Brad Ziegler was a relief pitcher. On the Arizona Diamondbacks, he became their closer. In 2017, he became a free agent. The Miami Marlins signed him for 2 years and $16 million in hopes that he would be an effective closer.

For three straight years, Ziegler’s ERA was 1.85, 2.82, and 1.52. That all ended with the Marlins. In 2017, he only saved 10 games and his ERA ballooned to 4.79. In the last year of his contract it did not improve. By the end of July he only had 10 saves with a 3.98 ERA. The Marlins gave up and trade him to the Diamondbacks. In the last two months in Arizona, he had no saves. After that season, he retired from baseball at the age of 39.

Giving a 37 year old reliever a 2 year contract seemed like a slight risk. The Marlins did not plan that there would be such a dramatic drop off. Going from an ERA well under 2.00 to almost 5.00 was not in the plans. In his 1 1/2 seasons with Miami. Ziegler saved few games and was not reliable at all, for the cost of $16 million.

Stats
Year
Innings Pitched
Saves
Losses
ERA
WHIP
Strikeouts
1st Year
471044.791.5526
2nd Year
73.21063.911.3050
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    BRAD ZIEGLER

    • Team: Miami Marlins
    • Contract Info: $8M/yr
    • Years Played: 2
    • Seasonal Average
    • Innings Pitched: 60
    • SAVES: 10
    • LOSSES: 5
    • ERA: 4.25
    • WHIP: 1.40
    • Strikeouts: 38