The Arizona Diamondbacks have signed left-handed relief pitcher Jalen Beeks to a one-year contract on Tuesday. The deal, pending a physical, was first reported by Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic. It’s the first time he’s tested the free agent market. Beeks, 31, pitched for the Colorado Rockies and Pittsburgh Pirates in 2024. He also pitched for the Boston Red Sox (two games in 2018) and Tampa Bay Rays (2018-23). He had signed a minor league deal with the Houston Astros earlier this offseason, but did not make the team out of spring training and was released.
The Diamondbacks are in agreement with a veteran lefty to plug into their bullpen after suffering a pair of injuries late in camp. https://t.co/F39bhNKqyA
— Nick Piecoro (@nickpiecoro) March 25, 2025
Report: Diamondbacks Sign Jalen Beeks to One-Year Deal
For both clubs in 2024, Beeks was 7-4 with a 4.50 ERA, 10 saves in 19 opportunities, eight holds, and a 1.486 WHIP. Oddly, he posted a 100 ERA+ and 4.00 FIP, both of which fall precisely in line with major-league average pitching. Beeks struck out 17.6 percent of batters faced while allowing 8.7 percent to walk. He was better when he left the hitter-friendly Coors Field for the pitcher-friendly confines of PNC Park at the trade deadline. As a Pirate, his ERA was 3.92, although his 3.12 FIP indicates he didn’t have the best luck or support.
Beeks features a four-seam fastball, which he throws about 56 percent of the time. It averages 94.5 mph, a tick below the 94.6 major league average. He keeps the hitters off balance with a change-up, cutter, and the rare curveball.
Everything about Beeks screams “league average.” However, there were two positives to his 2024 season. First, he held left-handed batters to a .202/.283/.287 slash line and just five extra-base hits. Second, he added the word “workhorse” to his resumé, appearing in a career-high 71 games, tying him for ninth in the major leagues. The value of a left-handed reliever willing to take the ball every night is incalculable.
For his major league career, which included missing all of 2021 with an injury, Beeks is 23-15 with a 4.40 ERA and 1.421 WHIP. He’s two years removed from his best season. That was in 2022 with the Rays, when he turned in a 2.80 ERA and 1.164 WHIP. His worst season followed that, when he posted a 5.95 ERA, causing the Rays to place him on waivers after the 2023 season. But that came with a 3.82 FIP, showing he pitched much better than his bloated ERA would suggest.
The Last Word
Arizona obviously did its homework on Beeks and was more encouraged by his peripheral stats than they were scared off by the more “conventional” stats. He could be a good fit if he continues to get the left-handers out while taking the ball frequently.
Photo Credit: © Katie Stratman-Imagn Images
