The MLB free agent class includes several relief pitchers with closing experience, including Paul Sewald, who appeared in 42 games for the Arizona Diamondbacks this past season.
The right-hander started his career with the New York Mets but only began receiving regular opportunities in the ninth inning after joining the Seattle Mariners.
Sewald recorded 65 saves from 2021-2023, which ranked 10th in baseball. He notched 29 saves across the past two seasons with the Diamondbacks, but saw his overall numbers decline due to injury and inconsistency.
During a recent appearance on the “Foul Territory” show, Sewald said he is focused on finding the best situation for him and mentioned the Los Angeles Dodgers as a potential fit even if means not having a set closer role:
“The most important thing that I want is to go to a situation where I’m going to be comfortable and I can pitch my best. Now, if that’s in the eighth inning in L.A., then that’s the eighth inning in L.A. If it’s the ninth inning somewhere else, then that’s where I’m going to take it. I think for me, most importantly, I’ve shown that I can be a closer. I think teams should respect that as we have our conversations. Like you said, I closed out the NLCS to go to the World Series. I’ve done it almost at the very top, so I know I can do that role.
“I just need to make sure I am in the best situation for me and my family, and somewhere where I’m going to be the best version of myself. I wasn’t necessarily the best version of myself this year, so that is all I’m focused on, is trying to figure out what organization is going to bring out the best in me. Whether it’s new coaches, new analytics, new ideas, and then we’re going to go from there.
“If it’s L.A., they have lots of closers. Lots of people get a chance in the ninth inning. So if it’s Evan Phillips, Michael Kopech, me, or anybody else, that’s part of the situation there and I’ll take that into consideration and we’ll go from there.”
As Sewald noted, the Dodgers bullpen featured several pitchers with closing experience this year, including Daniel Hudson, Michael Kopech, Evan Phillips and Blake Treinen, among others.
However, the team didn’t commit to just one pitcher in the ninth inning and relied on a closer by committee for parts of the season.
The aforementioned pitchers bought into the strategy, and it seems like Sewald wouldn’t have an issue with it either if the Dodgers expressed interest in signing him.
The Dodgers could be in the market for a high-leverage reliever this offseason, with Treinen reaching free agency and Hudson now retired.
Paul Sewald’s 2024 stats
Sewald went 1-2 with a 4.31 ERA, 3.95 FIP, 1.13 WHIP and 16 saves in 39.2 innings for the Diamondbacks this year.
Sewald went into the month of July with a 0.54 ERA but struggled mightily from that point on. Sewald missed most of September with a neck injury and also dealt with an oblique strain that sidelined him for the first six weeks of the season.
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