Overview
- The Diamondbacks designated veteran right-hander Paul Sewald for assignment on Monday after a sharp midseason decline in performance.
- Sewald’s production fell off after June 23, as he allowed 17 earned runs in 10 2/3 innings, served up seven home runs and carries a 6.23 ERA in 45 appearances this season.
- The DFA opens a 40-man roster spot for right-hander Zack Littell, whom Arizona agreed to terms with over the weekend to add starting or long-relief depth.
- Manager Torey Lovullo called the decision “brutal” and emphasized Sewald’s importance to the club, underscoring the human cost of a performance-driven roster move.
- Sewald, a 10-year reliever with 110 career saves, now enters up-to-five-day DFA/waiver limbo when he can be claimed, released, or, if he clears waivers, reject an outright assignment and elect free agency.