Marlins break bank to bolster bullpen
The perennially thrifty Miami Marlins have become big spenders.
Two people familiar with the deal said right-hander Brad Ziegler agreed Friday to a US$16 million, two-year contract with the Marlins, who added their second former Red Sox reliever in as many days. The deal won’t be final until Ziegler passes a physical. The agreement came shortly after right-hander Junichi Tazawa finalized his US$12 million, two-year contract with the Marlins.
Miami is hoping a deep bullpen will give manager Don Mattingly lots of options to help compensate for a rotation weakened by the loss of ace Jose Fernandez, killed in a boat crash in September.
“I’m very excited with how our bullpen looks,” said president of baseball operations Michael Hill, speaking before the Ziegler deal was confirmed. “We wanted to create as much depth and talent and versatility as we could, and give Donnie as many options as possible to potentially shorten the game.”
Ziegler is a nine-year veteran with a career ERA of 2.44 and 85 saves.
Tazawa had been with the Red Sox since his rookie year in 2009, and has a career ERA of 3.58. Miami swung the deals for both pitchers after failing to land highpriced closers Aroldis Chapman and Kenley Jansen.
The Marlins have also acquired starting pitchers Edinson Volquez and Jeff Locke this off-season, and they added A.J. Ellis as their backup catcher.