Diamondbacks Acquire A.J. Puk in Trade with Marlins
- The Arizona Diamondbacks traded for left-handed reliever A.J. Puk from the Miami Marlins as part of a significant move.
- In exchange, the Marlins received Deyvison De Los Santos and Andrew Pintar, signaling a potential restructure of their roster.
- This trade highlights the MLB's trade deadline dynamics, with Miami expected to be one of the few teams making significant changes.
In a significant move ahead of the July 30 trade deadline, the Arizona Diamondbacks have acquired left-handed reliever A.J. Puk from the Miami Marlins. This trade marks the first major transaction of a relatively quiet deadline season, as many teams have been hesitant to offload players. In exchange for Puk, the Marlins received infielder Deyvison De Los Santos and center fielder Andrew Pintar, bolstering their roster for the future. A.J. Puk, 29, began the season in the Marlins' rotation but transitioned back to a relief role in mid-May, where he has excelled with a 2.08 ERA and 33 strikeouts over 30⅓ innings. His addition comes at a crucial time for the Diamondbacks, who are currently 53-50 and vying for a wild-card spot. The team’s bullpen has struggled, ranking last in MLB for strikeouts per nine innings, prompting the need for a reliable arm like Puk. The Diamondbacks are also anticipating the return of key pitchers Merrill Kelly and Eduardo Rodriguez from shoulder injuries, which should further strengthen their rotation. Puk will join a bullpen that includes closer Paul Sewald and other right-handers, aiming to improve their overall performance as they push for a playoff spot. On the other hand, the Marlins are expected to continue reshaping their roster, with potential trades involving closer Tanner Scott and other notable players. De Los Santos, a promising power hitter, and Pintar, a speedy center fielder, represent a strategic investment in Miami's future as they look to build a competitive team.