Former reliever J.J. Putz joins Diamondbacks' front office
The Arizona Diamondbacks named former reliever J.J. Putz as their special assistant to team president and CEO Derrick Hall, the team announced.
Putz, 37, spent 12 seasons in the major leagues with the Seattle Mariners, New York Mets, Chicago White Sox and Diamondbacks. He had a 1-1 record with a 6.59 ERA in 18 appearances last season.
He finished his career with 189 saves, a 37-33 record and a 3.08 ERA. He saved a career-high 45 games with Arizona in 2011, helping the team win the National League West. That season was also the Diamondbacks' last playoff appearance.
"I am very excited to give back to the game that I love and have been fortunate to be a part of for 14 years," Putz said. "To be a part of such a great organization is a blessing.”
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Putz will join an organization that saw wholesale changes in its front office this season. The team fired general manager Kevin Towers on Sept. 5 and dismissed manager Kirk Gibson and bench coach Alan Trammell three weeks later. The team hired former All-Star pitcher Dave Stewart and Chip Hale to replace Towers and Gibson, respectively.
In May, Arizona hired former major league manager Tony La Russa as their chief baseball officer to help turn around the struggling franchise.
According to the team, Putz will assist Hall and other departments within the organization, but also will remain in uniform to help work with the pitchers during spring training.
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