The Arizona Diamondbacks locked up Zac Gallen to shore up their rotation, but they’re still hunting for bullpen help. That’s where things get interesting.
According to Fansided’s Christopher Kline, the DBacks are eyeing Michael Kopech, the hard-throwing reliever who helped the Dodgers win it all last season. With Los Angeles signing Edwin Diaz, Kopech’s spot in their bullpen essentially disappeared.
Makes sense for Arizona to pounce.
“There isn’t a reliever available with more upside than Michael Kopech, who throws very hard, has great breaking stuff, and does not turn 30 years old until late April. The reason Kopech remains available is likely because of his durability concerns…A team like the Arizona Diamondbacks should be willing to take the risk when it comes to Kopech. They hope to compete in 2026, but with their bullpen as constructed, doing so would be tough. Kopech adds immense upside to the back-end of that bullpen, and would likely be their closer if healthy,” Kline wrote.
The durability thing is real. Kopech only appeared in 14 games this past season, though he was effective when healthy – posting a 2.45 ERA with 12 strikeouts. But let’s talk about what he did in 2024 after the Dodgers grabbed him at the deadline.
In 24 games with LA, Kopech was lights-out: 1.13 ERA, 29 strikeouts, a 0.792 WHIP, and six saves. Those aren’t small-sample flukes – that’s elite relief pitching.
The price tag seems reasonable too. Projections have Kopech landing something around two years, $13.5 million. For a team that’s trying to take the next step, that’s manageable money for a potential closer.
What makes this move appealing is the upside. Kopech’s got the stuff to be a legitimate back-end weapon, and Arizona’s bullpen could use that kind of impact arm. Pair him with Gallen’s presence in the rotation, and suddenly the DBacks look like they’re serious about 2025.
The clock’s ticking though. Other contenders are watching the reliever market closely, and Kopech won’t stay available forever. Arizona would be smart to make their move sooner rather than later.
