The Arizona Diamondbacks have moved on from Paul Sewald in the middle of a tight Wild Card chase.
Sewald, 36, was designated for assignment after a rough stretch that left no room for patience. He had already lost the closer’s job in July, and the move to a lower-leverage role didn’t stop the bleeding.
On Aug. 1, he faced five batters, gave up five hits and didn’t record an out, with all five runners coming around to score. Four days earlier, he had retired only one of the four Pittsburgh Pirates hitters he saw.
Even after back-to-back scoreless outings on Aug. 4-5, Sewald’s spot was not secure. He had not pitched again before Arizona cut him loose.
The right-hander was part of the Diamondbacks’ surprising run to the 2023 World Series, and he had 24 saves this season before being removed from the ninth inning. Across his career, Sewald has 110 saves in 426 games with the New York Mets (2017-20), Seattle Mariners (2021-23), Diamondbacks, Cleveland Guardians (2025) and Detroit Tigers (2025).
The turning point came with the five-run collapse against the Cleveland Guardians last week, which pushed his season ERA above 6.
If Sewald signs with another club before the end of the month, he would still be eligible for that team’s postseason roster.
Phoenix has seen this story before. In July 2024, Sewald blew his fourth save of the season just before the trade deadline, then shifted into a lesser role in August and did not pick up another save the rest of the way. Arizona still won 89 games that year but missed the playoffs.
This time, the Diamondbacks didn’t wait for the late-season reset.
Arizona entered the end of the week at 63-56, tied with the Philadelphia Phillies for the second and final National League Wild Card berth.
The club has not yet officially announced the move, and it also has not said who will fill Sewald’s bullpen spot.
In Other News...
Corbin Burnes Return Carries Huge Stakes For Arizonas Rotation
Corbin Burnes is inching toward a return that could matter a great deal to Arizonas rotation. The right-hander, who signed a six-year deal with the Diamondbacks after his strong 2024 season with the Orioles, has been sidelined since undergoing Tommy John surgery in June 2025, a setback that wiped out the rest of last season and kept him out through 2026 so far.
Now there is at least a real timeline taking shape, with Burnes working back toward game action as the summer winds down. For Arizona, that kind of update carries obvious stakes because a pitcher of Burnes caliber changes the conversation around the entire staff, but the cautious part is still hanging over it all as the club waits to see how his progression holds up. [Read more 🡒]
Diamondbacks Face Crucial Roster Calls As Their Wild Card Push Tightens
The Diamondbacks are trying to thread the needle of a playoff chase while getting important pieces back into the mix. Lars Nootbaar is now in the fold, Michael Soroka is returning from injury to help the rotation, and the club is also monitoring infielder Lawlar as he works back from hamstring issues. It is the kind of stretch that can change the feel of a roster quickly, especially with October still within reach.
Martinez is another name worth watching as the rehab calendar keeps moving. After Tommy John surgery, he has been building back through his assignment and is expected to take the next step soon with Triple-A Reno. For Arizona, the timing matters - every return, every addition, and every lineup decision carries a little more weight when the wild-card picture is tightening. [Read more 🡒]