Signings boost bullpen; more sought

The Arizona Diamondbacks have added a pair of hard-throwing relievers over the past three weeks, most recently signing right-hander Miguel Castro on Friday, but general manager Mike Hazen said he is still looking for more help in that area.

“This is not our final move (in the bullpen),” Hazen said. “I mean, I hope it’s not our final move. I hope there is enough opportunity for us out there. Whether it comes free agent, trade, in the future, we’re still very much looking to add.”

The bullpen figures to remain a focus for the Diamondbacks when the winter meetings kick off on Monday in San Diego.

Hazen said Castro had appeal because of the power stuff he brings, including a fastball that sits in the upper 90s along with a slider and changeup. Last year, he logged a 4.03 ERA in 29 innings for the New York Yankees. He had a 3.45 ERA in 70 1/3 innings the year before with the New York Mets.

Hazen said there were things the club hopes to work with Castro to improve, namely his strike-throwing. In parts of eight seasons in the majors, Castro has issued 4.8 walks per nine innings.

It is a noted shift in the way the club has opted to try to build its bullpen for next year, showing an openness to acquire stuff despite questionable command rather than the other way around.

It is not clear which pitchers the club would consider having a leg up on jobs for next season, but Castro would seemingly join a group that includes Joe Mantiply, Kyle Nelson, Mark Melancon and perhaps Kevin Ginkel. The Diamondbacks acquired right-hander Carlos Vargas last month in a deal with the Cleveland Guardians, though they might prefer Vargas to open the year in the minors.

The Diamondbacks’ bullpen ranked 25th in the majors in ERA (4.58). It featured relatively little in the way of power arms, ranking 29th in average fastball velocity (92.6 mph) and last in strikeouts.

“This bullpen is not a finished product and we need to continue to get better,” Hazen said. “How that gets done, I don’t know. There’s going to be a myriad of trades that get discussed over the course of the next seven to 10 days, in which, I’m sure, a lot of relievers could become components of those deals, and then we’re engaged in the free agent market pretty aggressively too. It’s just hard to know where those things are going to end up coming together.”

Strom effect

Hazen said he heard comments from Castro’s camp that suggested one of the reasons he was drawn to the Diamondbacks was the opportunity to work with venerable pitching coach Brent Strom.

“I think we’re hopefully an attractive destination for guys because of the infrastructure we have in place,” Hazen said. “I know that’s not the reason we put the infrastructure together; we put it together from a talent standpoint. But I don’t think players are blind to what Strommy and others have been able to do.

“If you’re looking at it as a one-year deal and you’re looking to go out and try to dominate for a year, I do think the environment you’re walking into matters to try to accomplish that.”

Castro agreed to a one-year, $3.5 million deal on Friday, a contract that includes the potential for a vesting and player option.

Strom gained notoriety for his eight years with the Houston Astros prior to joining the Diamondbacks this time last year.

Hazen said he doesn’t expect players would turn down significant money in order to work with Strom — or join the Diamondbacks for any other reason — but he believes the “infrastructure” the team has created can be appealing to players. He also noted the team’s location in Phoenix, where players can comfortably live year-round, is another draw.

Short hop

The Diamondbacks claimed catcher Ali Sanchez off waivers from the Pittsburgh Pirates. He split time last season with the Triple-A affiliates of the St. Louis Cardinals and Detroit Tigers. The Diamondbacks regard him as a solid defender and depth option at the position.