Diamondbacks deal for Marlins lefty reliever A.J. Puk

Field Level Media|published: Thu 25th July, 23:32 2024

Jul 23, 2024; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Marlins pitcher A.J. Puk (35) pitches in the seventh inning against the Baltimore Orioles at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports

The Arizona Diamondbacks, sitting just outside of a playoff position, added to their bullpen on Thursday by acquiring left-hander A.J. Puk from the Miami Marlins.

Arizona will send two of its top 30 prospects to Miami: infielder Deyvison De Los Santos and center fielder Andrew Pintar.

Puk gives the Diamondbacks a second left-handed reliever to go with Joe Mantiply.

Puk, 29, started the season in the Miami rotation but was shifted to the bullpen after going 0-4 with a 9.22 ERA in four starts. He has proved effective since the switch, going 4-4 with one save, seven holds and a 2.08 ERA in 28 appearances.

Last year, Puk led the Marlins with 15 saves while going 7-5 with a 3.97 ERA in 58 outings, all in relief.

He began his major league career with Oakland as a reliever in 2019, then also pitched out of the Athletics' bullpen in 2021 and 2022. In 174 career appearances (170 in relief), Puk owns a 17-19 record with a 3.85 ERA and 20 saves.

De Los Santos, 21, began the 2024 season with Double-A Amarillo, earned a promotion to Triple-A Reno and has been even better after the move. Overall, the first baseman/third baseman is batting .325 with a .376 on-base percentage, a .635 slugging percentage, 28 homers and 84 RBIs in 87 games. He was rated the Diamondbacks' 14th-rated prospect by mlb.com.

Pintar, 23, the No. 30 prospect, has played for three teams in the Arizona farm system this year, rising to Double-A earlier this month. Overall, he is batting .285/.384/.468 with nine homers, 38 RBIs and 19 stolen bases in 69 games.

Arizona cleared a spot on the 40-man roster for Puk by designating left-hander Joe Jacques for assignment. Jacques, 29, made just one appearance for the Diamondbacks after he was acquired off waivers from the Boston Red Sox earlier this season, allowing two runs in 1 1/3 innings. Most recently, he was pitching for Reno.

The Diamondbacks (53-50) are in third place in the National League West, 8 1/2 games back of the Los Angeles Dodgers. However, they are only a game behind the San Diego Padres for the third NL wild card after winning eight of their past 11 games.

The Marlins (37-66) own the worst record in the NL.

--Field Level Media

Latest