D-backs ship Ziegler to Red Sox for two minor leaguers
SAN FRANCISCO -- With their once-promising season continuing to go in the wrong direction and contract negotiations with Brad Ziegler at an apparent impasse, the Arizona Diamondbacks have chosen to move on without their longtime closer.
Ziegler, who owns the club record of 43 consecutive saves, was sent to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for a pair of minor league prospects in a deal that was announced late Friday night.
"I don't really any words to say about it, it's just something that has to happen," manager Chip Hale said following Arizona's 6-2 loss to the San Francisdco Giants. "It's partially (because) we haven't played well enough to keep him. We should have played better and these things wouldn't be happening."
Ziegler is scheduled to be a free agent at the end of the season. Diamondbacks general manager Dave Stewart had been in talks with Ziegler's agents regarding an extension but those negotiations stalled. That led to the trade that netted prospects Jose Almonte, a right-handed pitcher, and infielder Luis Alejandro Basabe.
Almonte, 20, made 10 starts for High-A Greenville this season, going 2-2 with a 3.91 ERA, .294 opponents' average, 13 walks and 45 strikeouts. The switch-hitting Basabe, 19, played in 64 games at Greenville, hitting .310 with 16 doubles, four triples, four home runs, 25 RBIs, 37 walks and 14 stolen bases while playing second base and shortstop.
Ziegler was with the Diamondbacks since he was acquired in a midseason trade from the A's in 2011.
