The D'Backs will release Aaron Heilman, according to Jack Magruder of FOXSportsArizona.com (on Twitter). The 32-year-old, who signed a $2MM deal with with Arizona this January, is about to become a free agent once again.
Heilman posted a 6.88 ERA with 8.4 K/9, 2.8 BB/9 and a 38.5% ground ball rate in 35 1/3 innings of work this year. Bad luck may have contributed to an ugly ERA that was twice Heilman's xFIP of 3.44. He allowed a career-high .360 batting average on balls in play and a career-high 20% of fly balls against him left the yard. His average fastball velocity dipped from 92.3 mph in 2010 to 90.6 mph in 2011.
