With a once promising season quickly slipping out of hand, Diamondbacks GM Mike Hazen found himself in the line of fire as fans called for immediate changes before the trade deadline.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!There were certainly plenty of areas around the lineup that needed improvement; however, none matched the lack of arms in the bullpen.
Andrew Chafin, the Diamondbacks primary closer, saw his ERA soar to 4.19 after allowing five earned runs in a disastrous outing against the Cardinals. Entering the final inning, Arizona held a 6-5 lead.
While this outing was nothing short of embarrassing, it showcased a common theme that has haunted the Diamondbacks all year. Combine the worrisome performances with a handful of injuries, and Mike Hazen had an important move to make before the trade deadline.
Thankfully, Hazen pulled through by acquiring closer Paul Sewald from the Seattle Mariners.
Sewald has quickly become one of the best closers in the league, and he will continue to blow by batters in 2023. His 21 saves compared to just three blown, along with a 2.93 ERA, are just what the Diamondbacks need in their bullpen.
The 33-year-old’s low-80s slider is arguably the nastiest pitch in baseball.
paul sewald just mowing down batters for 2 minutes #Dbacks pic.twitter.com/iGotamcqQo
— 🌞 (@coletonpao) July 31, 2023
Did Mike Hazen redeem himself with this acquisition?
