THURSDAY, 10:07pm: Steve Gilbert of MLB.com tweets that Boyer has cleared waivers and will be reassigned to Arizona's Triple-A affiliate in Reno tomorrow.
TUESDAY, 10:05am: The Diamondbacks designated reliever Blaine Boyer for assignment to make room for starter Billy Buckner, tweets MLB.com's Alden Gonzalez. Buckner was recalled from Triple A to make today's start against the Marlins.
Boyer, 28, posted a 7.82 ERA, 4.3 K/9, and 7.8 BB/9 in 12.6 innings for the D'Backs this year. This marks his third time being designated for assignment. The Braves did it in April of '09 before sending him to the Cardinals for Brian Barton. Boyer was designated again in June, at which point Arizona claimed him off waivers.
The Diamondbacks' bullpen shakeup began yesterday, as they released Bob Howry and acquired Saul Rivera.
He was pretty good last year, but he absolutely fell of a cliff this year. When you have a 4.3 K/9 and 7.8 BB/9 it’s time to go.
I’m surprised he lasted this long. The way he pitched on Sunday was the way he pitched with the Braves when they DFA’d him the first time. He was good his rookie year in 2005, but whatever reason the Braves didn’t start keeping him on the MLB roster until he ran out of options. Maybe he was hurt? Either way, he should be able to find work somewhere else. (Probably the Royals since they love rejected Braves)Correction: He was hurt and was out the majority of the 2006 season, playing in only 2 games.
I can’t wait for a ground ball to get by Buckner…
The Diamondbacks are living proof as to why relievers are a fungible commodity. Heilman is obviously the star of the bullpen, and there’s a bit of a future in Juan Gutierrez, but everyone else out there is perfectly replaceable. Qualls just may be the next one to go.