Bullpen Wish List

It's time to go shopping for RP's

I’ve talked about the Diamondbacks bullpen within a couple posts this offseason, so it’s time for a full bullpen only post. Here is the current D-Backs bullpen:

CORE FOUR

Justin Martinez (2.48 ERA, 11.3 K/9), AJ Puk (LHP, 1.32 ERA, 14.2 K/9), Kevin Ginkel (3.21 ERA, 9.9 K/9), Ryan Thompson (3.26 ERA, 7.1 K/9 but a sidearm/ground ball guy)

This group is your back-end of the bullpen and is honestly pretty good too. It’s been a long time since the Diamondbacks had 4 RP’s this good in the same season. The issue was last year these were the ONLY good reliable RP’s and that caused them all to burnout late in the season. On top of that, Paul Sewald was the closer deep into the season too…

PROJECTED BOTTOM HALF OF BULLPEN

Joe Mantiply (3.92 ERA, 8.0 K/9, team high 75 GP), Bryce Jarvis (3.19 ERA, 5.8 K/9), Seth Martinez (3.59 ERA, 6.2 K/9)

Everyday Joe found a way to lead the team in games pitched last season despite being the 5th best RP all year. Lefties struggled a little off Mantiply to .206/.229/.324 slash line .553 OPS, so there’s no reason why he shouldn’t be the #2 lefty and #5 RP again at a minimum. Things get dicey in the bottom 3 spots.

Bryce Jarvis was a multi-inning eater last year going 59.1 IP in 44 GP, but his 5.8 K/9 & 1.43 WHIP left a lot to be desired. On top of that, he mainly pitched in mop up duty and will be coming back for an elbow injury last season. Jarvis has 2 options left though, where Seth Martinez is out of options. The Astros DFA’d the former Sunrise Mountain & ASU pitcher at the start of the offseason since their bullpen is deep and Seth Martinez can’t be sent down to AAA without going through waivers. Seth gets a much better opportunity in Arizona with a spot wide open for him.

As I noted in my offseason (small moves so far/pre-Burnes) recap:

Martinez has an average fastball of velocity of 90.4, which is in the 7th percentile and 36 K’s in 52.2 IP leaves a lot to be desired, but Seth Martinez has had success at the MLB level in multiple seasons. For what it’s worth, Martinez dominated the hitter friendly AAA PCL with 13 GP 12.1 IP 12 K 2 ER.

ALL THE OTHER LEFTIES

Kyle Nelson & Andrew Saalfrank

Kyle Nelson is coming off major Thoracic outlet syndrome surgery, but should be ready for Opening Day. Kyle admitted to being hurt all April before getting the surgery, but put together solid 2022 & 2023 seasons and definitely could get back in the bullpen mix if fully healthy as he still has 2 MiLB options left.

As for Andrew Saalfrank, it’s easy to forget how dominant he was late in 2023 and during the World Series run. Then Saalfrank lost his 2024 season due to gambling. Suspended on June 4th, I believe he cannot return until then in 2025. Saalfrank is sneaky old at 27, just a year younger than Nelson. Saalfrank flashed a truly elite breaking ball, but Saalfrank didn’t make the 2024 Opening Day roster surprisingly, struggled in his 2 MLB appearances, and it felt like the Diamondbacks had to have known a suspension was coming because he went from the future LHP bullpen 1 to Reno real fast.

It’s been a weird career for Saalfrank and I hope he rights the ship and makes it back, because 2023 Saalfrank was awesome.

FUN UPSIDE OPTIONS

Drey Jameson

Coming off Tommy John, Drey Jameson will likely be a full time RP and if he’s still pumping 100, he can be a key bullpen piece. Jameson did struggle with control and first year back from Tommy John may make it tough for strides to happen there, but I can’t wait to see Jameson back.

CURRENT AAA GROUP

Jeff Brigham has been around for awhile, but his elite sweeper gives me some hope. Brigham will be 33 this season and has appeared in 90 career games between stints with the Marlins 2018-22 and 2023 Mets. Brigham didn’t make it to the majors last year but had 59 K’s in 42.2 IP. The sweeper is legit, just need to improve the arsenal around it.

In 2018 Jose Castillo at age 22 broke into the majors with the Padres and looked to be an electric LHP. 52 K’s in 38.1 IP with a 0.91 WHIP and an eye popping Statcast page.

Unfortunately Castillo followed up his impressive rookie year with a long list of injuries including:

-torn hand ligament in ‘19

-missed ‘20 a lat strain

-Tommy John kept him out ‘21 & most of ‘22.

-Shoulder injuries in ‘23

The Padres threw the towel in last July, Marlins claimed him off waivers but DFA (Designated for assignment) him just a few later and Castillo became a free agent this winter. Hopefully for the Diamondbacks, Castillo can just stay healthy. The 6’6 252 ibs LHP was still hitting 95 in his lone MLB appearance in 2023. Castillo made it into 24 MiLB games last year getting 29 K’s in 24 IP with 3.75 ERA and the Diamondbacks were able to bring him back for 2025. If healthy, Castillo could return to the bigs in 2025.

As for the rest of the AAA list, I’m not too excited about any of those options as none of them touch my prospect rankings.

Lastly, 2 AA guys that could make the 2025 Diamondbacks roster:

RHP Juan Morillo - Was with the Dodgers AA squad in 2024 where he had a 4.76 ERA over 51 IP, 29 BB, 50K, but I finally get my wish as Juan Morillo throws GAS. Fangraphs has a 70 grade fastball attached to Morillo on the 80 grade scale, which is legit.

