It is time once again for fantasy baseball managers to speculate on saves, and while bullpen situations around the league are always changing, there may be no bullpen more unpredictable over the last few years than the one in the desert. The Arizona Diamondbacks’ closer situation could soon see another major shift, and fantasy owners would be wise to start paying attention now.
A.J. Puk has officially begun a rehab assignment for Arizona, and many around baseball expect him to reclaim the closer role shortly after returning to the major league roster. While veteran Paul Sewald has done a respectable job handling ninth-inning duties so far this season, the Diamondbacks may ultimately prefer the higher upside and more dominant stuff that Puk brings to the bullpen.
Sewald has been serviceable, but his ERA sits near 4.00, and at this stage of his career, Arizona may look toward a younger and more electric arm to lock down games moving forward. Before his injury, Puk appeared to be the organization’s preferred option in the closer role, and it would not be surprising to see him quickly work his way back into those opportunities once healthy.
For fantasy baseball players, that makes Puk one of the more intriguing speculative adds currently available. Saves are one of the hardest categories to predict and replace during the season, and getting ahead of bullpen changes is often the difference between winning and losing fantasy leagues. Managers who wait until the role officially changes are usually too late.
Of course, there is another wrinkle in the Arizona bullpen picture. Justin Martinez is also expected to return around the All-Star break, and many believe he could eventually emerge as the long-term answer in the ninth inning. Martinez possesses the kind of overpowering arsenal teams covet in a closer, which means the Diamondbacks could once again shuffle roles later in the summer.
Still, fantasy managers should not let that uncertainty stop them from acting now. Puk appears to have the clearest short-term path to saves, and even a month or two of ninth-inning opportunities can make a huge difference in fantasy standings.
For those with enough bench space or an available injured list spot, stashing both Puk and Martinez could prove to be a very smart long-term strategy as Arizona’s ever-changing bullpen continues to evolve.