D-backs Add Rangers’ Jake Diekman To Bullpen
Relievers were flying all over the map in the days leading up to this year’s non-waiver trade deadline, and the D-backs double-dipped in the day’s final hours.
First, they landed Brad Ziegler from the Marlins, then they grabbed Jake Diekman from Texas. Both were landed in exchange for Double-A pitching prospects.
Those two moves, coupled with their acquisition of Twins infielder Eduardo Escobar, should go a long way toward patching up their roster as they prepare for a fight down the stretch with the Dodgers for the National League West crown.
AUG. 17 UPDATE — The Rangers acquired minor league lefthander Joshua Javier as the player to be named later to complete the trade.
DIAMONDBACKS ACQUIRE:
Jake Diekman, LHP
Age: 31
A longtime lefty specialist, Diekman has struggled a bit with command and control over the past two seasons with Texas. Things were especially bad in 2017, when he walked more than eight hitters per nine innings but limited the damage by allowing just 3.4 hits per nine. He’s limited the walks this year, but is giving up more hits. Still, he’s utilized his fastball-slider combination to whiff 11 hitters per nine and adds another option to manager Torey Lovullo’s bullpen.
RANGERS ACQUIRE:
Wei-Chieh Huang, RHP
Age: 24
Signed by the D-backs out of Taiwan in 2014, Huang found success this year in his first taste of the upper levels. He’s not a particularly physical pitcher, but he does bump his fastball up to 94 mph and pairs the pitch with a true downer curveball with 12-to-6 shape when it’s at its best. He also throws a below-average changeup. He struck out 32 and walked just seven in 20 innings before the trade.
Javier signed with the D-backs out of the Dominican Republic in 2015 and spent two years in the DSL before making his U.S. debut in the Rookie-level Arizona League this year. The 6-foot-3 Javier sits 87-90 mph with light armside run on his fastball, and his main secondary is a near-average curveball with big enough shape to be serviceable but not a swing-and-miss offering. Javier has a lean body and doesn’t have a ton of projection left. He’s going to have to grow into more velocity to project as a big leaguer, likely as a lefty reliever with his ability to spin the ball.
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