Arizona Diamondbacks Acquire Reliever A.J. Puk in Trade with Miami Marlins
The Arizona Diamondbacks have bolstered their bullpen by acquiring left-handed pitcher A.J. Puk from the Miami Marlins in a trade. In exchange, the Diamondbacks will send minor leaguers Deyvison De Los Santos and Andrew Pintar to Miami.
Puk, 29, has been a solid reliever this season in Miami, holding a 4-8 record with a 4.30 ERA in 44 innings. He has allowed just 36 hits and 27 runs over that span, and has held hitters to a.159 average. Puk started the season in the Marlins’ starting rotation, but was moved to a relief role in May, where he has since posted a 2.08 ERA.
De Los Santos, a first and third baseman, has spent time with the Diamondbacks’ Double-A and Triple-A affiliates this season, hitting a total of 28 home runs while holding a.325 batting average in 372 plate appearances. He was Arizona’s 14th-ranked prospect, according to MLB pipeline.
Pintar, an outfielder, is the team’s No. 30 prospect. The former BYU star held a.304 batting average with the Diamondbacks’ High-A team before being promoted to Double-A.
The Diamondbacks currently hold a 53-50 record, after winning back-to-back games against the Kansas City Royals this week. They will enter a three-game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates this weekend, sitting third in the NL West and just a single game out of the NL wild-card picture. The Diamondbacks’ bullpen has the lowest strikeout rate in the league, with 7.39 K’s per nine innings.
The MLB trade deadline is 6 p.m. ET Tuesday, and it remains to be seen if the Diamondbacks will make any further moves to bolster their roster.
