Veteran reliever Tyler Clippard is returning for his second stint with the Arizona Diamondbacks. According to multiple reports, Clippard and the Diamondbacks agreed to a one-year contract earlier this week.
Clippard, who already played in Arizona back in 2016, will earn $1.75 million in 2021 according to the agreement. There is also a $3.5 million mutual option for 2022 that comes with a $500K buyout.
The news is expected to become official once Clippard undergoes his physical.
Clippard spent the shortened 2020 MLB season with the Minnesota Twins. He played 26 games, posting a 2.77 ERA with 26 strikeouts and a 2-1 record. The Twins had the interest to keep him, but the two sides couldn’t get to a deal.
The 36-year-old veteran, who has two All-Star nods, is expected to bolster the Diamondbacks’ bullpen that has been painfully inconsistent in recent years. He will join another new addition Joakim Soria and several returning players from 2020, including closer Stefan Crichton, setup man Kevin Ginkel, and relief pitcher Alex Young.
Tyler Clippard made his MLB debut in 2007 and went on to play for 10 more different organizations. He has a 55–47 career record with 3.13 ERA, 931 strikeouts, and 98 saves.
