Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson gave J.J. Putz a vote of confidence on Friday, maintaining that despite his recent struggles he will remain the closer.

Gibson did however indicate that Putz's workload will be monitored and that David Hernandez or Heath Bell could receive save chances if the situation dictates. Putz has already blown four saves in nine chances on the season, while sporting a 4.26 ERA and 1.50 ERA. While he's still the favorite for saves in Arizona, another blowup could open the door for Bell or Hernandez to seize his job.

J.J. Putz took his fourth blown save and his first loss after giving up a homer to Pablo Sandoval in the ninth on Tuesday.

In J.J.'s defense, he wasn't the putz who decided Trevor Cahill was good enough to start the ninth and then not good enough to stay in after a leadoff single. Had Putz come in to start the inning with the bases empty, as he's accustomed to, things might have gone differently tonight. His closing gig should still be safe.

J.J. Putz worked around a walk in a scoreless inning Thursday against the Rockies for his fourth save of the season.

Putz retired the first two batters before walking Dexter Fowler, but he was able to strike out Carlos Gonzalez swinging to end it. While the veteran right-hander has blown three saves already, including two in the past week, his job is pretty safe as long as he's healthy.

Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson said prior to Wednesday's game versus the Giants that J.J. Putz will remain his closer.

"He'll close if he's available today," Gibson said. Putz evidently was not available, however, after pitching two of the previous three games, as David Hernandez got the call in a save situation Wednesday and surrendered a game-tying homer. Both Putz and Hernandez have pitched poorly of late, but Gibson figures to go with Putz in the next save situation.

J.J. Putz blew his third save by giving up a two-run homer to Brandon Belt in the ninth inning Tuesday.

Belt, not John Axford or Carlos Marmol or anyone else, is the first major leaguer to three blown saves this season. Still, it doesn't seem like time to be alarmed; he's still pitched scoreless innings in six of his nine appearances and he's struck out 12 batters. David Hernandez would be next in line for saves in Arizona, but it's more likely that Putz will get hurt than lose his job due to ineffectiveness.

J.J. Putz blew his second save of the season Thursday, serving up a game-tying home run to Francisco Cervelli in the ninth inning.

Putz then gave up a two-out single after the homer but got Lyle Overbay to ground out to end it. The veteran reliever has been nearly untouchable in five of seven appearances this season, but he's blown saves in the other two, converting just two of four chances. David Hernandez is out-pitching him, but Putz should have a decent amount of leash left.

J.J. Putz threw a scoreless inning, fanning three of the four Pirates batters he faced, on Wednesday.

It was a nice bounceback outing for Putz, who blew a save in hideous fashion on Sunday. The 36-year-old right-hander carried a good amount of job security into 2013. If he falters, David Hernandez is next in line.

J.J. Putz lost 17 pounds over the offseason after going to gluten-free, dairy-free diet.

Both Putz and Trevor Cahill, who lost 15 pounds, went on the diet upon the advice of te same nutritionist. Putz said he has tons more energy now, which surely can't hurt his chances at producing a third straight strong year as the Diamondbacks' closer.

Diamondbacks signed RHP J.J. Putz to a one-year extension.

Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports that it's worth $7 million. The Diamondbacks already exercised Putz's $6.5 million option for 2013, so the new agreement carries him through 2014. Putz, who turns 36 in February, has a 2.48 ERA and 77 saves over the past two seasons with Arizona.

The Diamondbacks have exercised their $6.5 million option on right-hander J.J. Putz.

That was the expectation all along, but it's now confirmed. Putz will remain under contract for the 2013 season. He would have been owed a $1.5 million buyout had the Diamondbacks declined to bring him back.

Diamondbacks CEO Derrick Hall confirmed he expects J.J. Putz to return next season.

Putz, who finished seventh in the National League with 32 saves, has a $6.5 million option for 2013, with a $1.5 million buyout. "It's likely a priority of ours," Hall said. "He's been outstanding. A great leader and mentor to our relievers. We've had so much confidence turning to him to close out games, it's hard to imagine us not doing so."

J.J. Putz returned to action on Saturday September 15.

J.J. Putz was unavailable Tuesday due to a stiff back.

David Hernandez filled in for him and converted a save against the Dodgers. Putz is considered day-to-day.

J.J. Putz blew his second save in two days Monday by giving up a run in the ninth inning against the Giants.

At least Putz isn't playing favorites after blowing a save and taking a loss to the Dodgers on Sunday. GM Kevin Towers said last week that he was planning to pick up Putz's $6.5 million option for 2013, but an ugly September could change that.

Diamondbacks general manager Kevin Towers indicated Friday that the club intends to pick up J.J. Putz's $6.5 million option for 2013.

Assuming he stays healthy down the stretch, there's no reason why they shouldn't. Putz hasn't allowed a run since June 19 and holds a 2.82 ERA overall. He is 27-for-30 in save chances this year.

J.J. Putz earned his 23rd save of the season Thursday in the Diamondbacks' 2-1 victory in St. Louis.

Putz struck out David Freese, then induced lineouts from Daniel Descalso and Tony Cruz. The Diamondbacks' ninth-inning man is now sporting a 3.26 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 44/8 K/BB ratio through 38 2/3 frames this season. He hasn't allowed an earned run since June 19.

J.J. Putz retired all three Phillies hitters he faced on Friday, en route to his 20th save of the season.

Putz is having a bit of a rough season to this point, registering a 1-4 record and 3.60 ERA while converting 20-of-23 save chances. Still, the trio of Putz, David Hernandez and Takashi Saito represents one of the strongest late-inning bullpens in all of baseball.

J.J. Putz has only been scored upon in one of his last 13 appearances, dating back to May 22.

Popular opinion is that Putz is having a pretty crummy year. On the surface, his first-half stats support this thesis: 4.50 ERA, four losses and three blown saves. Dig a little deeper, however, and perception changes. He has a dominant 29/7 K/BB rate and decent 1.21 WHIP over 28 innings. Through May 9, Putz had a 9.00 ERA over his first 11 appearances. Since that time, he's posted a 2.00 ERA and .504 OPS-allowed over 18 outings -- and all four runs he allowed in that span came in just two games total. Putz is one of the better buy-low fantasy trade candidates in the game right now.

J.J. Putz was slapped with his fourth loss after giving up two runs over one-plus innings of work against the Mariners on Tuesday.

It's hard to levy the totality of blame for the loss on Putz, as the veteran probably shouldn't be tasked with throwing more than one inning at a time at this point in his career. He came on in the ninth inning of a 9-9 game and retired the side in order, but allowed the first two runners to reach after he was sent out in the tenth. Brad Ziegler relieved him and Seattle went on to score three runs, two of which were credited to Putz. The former Mariner closer is suffering through a rough season. Tuesday's outing drops him to 1-4 with a 5.73 ERA and three blown saves. His peripherals aren't terrible, however, so expect improvement going forward.

J.J. Putz returned to action on Saturday June 2.