Even after acquiring A.J. Puk from the Miami Marlins, the Arizona Diamondbacks are still active in the trade market. According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Diamondbacks are seeking a right-handed relief pitcher as the MLB trade deadline nears.
Rosenthal reports, “The Arizona Diamondbacks, who already have added lefty A.J. Puk, want to acquire a righty reliever as well.”
The Diamondbacks, who made a splash by trading top prospects Deyvison De Los Santos and Andrew Pintar for the 29-year-old left-hander Puk, continue to seek improvements. Puk has been outstanding in relief, boasting a 1.95 ERA with 37 strikeouts in 32 1/3 innings since April. In his first two appearances for Arizona, he pitched two scoreless innings with four strikeouts, indicating a promising future for a team that has struggled at times.
Arizona, following a deep postseason run in 2023, currently holds a 55-51 record and is in contention for a National League wild card spot. Their offense, led by Christian Walker, Ketel Marte, Joc Pederson, and Corbin Carroll, ranks second in the league with 4.97 runs scored per game.
However, pitching has been a weak point for the Diamondbacks, with a team ERA of 4.50, the fifth worst in baseball. Starters Jordan Montgomery, Slade Cecconi, and Tommy Henry, along with relievers Scott McGough, Logan Allen, and Joe Mantiply, have all faced challenges this season. Even closer Paul Sewald has struggled, allowing 10 earned runs in 9.2 innings in July, blowing four saves in 11 games.
To address these issues, the Diamondbacks are targeting right-handed relievers. Options include Athletics reliever Lucas Erceg, who has multiple years of club control, and veteran closer Kirby Yates of the Rangers, who has been outstanding with a 1.21 ERA, 0.938 WHIP, and 18 saves in 37.1 innings. The Rangers, having already traded starter Michael Lorenzen, might also consider moving Yates, David Robertson, Jose Urena, or Jose Leclerc.
A.J. Puk is just the beginning for the Diamondbacks as they look to bolster their bullpen.
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