Free agent reliever Greg Holland has signed a one year deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks for $3.5 million. Incentives could double the deal to $7 million.
This is considerably less than the $14 million he received from the St. Louis Cardinals last season. Holland commanded that money after leading the NL in saves in 2017 with 41 while earning NL Comeback Player of the Year as a crucial piece in the Colorado Rockies' first post-season appearance since 2009. However, Holland's tenure with the Cardinals was an utter disaster. In 32 appearances, Holland saved only three games as he walked 22 batters in 25 innings pitched while posting an ugly ERA of 7.92. The Cardinals released Holland in August and he was promptly picked up by the Washington Nationals. Holland regained his footing in D.C. with a 0.84 ERA in 24 appearances and cut down on his walks.
The 33-year old right-hander will most likely be used as a set up man for Archie Bradley. Having jettisoned Paul Goldschmidt, A.J. Pollock and Patrick Corbin, the D'Backs are not expected to contend in 2019. Should Holland be effective, he could be moved during the trade deadline or they could alternately trade Bradley thus giving Holland another chance to close.
Holland enters the 2019 season with 189 career saves. Of those 189 saves, Holland earned 145 of them with the Kansas City Royals where he pitched from 2010 to 2015 and was the closer on back to back AL pennant winners in 2014 and 2015 earning a World Series ring in 2015 though late that season he would require Tommy John surgery. After missing the 2016 season, Holland made his comeback in Colorado before last year's setback in St. Louis. Could Holland win NL Comeback Player of the Year again in 2019? If he does, he would be the first player in MLB history to win the award twice.
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