Diamondbacks’ Holland officially named closer

Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Greg Holland was officially named the team's closer on Sunday, manager Torey Lovullo announced.

"Greg Holland's stuff really started to be productive," Lovullo said Sunday in a story on arizonasports.com. "As I've been saying for the last couple of days, it takes a little bit of time for a veteran to walk into spring training and know what he's got to do to get where he's got to get to by the end of camp."

Holland, 33, won the starting job over Archie Bradley and Yoshihisa Hirano despite his struggles during spring training, compiling a 12.27 ERA in 3 2/3 innings over four appearances. Bradley and Hirano will be Arizona's setup men.

"It was a great competition," Lovullo said. "Those three guys were getting after it."

Holland and the Diamondbacks agreed to a one-year deal in the offseason worth $3.5 million but could end up doubling his salary if he meets incentives.

The eight-year veteran started the 2018 season with the St. Louis Cardinals and struggled, registering an 0-2 record and a 7.92 ERA in 32 appearances.

The Cardinals released him and the Washington Nationals signed him to a free-agent contract. He had a change of fortune, finishing 2-0 with a 0.84 ERA and three saves in 24 games.

Holland previously served as closer for the Kansas City Royals (2010-15) and Colorado Rockies (2017), and has 189 career saves and a 2.83 ERA. With the Royals in 2014, Holland had 46 saves, then finished with a National League-tying 41 saves with the Rockies in 2017.

In October 2015, he underwent Tommy John surgery and missed the 2016 season.

--Field Level Media