowing two runs one earned on two hits and two walks. It's yet another bad outing for Ziegler, who now has a 19.62 ERA over his last five appearances while going 0-2 and 1-for-2 in save opportunities. There's no word yet out of Miami about a possible change in closers, but it might be worth adding Kyle Barraclough in NL-only and 12-team mixed leagues now as a speculative handcuff.