MLB Trade Deadline: 10 Potential Relief Pitcher Targets

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The 2016 MLB trade deadline is rapidly approaching – which top relievers will find themselves with a new team in the second half of the season?

The upcoming trade deadline is going to be one of the most complex in recent history. There are no longer just buyers and sellers – there are also plenty of teams who should be sellers, but aren’t yet willing to admit defeat. With the second Wild Card, teams are less likely to call it quits in July, and more likely to try to add that one piece that the front office believes will put their club over the top and on track to the pennant.

One of the hottest commodities this summer will be relief pitching. Many of the teams who are out of the race have excellent bullpens, and most of the contenders could use minor (or major) upgrades in the relief department. Which relievers are we likely to see on the trade block, and where will they end up?

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#10: Jeanmar Gomez

When it comes to pitchers who have turned their careers around after a move to the bullpen, perhaps none have done it as well as right-hander Jeanmar Gomez. After spinning his wheels in Cleveland’s rotation, Gomez found his role as a reliever with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Last season, Gomez signed with the Phillies, where he made 65 appearances over 74.2 innings, finishing the year with a 3.01 ERA. In 2016, Gomez has posted a 2.79 ERA through 27 appearances, racking up a league-leading 18 saves, as well as 22 strikeouts.

Gomez might not be a big name, but teams searching for relief help will love his price tag: he’s slated to make just $1.4 million this season, despite being a lights-out closer.

Possible Landing Spot: Texas Rangers or Boston Red Sox

Gomez primarily throws a sinker and generates a lot of groundouts, which makes him a good candidate for any team – but someone who plays their home games in a hitter-friendly ballpark could take advantage of his below-average fly ball rate, limiting late-inning home runs.

Next: The Side-arming Setup Man

#9: Joe Smith

The Los Angeles Angels aren’t quite out of the race yet, but they may be before long. Garrett Richards, Andrew Heaney and C.J. Wilson are all on the 60-day disabled list, and there are plenty of other big names out with short-term injuries. Even with Mike Trout and Albert Pujols, it’s hard to overcome that many losses. Which leads us to Joe Smith, the Angels’ outstanding side-arming right-hander.

Smith is in the final year of a three-year, $15 million contract, and he’s posted a pretty rough ERA, at least for him: 3.91 over 25 games. A change of scenery could be just what Smith needs, as he’s been consistently outstanding over the last five years.

The worry for some teams is that Smith’s arm has been heavily used. Across 10 seasons, Smith has pitched 544 total innings, and it’s possible that he’s finally wearing down. This season’s struggles appear to come back to a handful of bad outings, however, and his low cost makes him worth the risk for two to three months of work.

Possible Landing Spot: Cleveland Indians

Smith and the Cleveland Indians were deep into contract talks before he signed with the Angels, since the right-hander is from Ohio and spent five years in the Tribe’s bullpen. The Indians front office wouldn’t budge past two years, so Smith eventually moved on, but a reunion is not out of the question – especially given that Tribe leadership has changed since then.

Next: A Lesser-Known Closer

#8: Jeremy Jeffress

Jeremy Jeffress is another pitcher who has flown under the radar, in part because his success has come primarily as a member of the woeful Milwaukee Brewers. Like Gomez, Jeffress is an inexpensive closer who gets the job done, but because his team is out of contention, it has resulted in little national attention.

In 2016, Jeffress will make just $519,100. Yet he owns a 2.36 ERA and is ranked sixth in the National League in saves this season. He’s also struck out 19 batters in 26.2 innings, while walking just five. Any team that acquires him would be getting a steal.

The Brewers, who are 26-31 (not to mention 14 games behind the front-running Cubs) are likely to be sellers at the deadline. They would be better off to get what they can for Jeffress, and after three straight seasons of success, he should be worth plenty. Last year, he posted a 2.65 ERA, proving that he’s not a one-season wonder.

Possible Landing Spot: Toronto Blue Jays

Could Jeffress have a reunion with his old team, too? He had a rough start to 2013 with the Jays before being released, but he ironed out his issues as a Brewer. They could certainly use his help if they want to stay in contention. If not Toronto, look for a small market team with plentiful prospects to take advantage of the low-cost Jeffress – perhaps the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Next: A Middle Reliever

#7: John Axford

There was a time when right-hander John Axford led the league in saves. That time, of course, was all the way back in 2011 – and he then struggled to repeat that success for the next four years.

Last season, Axford posted a 4.20 ERA with the Colorado Rockies, as he faltered in the pitcher-unfriendly confines of Coors Field. Off the field, Axford was also dealing with personal issues that kept him from fully focusing on baseball.

With the drama of 2015 behind him, Axford has enjoyed quite a bit of success as a setup man in the Oakland Athletics’ bullpen this year. Over 23 appearances, he’s posted a 3.04 ERA, struck out 20 batters, and walked five. He’s also earned a 3-1 record and picked up seven holds and one save.

The caveat here is that his success came with the Athletics – and consequently, the Oakland Coliseum’s extensive foul territory and deep outfield. This would be a riskier pick that most of the other names on the list, in part due to the $10 million Axford is owed through 2017.

Possible Landing Spot: Chicago Cubs

The Chicago Cubs have an excellent closer, even if he hasn’t had the opportunity to pitch often, but an additional middle reliever wouldn’t hurt. Axford would be an upgrade for the Cubbies, and the A’s have certainly proven they like to trade with Joe Maddon’s club. A second option? The crosstown-rival White Sox, who are another one of Billy Beane’s go-to trade partners.

Next: The Young Flamethrower

#6: Arodys Vizcaino

What’s it like to be the best player on a bad team? Arodys Vizcaino might be able to answer that. The Braves have had a rough season so far, but Vizcaino has still managed to pick up six saves. He’s also struck out 34 of the 99 batters he’s faced, posting a 1.52 ERA in 23 appearances.

