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Despite spending nearly 81 days of the 2013 season atop the NL West, the Arizona Diamondbacks were looked at by many MLB pundits as a team that just couldn’t possibly hang with the more potent teams of the national league. Of course, that was the case as the Diamondbacks were leap-frogged in the standings by the Los Angeles Dodgers as Arizona was forced to deal with another mediocre team.
However, Diamondbacks general manager Kevin Towers made a commitment to have a productive winter and he’s done a wonderful job in terms of wheeling and dealing. On Monday, Towers made yet another trade with the Chicago White Sox in a deal that will bring closer Addison Reed to the desert. At just 24 years old, Reed was one of the White Sox best players in 2013 as the right-hander finished the year fifth in the league with 40 saves.
If you can recall; the Diamondbacks struggled in the late innings last year with J.J. Putz and Heath Bell both unable to consistently take the ball in the ninth. The ninth inning shouldn’t be a problem for Kirk Gibson‘s much improved ballclub in 2014. Reed’s career ERA might be above 4.00, but he’s improved each season in nearly every category.
For example, Reed allowed a mere 56 hits in 71.1 innings in 2013. This is magnificent considering Reed was hit rather hard in 2012 with six home runs, 57 hits and a 4.75 era in just 55 innings. Of course, Reed doesn’t come free of cost as the White Sox received third base prospect Matt Davidson in return. However, the Reed move will prove beneficial for the Diamondbacks as those divisional battles with the San Francisco Giants and Dodgers are now more interesting than ever.
Devin O’Barr is the Content Commentator for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @DevinOBarrRS, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
