Diamondbacks Daniel Hudson: The Closer Nobody Owns

By Bill Pivetz | Sep 3, 2016

Jul 29, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher Daniel Hudson (41) pitches against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the seventh inning at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports /

While the Diamondbacks are all but eliminated from playoff contention, there is still some value on the team. Daniel Hudson looks to be the closer and is worth adding.

The Arizona Diamondbacks have done a bit of mixing and matching while in this rebuilding stage. The front office signed an elite starting pitcher and traded for another (hopeful) pitcher, but the latter hasn’t worked out. Moving to the bullpen, Daniel Hudson looks to have transitioned into the Diamondbacks closer. If you need saves in the final weeks, he is someone worth adding.

Hudson has bounced between the rotation and bullpen throughout his seven-year career. He missed the second half of the 2012 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery. While rehabbing, he re-tore the nerve and underwent a second surgery, losing his 2013 season in the process. He missed all but three games of the 2014 season.

After the two surgeries, the Diamondbacks transitioned him to the bullpen. And, so far, that move has worked out for them. In 64 games last season, he had a 3.86 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 9.4 K/9. He also recorded four saves.

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This season started out strong, but Hudson went downhill this summer. His ERA went from 3.26 on June 28 to 7.22 on August 2.

However, over his last 10 innings, he has a 1.80 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and eight strikeouts. He did blow a save on August 26, but bounced back and recorded his second save of the season August 28. He has two holds and a win in that span as well.

The ESPN Closer Depth Chart has Hudson and Randall Delgado as “co-closers.” While Delgado is pitching well, he does not have a save this season. If anything, Jake Barrett would be the next man up.

I understand that Arizona will not provide Hudson with enough runs to come in for the save opportunity, but in the short amount of time left to the season, an extra save or two each week could help you.

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Hudson is owned in just 3.2 percent of ESPN leagues. There are other closers with better save chances available in some leagues. The odds are, if you’re looking for a closer to add this last into the season, then those closers are already owned. He’s pitched well over the last month, which will help your ratio stats in the process.

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