Miami Marlins: Post Series Grades vs Boston

Brad Ziegler +.135

Brad Ziegler is a 6’4″, 220 lb. right-handed pitcher from Kansas. At 38-years-old, he’s now the senior member of the Miami Marlins after the departure of Ichiro Suzki. He was initially chosen in the 31st round of the 2002 MLB draft by the Oakland Athletics. After not signing, he was picked in the 20th round in 2003 by the Philadelphia Phillies.

Despite that, Ziegler made his debut with the A’s after a few roster moves. His first campaign, in 2008, would see him put up a 1.06 ERA in 59 2/3 innings. He was 3-0 with 11 saves and 30 K’s in 59 2/3 innings. His 3.72 FIP that season suggested that his minuscule ERA was not a repeatable skill.

And the FIP was right in this case. Ziegler did play three-and-a-half seasons for Oakland. Later, he played from 2011 through 2016 with the Arizona Diamondbacks, and ended the 2016 season with the Red Sox.

Ziegler joined the Marlins prior to 2017 through free agency, signing a two-year, $16,000,000 contract. Last season, he was 1-4 with 10 saves, a 1-4 record, 26 strikeouts in 47 innings, and a 1.553 WHIP. Despite that, he has started the 2018 season as Miami’s nominal closer.

Ziegler’s performance in this series, and his placement here as the third most valuable Marlin must be taken with a grain of salt. He was effective in that he pitched a scoreless 10th inning in Miami’s eventual 13-inning loss to the Sox. He ranked so highly because WPA doesn’t account for defense, whether sparkling or error-laden. Otherwise Lewis Brinson and Chad Wallach would have ranked higher.