The Arizona Diamondbacks agreed to terms with RHP Greg Holland on a 1-year contract. To make room for Holland on the roster, the D-backs designated RHP Jake Barrett for assignment. The D-backs' 40-man roster remains at 40.
Holland, 33, is 1 of 3 pitchers with at least 3 40+ save seasons since 2013, joining Kenley Jansen (3) and Craig Kimbrel (3), and ranks fifth in the Majors during that span with 169 saves, trailing only Kimbrel (244), Jansen (234), Aroldis Chapman (197) and Fernando Rodney (190).
The 3-time All-Star (2013-14, '17) also ranks in the Top 20 of all relievers since 2013 in save percentage (5th, 90.9), opponent OPS (15th, .583), strikeouts per 9.0 innings (16th, 11.64), fewest home runs allowed per 9.0 innings (16th, 0.55), opponent average (18th, .199) and hits per 9.0 innings (19th, 6.45).
In 2018, Holland posted a 0.84 ERA (2 ER in 21.1 IP) in 24 games after signing as a free agent with Washington on August 7, and combined to go 2-2 with 3 saves, a 4.66 ERA (24 ER in 46.1 IP) and 47 strikeouts in 56 appearances with the Cardinals and Nationals. He was designated for assignment by St. Louis on July 27 and released on August 1.
The 5-foot-10, 215-pounder tied for the NL lead in 2017 with 41 saves (also: Jansen/LAD) en route to being named the NL Comeback Player of the Year. Holland also set a Rockies record with 23 straight saves to begin the season, and his 41 saves matched the club mark set by José Jiménez in 2002.
Holland earned the Mariano Rivera Award in 2014 as the best relief pitcher in the AL after posting 46 saves, a 1.44 ERA (10 ER in 62.1 IP) and 90 strikeouts with the Royals. In 2013, Holland set a Royals record as a reliever with a career-best 47 saves and a 1.21 ERA (9 ER in 67.0 IP), and registered career bests in appearances (68) and strikeouts (103), and converted 31 consecutive saves from May 30-September 13.
Holland has gone 23-20 with 189 saves, a 2.83 ERA (133 ER in 423.1 IP), .206 opponent average and 547 strikeouts in 426 appearances over 8 Major League seasons with the Royals (2010-15), Rockies (2017), Cardinals (2018) and Nationals (2018). Additionally, he has appeared in 12 postseason games with 7 saves and a 2.31 ERA (3 ER in 11.2 IP).
The Marion, N.C, native was selected by the Royals in the 10th round of the 2007 draft out of Western Carolina University.
Barrett, 27, appeared in 7 games with the D-backs in 2018, going 0-1 with a 5.14 ERA (4 ER in 7.0 IP). In 3 seasons with Arizona (2016-18), he was 2-4 with 4 saves and a 4.05 ERA (42 ER in 93.1 IP) in 103 outings.