Entering spring training and coming off offseason microfracture surgery on his left knee, Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Brad Ziegler was facing something close to a walk year. He was entering the final guaranteed year of a two-year pact, but the Diamondbacks held a $5.5 million option on him for 2016.
Though Ziegler had a splendid track record – he owned a 2.56 career ERA at the time – a 35-year-old coming off a major procedure is not quite a sure thing. With his future cloudy beyond 2015, Ziegler said in spring he hoped he pitched well enough that the team decided his option was just too affordable to not pick up.