Bold headline: Diamondbacks land a familiar arm for a key one-year deal, signaling a strategic return for Sewald and a push to strengthen the bullpen.
The Arizona Diamondbacks have reached an agreement with reliever Paul Sewald on a $1.5 million, single-year contract, bringing the right-hander back into the fold for another season with the club that helped him reach the World Series in 2023.
PHOENIX (AP) — The deal, announced Saturday, anchors Sewald to a $1.5 million pact for 2026, marking his second stint with the D-backs. The 35-year-old reliever joined forces with Arizona after spending last year with Cleveland and Detroit, compiling a 4.58 earned run average over 22 appearances.
Sewald originally joined the Diamondbacks in a 2023 trade from the Seattle Mariners and played a pivotal role in guiding Arizona to a surprising postseason run, culminating in a Fall Classic appearance that ended with a five-game series against the Texas Rangers.
During the 2023 postseason, Sewald was dominant in the first three rounds, recording six saves across eight scoreless innings. However, the World Series exposed some vulnerability, as he surrendered six runs in two innings.
To accommodate Sewald’s signing, Arizona transferred right-hander Justin Martinez to the 60-day injured list due to his elbow surgery.
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