Diamondbacks sign Tyler Clippard to two-year deal

The Arizona Diamondbacks have signed right-handed pitcher Tyler Clippard, they announced on Monday. Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports first reported the move. 

Clippard has signed a two-year, $12.25 million deal, according to Rosenthal. He will make $4.1 million in 2016, $4.15 million in 2017, and get a $4 million signing bonus. 

The Diamondbacks have been interested in Clippard for some time. Cover Those Bases wrote an article on Saturday detailing their interest, noting that they had been in contact with his representatives. 

The Diamondbacks bullpen was mediocre in 2015, and they added Clippard to help them attempt to contend in 2016. 

Their group did post a solid 3.56 ERA (good for 13th-lowest in the Majors), but sabermetrically-friendly stats, FIP and xFIP, suggest that the Diamondbacks' bullpen should have had an ERA of 3.91 (20th) or 3.97 (19th), respectively. 

Clippard has been an extremely reliable pitcher throughout his career but may have had a bit of a hiccup in 2015. This may have scared teams away from signing the Kentucky native. 

The soon-to-be 31-year-old Clippard went 5-4 with a 2.92 ERA in 71 innings last season with the Athletics and Mets. However, his 64 to 31 strikeout-to-walk ratio was the worst of his career (minimum 28 innings). This made Clippard's FIP 4.27. 

According to FanGraphs, Clippard posted an even worse 5.30 xFIP and was worth just 0.2 Wins Above Replacement. 

If Clippard wants to be able to succeed again in 2016, he will need to bring his strikeout rate back up or, at the very least, bring his walk rate down. The Diamondbacks are showing their faith in a bounce-back for Clippard. 

Joining Clippard in Arizona's projected 2016 bullpen are closer Brad Ziegler, Daniel Hudson, Andrew Chafin, Randall Delgado, Matt Reynolds, and Josh Collmenter. 

--Devan Fink

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