Diamondbacks DFA Paul Sewald: Stunning Fall for Closer
Diamondbacks Cut Ties with Closer Paul Sewald After Rough Patch
Who Is Paul Sewald?
Think of a closer like the "cleanup crew" at the end of a game. Their job is to come in during the 9th inning (the last inning) and shut the door so the other team can’t score. Paul Sewald was that guy for the Arizona Diamondbacks (nicknamed the "D-backs" or "Snakes").
- He’s a right-handed pitcher (throws with his right hand)
- He came back to Arizona on a one-year contract this past offseason
- He was the team’s main closer for most of the season
What Does "Designate for Assignment" (DFA) Mean?
This is baseball’s fancy way of saying: "We’re taking you off the main roster, and we have 7 days to either trade you, release you, or send you to the minors." Since the trade deadline has passed, the only real option left is putting him on waivers (a waiting list where other teams can claim him). He’ll almost certainly clear waivers (nobody claims him) and become a free agent — meaning he can sign with any team he wants.
The Good Start: Sewald’s Strong First Half
For the first three months, Sewald was lights out. Like, "best in the business" good.
By the Numbers (Through June 19)
| Stat | What It Means | Sewald’s Number |
|---|---|---|
| Saves | Games finished successfully as closer | 18 |
| ERA | Earned Run Average — lower is better | 3.18 |
| Strikeout Rate | How often he strikes batters out | 29.9% (great!) |
| Walk Rate | How often he walks batters (free passes) | 7.5% (good control) |
| Innings Pitched | Total innings thrown | 28 1/3 |
| Runs Allowed | Earned runs given up | Only 10 |
In plain English: He barely let anyone on base, struck out nearly 1 in 3 batters, and almost never walked anyone. He was the guy you want pitching the 9th inning with a one-run lead.
The Warning Signs That Appeared Early
Even during that great stretch, smart baseball folks spotted red flags — little cracks in the foundation.
Three Big Concerns
-
Hard Contact Allowed
Batters were hitting the ball hard off him — worse than league average. Imagine a pitcher throwing 95 mph but the batter still smashing it 110 mph off the bat. Not sustainable. -
Almost Zero Ground Balls
Sewald’s ground-ball rate was only 13.8%.- Ground balls = usually easy outs (hit on the ground to infielders)
- Fly balls = can turn into home runs
- Sewald was basically a "fly ball machine." That’s risky.
- Insanely Low BABIP (.131)
BABIP = Batting Average on Balls In Play.- League average is around .300
- Sewald’s was .131 — microscopic!
- This means when batters did put the ball in play, it kept finding gloves. Luck, not skill. Nobody keeps a .131 BABIP forever. It will regress to normal.
Think of it like this: Sewald was walking a tightrope without a net. He was getting away with risky pitching because balls kept finding gloves. Once the luck ran out… look out below.
The Collapse: What Happened After June?
Starting June 23, the dam broke. And it wasn’t pretty.
The Ugly Numbers (June 23 – Season End)
| Stat | Number | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| ERA | 14.34 | Historically bad. Average is ~4.00. |
| Innings | 10 2/3 | Very small sample — but yikes. |
| Home Runs Allowed | 7 | In just 10 2/3 innings! That’s ~1 HR every 1.5 innings. |
| Runs Allowed | 17 | Nearly 2 runs per inning. |
| Bad Outings | 7 of 14 | Gave up runs in half his appearances. |
| Multi-Run Games | 5 of 14 | Gave up 2+ runs in over a third of outings. |
Season ERA now sits at 6.23 — more than double what it was in June.
What Changed?
- The luck ran out. That .131 BABIP normalized. Batters started reaching base.
- With more runners on base, those fly balls turned into home runs (7 in 10 2/3 IP!).
- The hard contact he allowed all year finally caught up to him.
- The low ground-ball rate meant no easy double plays to escape jams.
The Money Side: How Much Did This Cost?
Sewald’s contract was structured with a low base salary plus incentives.
Contract Breakdown
- Base Salary: $1.5 million
- Incentives Earned: $350,000
- Bonuses for: 25th, 35th, 45th appearances
- Bonuses for: 20, 25, 35 games finished
- Total Cost to Arizona: $1.85 million
Not a bad price for 4+ months of work — especially the first half. But the D-backs decided the last 6 weeks were too damaging to keep him on the roster.
What Happens Next for Sewald and the D-backs?
For the Diamondbacks
- They clear a roster spot for someone else (maybe a younger pitcher, maybe a different veteran).
- They move on from a closer who lost the ability to get outs.
For Paul Sewald
- Placed on release waivers (since trade deadline passed)
- Almost certainly clears waivers (no team claims his current contract)
- Becomes a free agent
- Likely signs a minor league deal with a contending team
- Goes to Triple-A (one step below MLB) to work on mechanics
- Team hopes to "fix" him and bring him back up as bullpen depth
This happens all the time. Veteran relievers struggle, get released, catch on elsewhere, tweak something mechanical, and pitch well again. Sewald has a track record — he can still pitch.
IMPORTANT POINTS TO REMEMBER
- Sewald was elite for 3 months — 18 saves, 3.18 ERA, nearly 30% K rate
- Red flags existed all along — low ground-ball rate, unsustainable .131 BABIP, hard contact allowed
- Collapsed completely after June 22 — 14.34 ERA, 7 HR in 10.2 IP
- Total cost to D-backs: $1.85M (base + incentives)
- Next step: waivers → free agency → likely minor league deal with a contender
- He’s not "done" — just broken right now — many relievers bounce back after a reset
Summary
The Arizona Diamondbacks designated closer Paul Sewald for assignment after a disastrous six-week stretch where he posted a 14.34 ERA and allowed 7 home runs in 10 2/3 innings.
He started the season brilliantly (18 saves, 3.18 ERA through June 19), but underlying stats warned of trouble: extremely low ground-ball rate, microscopic BABIP (.131), and hard contact allowed. When the luck normalized, the results cratered.
The move costs Arizona $1.85 million total. Sewald will likely clear waivers, become a free agent, and sign a minor league deal with a contender hoping to rebuild his value in Triple-A.
FAQ
1. What does "DFA" stand for again?
Designate for Assignment. It means the team removes the player from the 40-man roster and has 7 days to trade, release, or outright him to the minors. Since the trade deadline passed, release waivers are the only path.
2. Why would another team want Sewald after he pitched this badly?
Because he was really good for 3 months and has a multi-year track record of success. Relievers are volatile — a mechanical tweak or change of scenery often fixes things. Low risk, potential high reward for a contender.
3. What is BABIP and why does .131 matter?
BABIP = Batting Average on Balls In Play. It measures how often balls hit into the field of play become hits. League average is ~.300. Sewald’s .131 meant he got insanely lucky — balls kept finding gloves. That always corrects itself eventually.
4. What’s a "ground-ball rate" and why is 13.8% bad for a closer?
It’s the percentage of balls in play hit on the ground. Ground balls = double plays, easy outs. Fly balls = home runs. At 13.8%, Sewald was essentially a "home run waiting to happen" pitcher. Elite closers are usually 40%+ ground-ball guys.
5. Can the Diamondbacks bring him back?
Technically yes — if he clears waivers, they could re-sign him to a minor league deal. But they DFA’d him for a reason: they don’t trust him in high-leverage spots right now. A fresh start elsewhere makes more sense for both sides.
