Report: D-Backs continue to go all-in, sign Tyler Clippard

(AP Photo/Kathy Willens) The Arizona Diamondbacks are really trying to make the National League West the most intriguing division this season. The club continued its offseason makeover Monday, signing reliever Tyler Clippard to a two-year, $12.25 million deal, according to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports.

The 30-year-old Clippard is coming off a season in which he posted a 2.92 ERA over 71 innings with the Oakland Athletics and the New York Mets. While Clippard wasn’t considered an elite option when he hit the market (he ranked seventh among relievers on Jeff Passan’s free-agent tracker), he was the best option available right now.

There might be a reason for that. While Clippard has posted a fantastic 2.50 ERA over 212 1/3 innings since 2013, his peripherals suggest he might be walking a dangerous line. Clippard saw his strikeout rate drop significantly in 2015, from 29.5 percent to 21.3 percent. On top of that, he also walked batters 10.3 percent of the time, his highest rate since 2010. He posted a ridiculously low .211 BABIP, which might explain why his 4.28 FIP was much higher than his strong ERA.

At the same time, that .211 BABIP isn’t all that out of line for Clippard. Over his career, he’s held hitters to a .232 BABIP, one of the lowest marks in the majors. Clippard is an extreme fly ball pitcher, and fly balls tend to turn into outs much more often than grounders. They also lead to home runs more often, and Clippard has run into issues with the long ball over his career. Mostly, though, he’s been pretty solid, even though he occasionally walks a tightrope.

While last season’s peripheral decline is worrisome, Clippard has consistently outperformed his advanced stats over his career. He owns a 2.88 ERA, but a 3.72 FIP and 4.08 xFIP. In essentially every season he’s pitched in the majors, he’s been able to beat out the projections.

Even if there’s some decline, he should be a solid piece for Arizona. The Diamondbacks are clearly going for it this offseason, and Clippard has a strong track record as a workhorse, and a useful reliever. While he may not close, he should be able to take over a significant role in the late innings. That should push other, less qualified relievers down a rung. That’s always a good thing.

[Elsewhere: Marcus Stroman held a Super Bowl party for his teammates and everyone wore onesies]

Clippard may not seem like a big-time signing, but he should play a big role with Arizona this season. The club has built itself into a contender this offseason, but still faces an uphill battle with both the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants lurking. If the division comes down to just one or two games, the addition of Clippard could wind up being pretty important.

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