The Miami Marlins have added to their bullpen again, agreeing to a two-year, $16 million deal with right-hander Brad Ziegler, a source told ESPN's Jim Bowden, confirming a story first reported by Fox Sports.
The moves come on the same day the Marlins officially signed another ex-Boston Red Sox reliever, Junichi Tazawa.
The Red Sox acquired Ziegler in a July 9 trade that sent Single-A pitcher Jose Almonte and Single-A infielder Luis Alejandro Basabe to the Arizona Diamondbacks. In 33 appearances for Boston, Ziegler posted a 1.52 ERA, 31 strikeouts, 11 walks and a career-best 9.4 strikeouts per nine innings.
Ziegler, 37, is particularly effective against right-handed hitters because of his dropped-down submarine-style delivery. In 2016, he held righties to a .630 OPS compared to .723 against lefties, which was more or less in line with his career totals (.559 OPS vs. righties, .757 OPS vs. lefties).
Ziegler made $5.5 million in 2016, the option year of an original two-year, $10.5 million contract that he signed with Arizona in 2014.
Tazawa finalized his $12 million, two-year contract with the Marlins on Friday after passing a physical. The deal came with an endorsement from Ichiro Suzuki, the Marlins' outfielder and 3,000-hit club member.
What was Suzuki's scouting report on his fellow native of Japan?
"That he's a very good pitcher and can help us,'' president of baseball operations Michael Hill said. "He signed off, and that was good to know.''
Miami swung the deals for the right-handers after falling short in its pursuit of high-priced closers Aroldis Chapman and Kenley Jansen.
"We know there's competition for players,'' Hill said. "You have a Plan A, but you have a Plan B, C and D to accomplish your goal.''
A.J. Ramos remains the closer, at least for now, and Tazawa and Ziegler should help compensate for the loss of left-hander Mike Dunn to Colorado in free agency.
The Marlins also have acquired starting pitchers Edinson Volquez and Jeff Locke to help compensate for the loss of ace Jose Fernandez, who died in a boat crash in September. They added A.J. Ellis as their backup catcher.
ESPN Red Sox reporter Scott Lauber and The Associated Press contributed to this report.