Diamondbacks Rebuild Bullpen With Signings

The Arizona Diamondbacks have propped up their bullpen this week with a couple of key signings. The big move is the announcement of a 1-year deal to bring back their former starter, and now a closer, Ian Kennedy.

He's back!

The #Dbacks have agreed to a 1-year deal with a mutual option for 2023 with Ian Kennedy, who played in Arizona from 2010-13.

Hasn't aged a day either. 😉 pic.twitter.com/W6FBOAPbHN

— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) March 16, 2022

According to Jon Heyman, the deal is worth $4.75M, with another $2.35M in incentives. 

Kennedy last pitched for the D-Backs in 2013, completing a successful four-year run in the desert in which he went 48-34 as a starter, and posted a 3.82 ERA. 

Since 2019, the now-37-year-old has transformed himself into a closer, posting 30 saves for the Kansas City Royals in 2019, and another 26 last season, split between the Texas Rangers and the Philadelphia Phillies. 

The D-Backs also added another former Texas closer, Keone Kela, on a minor league contract. Kela has only managed to pitch 12 innings over the last two years due to injury, but in 2018, he saved 24 games for the Rangers. 

Photo Credit: Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK