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Diamondbacks designate underperforming closer Paul Sewald

8/11/2026

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Summary

Story summary

The Arizona Diamondbacks designated reliever Paul Sewald for assignment on August 10, 2026.
Sewald, on a $1.5 million one-year deal, saw his ERA rise from 3.18 through June 19 to 33.75 in August, ending with a 6.23 ERA, 24 saves and a –1.1 WAR.
Manager Torey Luvullo switched to a closer-by-committee, added Zack Littell, and saw Arizona, 63-56 and 7.5 games back, rank 16th in bullpen ERA (4.17) while chasing a Wild Card.

History

Historical Context

When the expansion Arizona Diamondbacks entered MLB in 1998, Buck Showalter’s inaugural squad posted a 65-97 record, reflecting the growing pains of a new franchise that would win 100 games the next season and a World Series in 2001. Persistent bullpen turnover, from early reliever cuts to later roster moves, echoes the team’s long-standing struggle to balance payroll and performance.

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Story summary

The Arizona Diamondbacks designated reliever Paul Sewald for assignment on August 10, 2026.
Sewald, on a $1.5 million one-year deal, saw his ERA rise from 3.18 through June 19 to 33.75 in August, ending with a 6.23 ERA, 24 saves and a –1.1 WAR.
Manager Torey Luvullo switched to a closer-by-committee, added Zack Littell, and saw Arizona, 63-56 and 7.5 games back, rank 16th in bullpen ERA (4.17) while chasing a Wild Card.

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