RHP Landon Sims - I want stuff and Landon Sims has it. A Tommy John draft pick in 2022, Sims returned in 2023 and started to get fully back to pre-TJ levels between A ball levels with 85 K’s in 56.2 IP. In his last full college season on the 2021 Miss St Championship team, Sims had 1.44 ERA with 100 strikeouts in 56.1. Landon Sims is fully healthy and ready to roll, he should fly through the farm system and be an impact bullpen piece soon. I’m really really excited about Landon Sims as I have him as the Diamondbacks #13 prospect in my rankings.

THE STARTING PITCHERS

I’m assuming Jordan Montgomery does eventually get traded. That leaves the rotation at Corbin Burnes, Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly, Eduardo Rodriguez, Brandon Pfaaft. I’d imagine Ryne Nelson stays stretched out as the next SP up, assuming everyone makes it out of Spring Training healthy. Nelson can either be the long RP or go to Reno, but Nelson turned a corner next year and deserves to stay as a SP. I can’t remember a time when the Diamondbacks had SP depth like this and it rocks.

Next tier of SP’s in AAA are Yilber Diaz who needs to develop something outside his wicked curveball to stick as a SP, and Cristian Mena who the Diamondbacks stole last season for Dom Fletcher, but Mena is dealing with an elbow strain right now. I don’t think Nelson, Diaz or Mena become full time RP’s in 2025, so this means the Diamondbacks definitely need to add a RP or two from the outside…

Gambo this week noted that it’s 50/50 the Diamondbacks get a closer this offseason.

This would be awesome if the Diamondbacks can bring in a closer and bump the “core four” down to the 6-8th innings every night. Here’s who I think the Diamondbacks could target for this…

FREE AGENT CLOSERS

Kirby Yates

Kirby Yates was ELITE in 2024, 1.17 ERA 85 K in 61.2 IP 0.83 WHIP. Kirby Yates has actually been great for the last 2 seasons, but has a lengthy injury history and turns 38 in March.

I’d love Yates on a 1 year deal, even at $14-15M. 2 years scares me though, but at age 38 I’m not sure he gets that. Not having to give up prospects and just signing Yates to a 1 year deal would be great.

FREE AGENT CLOSERS WHO COULD BE LATE INNING 6-8 INNING GUYS

David Robertson

He’s older and not as dominant as Kirby Yates, and isn’t quite the clear closer Yates is, but Robertson on a 1 year deal would be a good fit too. Hazen likes his older vet RP’s, but Robertson still is averaging 94.7 MPH on his fastball and striking guys out at an elite 33.3% rate.

Jose Leclerc

Maybe this is just World Series PTSD, but Jose Leclerc had an a strong 2024 with 30.9 K rate, 95.3 average fastball. 36% whiff rate is elite too, Leclerc is 31 so much younger than Yates & Robertson too.

Other free agents I didn’t list but don’t think the Diamondbacks should target include Tanner Scott (too expensive after just 1 breakout season), Carlos Estevez (likely getting multi-year deal for too much), Kenley Jansen & Craig Kimbrel (quickly declining stuff), Hector Neris (4.10 ERA took a big step back in 2024).

TRADE OPTIONS

Pete Fairbanks

I believe Yates & Fairbanks are the Diamondbacks 2 main targets. Fairbanks wasn’t as dominant in 2024 as Yates, but 2023 Fairbanks was.

2023/2024

Pete Fairbanks is pretty affordable too, as he makes $3.6M this year with a $7M club option next year with $1M buyout. There are also incentive escalators such as $1M each for 60, 70 appearances in 2025 and $500,000 each for 25, 30, 35, 40 games finished in 2025. This makes me think the Rays could be inclined to trade him now, since a great season could easily cost them $10M in 2026, which the Rays likely aren’t picking up especially with lower revenues playing away from the Trop this year.

There’s injury concerns and trading with the Rays is always risky, but I’d gladly take Fairbanks as the closer.

Ryan Helsley

This is highly unlikely to happen this offseason, but the Cardinals could make him more available midseason. Helsley makes $8.2M this year and is a free agent next year, but boy is he elite. Sitting at 99.6 with an elite breaking ball, Helsley might have the bet closer stuff in baseball.

The Cardinals reportedly still are asking for a kings ransom for Helsley, but if they struggle out of the gate he could be an early season trade. I just don’t see the Diamondbacks trading a Lawlar or top prospect + for a 1 year rental RP.

MILB/CHEAP FLYERS I’D TAKE

DJ Snelten - 6’7 LHP who is throwing over 100 in bullpen sessions, yeah let’s get that. He’s 34, he’s battled injuries and control, but now fully healthy and a Driveline Pitching Lab superstar, I think Snelten is easily worth a flyer.

Danny Coulombe - Another LHP, Coulombe has been incredible the last 2 seasons with the O’s, but had elbow surgery to remove bone chips in 2024 and got his 2025 $4M option declined. 2.81 & 2.12 ERA’s last 2 years, if you can do a 1 year deal for under that $4M, could be a steal.

Lucas Sims - After finally being healthy in 2023, Sims stayed fairly healthy in 2024 but lost juice. There’ still so many RP FA’s Sims may have to settle for a non guaranteed MiLB deal and is worth a flyer.

You can find a full list of free agent here. If the Diamondbacks actually do add a closer to the “core four”, it would be a legit needle-mover.

-Goldy Happens