2:21pm: Clippard and the Diamondbacks are now close to a deal, reports ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick (on Twitter).
10:42am: Stewart confirmed to MLB.com’s Steve Gilbert that the D-backs are talking with Clippard and optimistic about a deal (Twitter link). “We’ve talked concepts,” the GM told Gilbert. “We’re hopeful we can get something done.”
10:28am: The D-backs and right-hander Tyler Clippard are making progress on a contract, reports Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic. Piecoro’s source described the team as “hopeful” of reaching an agreement, and Piecoro adds that both one-year and multi-year deals have been discussed thus far in talks.
Just last Thursday, Arizona general manager Dave Stewart said that his team wasn’t active on the free-agent market or in trade pursuits. However, less than 24 hours later, Stewart told Piecoro that there was a “good possibility” that the D-backs would reach out to Clippard’s representatives, as they had yet to do so this offseason. Clippard is also reportedly drawing some interest from the Rays and Astros in the past week, although neither club’s pursuit hasn’t been characterized as serious to this point.
Clippard, who will turn 31 on Valentine’s Day, has been baseball’s most durable reliever over the past six seasons, working to a 2.67 ERA with 10.1 K/9 and 3.4 BB/9 in 464 1/3 innings. No reliever is within even 50 innings of Clippard in that time. He’s never been on the disabled list and has averaged 73 appearances and 77 innings per season in that six-year stretch. Of course, that durability could serve as a red flag as well. Clippard has seen his velocity drop in three consecutive seasons and saw his strikeout and walk rates trend in the wrong direction in 2015. He was also baseball’s most extreme fly-ball pitcher last year (and has a long history of being one of the more pronounced fly-ball pitchers in the game), which could be a poor fit with Arizona’s hitter-friendly home stadium.
The Diamondbacks’ bullpen projects to include Brad Ziegler, Daniel Hudson, Andrew Chafin, Randall Delgado and Josh Collmenter at this time, though the team has a significant number of intriguing younger arms as well. Last week, when downplaying the possibility of adding a bullpen arm, Stewart mentioned Silvino Bracho, Enrique Burgos, Jake Barrett, Cody Hall, Dominic Leone, Evan Marshall, Same LeCure and Wesley Wright as internal options that could fill in the final two spots in the bullpen. However, the D-backs did save about $4MM in the trade that sent Aaron Hill, Chase Anderson and Isan Diaz to the Brewers in exchange for Jean Segura and Tyler Wagner, and the team’s new $1.5 billion television contract does kick in this season, so there should be more than enough money to bring Clippard into the fold should he ultimately be deemed an upgrade.
Clippard was absolutely awful for the Mets down the stretch. Bringing him into a game with the lead in the 8th inning was like throwing kerosene on the fire. It’s time for Clippard to hang them up as he’s a shell of his former self.
in fairness to clippard, he was lights out for them in august (.130 opp BA). and the tweak of his back probably didn’t help matters come september/october.
but yes, i was at game 4 and his back-to-back walks in the eighth still make me want to punch a hole through a wall.
So, a guy has a BAD stretch he should quit? That’s just SILLY
Thats what casual fans say, but clearly clippard is still a great reliever. It is definitely silly I agree. I think a 3 year deal worth 20 should get it done.
Judging by how the DBacks offseason has gone, he’ll be looking at a deal in the 3 year, $45 M range lol
About the time the D’backs host the first game of this year’s WS, this type of nonsensical comment will finally cease!
arizona needs a closer, not another guy who can pitch the 7th inning. clippard is a zero when you compare him to what they really need.
The more the merrier though
What’s wrong with Ziegler as a closer? He’s been amongst the best relief pitchers in the game for the past 6 years and has not had any difficulty closing games over the past two seasons. Clippard could add necessary depth in front of him.
He’s still got some gas in the tank….. decent WHIP last year and can still eat some innings but he’s not a “go to” closer.. Surprised there aren’t more teams involved with him right now….although 3/45 might be a bit expensive for a setup guy.
The Yankee Clippard would make a good sixth inning pitcher for the Yankees.
Dave needs to call the Braves again. We have a couple of closers on our staff right now and two more ready to emerge… I am sure Bradley and that comp pick would look very nice in a Braves uni…
Surprised collmenter isnt starting? Behind miller and Greinke that rotation is weak.
Collmenter is a better long relief pitcher. Career 2.32 ERA out of the pen vs 4.02 Starting. Last year he was 1.89 from out of the pen. I wouldnt call Patrick Corbin and Robbie Ray exactly weak either. RDLR and Archie Bradley on the other hand is very hit or miss.
Corbin is probably better than miller
Another overpay guaranteed. They need a flamethrower for the 9th. It’s not him.
Ziegler isnt a flamethrower but his 1.85 ERA is better than most flamethrowing closers. If they want a hard thrower they already have it in Hudson who can hit 99 or even RDLR if they convert him. Clippard would be an upgrade to the 7 th inning RP like Burgos, Barrett, Koch, hessler.
They don’t need a flamethrower.
They need outs.
Corbin projects quite favorably compared to his 3rd starter peer group.
If this happens, D’backs have best off-season of any team in MLB!