The Diamondbacks have signed veteran right-hander Anthony Swarzak and added him to Major League camp as a non-roster invitee, per a club announcement. The Jet Sports client worked out for clubs back in January after he didn’t pitch with an organization during the 2020 season. (He was with the Phillies on a non-roster deal but was cut loose at the end of summer camp.)
It’s been a few years since Swarzak, 35, enjoyed a full, healthy season at the big league level. He inked a two-year, $14MM deal with the Mets prior to the 2018 season — a move that proved regrettable when shoulder and oblique issues derailed much of his 2018 season. The Mets included him in the Robinson Cano/Edwin Diaz/Jarred Kelenic blockbuster, primarily as a financial counterweight. He was traded to the Braves early in the year and went on to pitch reasonably well with Atlanta, though he again spent time on the IL that summer due to shoulder problems.
Back in 2017, Swarzak thrived in a career year split between the White Sox and Brewers. Through 77 1/3 innings, the righty worked to a 2.33 ERA with a terrific 30 percent strikeout rate against a strong 7.3 percent walk rate.
It’d be a stretch to expect that level of dominance at 35 years old and after a year of not pitching, but since returning from a KBO stint in 2015, Swarzak has tallied 201 1/3 innings of 3.98 ERA ball with peripherals that generally match that output. He’ll give the D-backs some depth in the bullpen and, given the unsettled nature of their relief corps, ought to have a chance at winning a spot on the Opening Day roster. Arizona has shored up the bullpen a bit over the past month, signing Joakim Soria and Tyler Clippard, but there are still multiple spots up for grabs.
If there are any Dbacks fan out there: What’s the teams plan of attack at the moment? I don’t follow much of their transactions, but I feel like I see them trying to rebuild the team, but at the same time, I see them signing 35/36 year old guys. I’m guessing those guys are candidates to be flipped at the deadline if they have a good year?
Honestly curious
I think their plan is for Tatis, Jr. to nosedive and for the LAA and LAD to switch leagues.
They were all in prior to last year. Signed Bumgarner and Calhoun, traded for Starling Marte. Then the entire roster seemed to regress in 2020. They’re currently attempting to contend while not putting all their chips on the table either. They’ve done a pretty good job of walking that line over the past few years so we’ll see what happens in 2021. Another bad year probably means a full rebuild
D-Backs NEED to sign Cole Hamels. It would be a cheap deal for decent production and they can flip him at the deadline.
where does he fit in the rotation?
Ace
I think we’ve found how Cole Hamels is spending his free time
Are you Cole Hamels?
There is no attack plan in Phoenix. KK is a land developer that has an asset called the Diamondbacks. He has no gumpf and not enough cash to play professional baseball. So the team reflects this. Organizations like this need sold to an owner group with more baseball savvy and interests in winning championships.
Some say bad baseball is better than no baseball…after 20years of bad baseball in AZ I strongly disagree. MLB needs two more teams to even things up. However owners like these need to sell before an expansion team should be approved.
What are you talking about? In 20 years world series title in 2001 many playoffs appearance, when you have teams like the seatle mariners without a playoffs in over 20 years or a teams like the Indian’s without a title in over 100 years or the dodgers with one of the highest payrolls how long it took them to get the title?we have to understand that there is high payroll teams and there is low payroll teams. Not just because a new owner comes it’s going to spend like a big market team.
Tavo, every 4-6 years a one and done playoff spot since Jerry got us a World Championship in 2001
The D’Back organization is based around the objective of getting as many fans of the opposing team into the (air-conditioned) enclosed stadium each boiling night. Their aim is to field a mediocre team that, while not a sure-fire playoff contender, at least offers some opposition to the visiting team (Dodgers, Cubs, Padres especially) who bring in a lot of their fans. In short…this city should be the AAA home of the Dodgers.
They will set up a series of reflective surfaces and open fire pits to create the means by which to succeed.
I’m not sure why, but it almost feels to me like Swarzak has been pitching since around 1995. I just get a Ross Detwiler vibe when Swarzak’s name comes up. It’s probably just me.
Swarzak no but Ross Detwieler does feel like hes been in the league forever lol
Good depth. D-backs need as many arms they can get.
Hes the definition of “take the money and run”, horrible with the Mets
I mean no one is good with the Mets lol. Jk but some did you expect him to be great and at his age I would take the money and run to
My bum is on fire.
@MLBTR idk if you can mute people but if so mute D0M. No one wants to hear about his ass
My bum hurts and no sympathy.
What happened to society, man?
Ban this guy already please
Diamondbacks fans deserve better than Ken Kendrick. Woe, is me always crying poor. MLB needs to jettison this undercapitalized ownership group. Is he still firing and cutting the pay of < $50k/year employees during a worldwide pandemic?
What are you talking about? In 20 years world series title in 2001 many playoffs appearance, when you have teams like the seatle mariners without a playoffs in over 20 years or a teams like the Indian’s without a title in over 100 years or the dodgers with one of the highest payrolls how long it took them to get the title?we have to understand that there is high payroll teams and there is low payroll teams. Not just because a new owner comes it’s going to spend like a big market team.