Marlins sign Brad Ziegler to 2-year, $16 million deal

The Marlins have reached agreement on a 2-year, $16 million contract with reliever Brad Ziegler, a source has confirmed to SB Nation. The deal can max out at $18 million if all incentive clauses are reached.

Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com was first to report the deal.

The addition of Ziegler is the second bullpen addition in as many days for the Marlins, who signed righty Junichi Tazawa to a 2-year, $12 million deal yesterday. Miami initially pursued top closers Aroldis Chapman and Kenley Jansen on the free-agent market, but pivoted to other options once they signed elsewhere.

Ziegler, 37, drew interest from over a dozen clubs this winter, including the Diamondbacks, Red Sox, Yankees, Mets, Nationals and Rockies. The veteran will likely serve as a setup man for the Marlins, being sandwiched between Tazawa and closer A.J. Ramos.

Ziegler spent last season with Arizona and Boston, posting a 2.25 ERA and saving 22 games in 69 appearances between the two clubs. He is a veteran of nine major-league seasons with the Athletics (2008-11), Diamondbacks (2011-16) and Red Sox (2016), owning a lifetime 2.44 ERA and 85 saves in that span.

With Ziegler off the board, teams looking for relief help will likely turn to remaining free agents like Neftali Feliz, David Hernandez and Daniel Hudson.