Diamondbacks have been in contact with Tyler Clippard

It is no secret that the Arizona Diamondbacks want to contend in 2016. 

They went out and signed Zack Greinke to the largest contracts in Major League Baseball history on a per year basis. They acquired Shelby Miller for a former No. 1 overall pick. And they dealt for Jean Segura in hopes that he has a rebound campaign. 

Even as the offseason begins to dwindle, the Diamondbacks may not be done making upgrades. 

According to Jack Magruder of FanRagSports.com, the team has been in contact with the representatives for right-handed relief pitcher Tyler Clippard. 

He would add to an underwhelming bullpen that registered a fairly solid 3.56 ERA (13th-lowest in ML), but a below average 3.91 FIP (20th) and an even worse 3.97 xFIP (19th). 

The team was led by closer Brad Ziegler, who, in his first season of doing the job, was superb. He posted a 1.85 ERA (though a 3.44 FIP) and saved 30 games in 32 chances. 

Clippard would likely be a set-up man in Arizona. This is a spot where he has spent the majority of his career. 

Clippard, who turns 31 in less than a week, went 5-4 with a 2.92 ERA with the Oakland Athletics and New York Mets last season, posting a 64 to 31 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 71 innings pitched. Clippard's high walk rate was nothing new. His 3.9 BB/9 in 2015 was just 0.2 above his career average. 

When Clippard has kept his walk rate under three walks per nine, he is phenomenal. 

This was demonstrated in 2011, when Clippard posted a 1.83 ERA in the Washington Nationals' bullpen. His strikeout-to-walk ratio was 104-to-26 in 88 1/3 innings. He was named to the National League All-Star team. The other time he did that, 2014, Clippard was also named to the All-Star team. 

The Diamondbacks, if they strike a deal with the former 2003 9th round pick of the Yankees, would be getting a valuable pitcher to help deepen their bullpen. 

​--Devan Fink

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