The Arizona Diamondbacks hope to remake their bullpen this spring. Arizona’s latest move is claiming right-hander Grant Holman from the Athletics off waivers. Left-handed reliever A.J. Puk has been placed on the 60-day injured list as the corresponding move, per Arizona’s transaction tracker.
Holman, 25, is a former sixth-round pick by the Athletics in the 2021 MLB Draft. The right-hander debuted with the club in the 2024 season, posting a 4.02 ERA in 18 appearances. He couldn’t repeat those results in 2025, as the ERA ballooned to 5.09. His season ended in July, as he was placed on the 60-day injured list with a shoulder injury.
Holman’s time with the Athletics came to an end on February 10, as the club designated him for assignment. That came as a corresponding move to the team inking right-hander Aaron Civale on a one-year deal.
What Grant Holman Brings to the Diamondbacks Bullpen
Holman doesn’t carry a strong track record in his career. In 40 appearances, he owns a 4.66 ERA/4.34 FIP over 38.2 innings. But he also carries two options on his contract, giving the Diamondbacks some roster flexibility.
Holman features a four-pitch mix of a four-seamer, sinker, slider, and a splitter. His fastball averages 94.8 MPH, close to the league average for a right-handed pitcher. The splitter is his primary secondary pitch
That mix is more useful against left-handed hitters, who he held to a .256 average and a .685 OPS. Right-handed hitters had more success against him in 2025, putting up a .296 average and a .811 OPS. That presents a potential problem, considering managers like to match up with their bullpen.
Moving forward, the Diamondbacks must come up with a better approach against right-handed hitters for Holman. His slider is in the bullet/gyro shape, with 1.5″ induced vertical break and 0″ horizontal break. The fix for that appears to already be in the works, as the right-hander has started throwing a sinker.
For the 2026 season, Holman projects as an up-and-down arm. With two options remaining, the Diamondbacks can get him reps at Triple-A Reno, then call him up when needed.
Diamondbacks Bullpen Situation Entering 2026
While Holman is one of their latest roster moves concerning the bullpen, there is no certainty this year. Every spot in the bullpen is up for grabs, even as some relievers have the inside track.
General manager Mike Hazen said they’re still working on assembling the back end of their bullpen. One of the relievers he signed for that role is Paul Sewald, who served as their closer in 2023. Behind Sewald, the Diamondbacks made an improbable World Series run. He’s not the same pitcher, but the veteran reliever still could have something to offer the club.
The Diamondbacks will be down quite a few arms to start the season. A.J. Puk and Justin Martinez will begin the season on the 60-day IL. Andrew Saalfrank is out for the season following shoulder surgery. So there is an opportunity for Holman to break camp with a strong spring.
Hazen’s bullpen moves this offseason will draw scrutiny. Budget constraints forced him to pivot to the rotation, signing Merrill Kelly, Zac Gallen, and Michael Soroka. His most lucrative reliever contract went to Taylor Clarke, who got $1.55 million guaranteed.
The bullpen has been a major source of frustration throughout Hazen’s tenure as GM. In 2025, the unit finished 27th in the league with a 4.82 ERA and produced the fewest shutdowns. They’ll need to perform better in 2026, if there’s any hope of postseason contention.
Diamondbacks Make Waiver Move Amid Bullpen Concerns Entering Spring