Vizcaino’s talent is wasted on a Braves team that had only won 16 games heading into play on Tuesday. He won’t be a free agent until 2020, but the Braves won’t be contending anytime soon. Vizcaino is already making $897,000 this season and will be arbitration eligible next winter. In order to justify that expense, Atlanta would need to have a clear path toward contention going forward, and they don’t appear to have that.

The 2015 season was equally successful for Vizcaino, as he posted a 1.60 ERA over 36 appearances. He’s young, he’s proven himself for multiple seasons, and – perhaps most importantly – he isn’t overworked. With just under 80 innings of major league service time on his arm, the 25-year-old is a prime candidate for trade talks.

Possible Landing Spot: Pittsburgh Pirates

Vizcaino is inexpensive, which is attractive to small market clubs, and he would bolster the Pirates’ bullpen both this season and for years to come. Meanwhile, the Braves could benefit from one of the power-hitting prospects in Pittsburgh’s farm system, which is one of the most loaded organizations in baseball. It’s a perfect match.

Next: The Comeback Kid

#5: Ryan Madson

Ryan Madson could have easily been the 2015 Comeback Player of the Year after rejuvenating his career in the Kansas City Royals’ bullpen. Madson had missed the previous three seasons as he attempted to return from injury, but the Royals gambled on him and won.

Last year, Madson posted a 2.13 ERA over 63.1 innings, making 68 appearances and striking out 58 batters. His work helped the Royals in their quest for a World Series win, all while setting him up for a big deal in the offseason.

Madson received just that, snagging a three-year, $22 million contract with the Oakland Athletics. Due in part to some early-season struggles by A’s left-hander Sean Doolittle, Madson took over as full-time closer in May and has already saved 12 games. He’s also posted a 2.66 ERA and struck out 17 in 23.2 innings.

Possible Landing Spot: Washington Nationals

Madson’s contract is a hard sell for a lot of teams, but the Nationals would have the spare cash to pay him. They could also use the help, as their overall bullpen ERA is one of the worst among contending teams. Madson would fortify their relief options and give the Nats a backup plan in the event something goes wrong with Jonathan Papelbon.

Next: The Closer Turned Setup Man

#4: Andrew Miller

In 2015, the New York Yankees found a replacement closer for David Robertson in left-hander Andrew Miller. In 60 games, Miller posted a 2.04 ERA over 61.2 innings, striking out an astonishing 100 batters. Yes – Miller struck out more than 40 percent of the 246 batters he faced.

This season, Miller’s 47 percent strikeout rate shows that he has continued to blow away hitters. He’s put up a 1.14 ERA, allowing just 13 hits and three walks in 23.2 innings, while notching 42 strikeouts.

Despite those outstanding numbers, he has competed with Aroldis Chapman for attention in the bullpen since Chapman’s return from suspension. It seems doubtful that the Yankees need both All-Star closers, since they’ve dropped to fourth place in the AL East. While being six and a half games back on June 7th is hardly insurmountable, New York is behind what seems to be an unstoppable Boston Red Sox lineup.

Of course, Miller’s salary will be a holdup for some small-market teams. The 31-year-old is signed through 2018, and is owed $9 million in each of those seasons. The Yankees would likely have to chip in if they want to send him to a low-payroll club.

Potential Landing Spot: Seattle Mariners

The Mariners have a pretty solid bullpen, but they’ve shown a willingness to go out and spend to improve. They need something to push them over the edge against the front-running Texas Rangers, and have the payroll space for an arm like Miller. But a surprise bidder could be the Kansas City Royals, who may be willing to spend to make it back to the World Series after losing part of their outstanding bullpen in the off-season.

Next: The Lefty Closer

#3: Sean Doolittle

Left-handers are a hot commodity on the relief trade market, and Athletics reliever Sean Doolittle is no exception. Doolittle, who was an All-Star in 2014 but missed nearly all of 2015 with shoulder issues, is back in form this season.

The 29-year-old lefty has pitched just over 24 innings so far and owns a 2.59 ERA. He’s struck out 32 batters in 28 appearances, and he’s certainly on an upswing. To start the year, Doolittle blew a save and lost his closer job to Ryan Madson, who was originally slated to split ninth-inning duties with Doolittle on a platoon-matchup basis.

After the early April dramatics, Doolittle settled in nicely and has become the go-to left-hander in the A’s bullpen. Although Madson has pitched well enough to retain the closer’s job, Doolittle would be a good fit on nearly any roster in the eighth or ninth inning.

The downside with Doolittle is that he’s less than a year removed from a serious shoulder injury, but he seems fully healthy this season. He’s signed through 2020 and owed just over $20 million, but the contract is a team-friendly one. Doolittle is only guaranteed about $7 million of that through 2018, with the remaining money and final two years being team options.

Potential Landing Spot: Cleveland Indians

Doolittle could be a good option here. While they would normally run from such a lengthy contract, the team options make Doolittle the perfect candidate for Cleveland, since that is similar to how they structure their own deals. The Indians are also desperately in need of left-handed relief help, as they’ve had to go with an all right-handed bullpen at times this season.

Next: The Eccentric Closer

#2: Fernando Rodney

In 2015, Fernando Rodney pitched so poorly for the Mariners that Seattle sent him to the Chicago Cubs for almost nothing. He turned things around, finishing the year with a 0.75 ERA in 14 outings for the Cubs, including 15 strikeouts.

After signing with the San Diego Padres in the off-season, Rodney has been unhittable. Perhaps that’s not exactly true – he has given up eight hits, and he’s walked 10 – but against 79 batters in just over 21 innings, Rodney has yet to allow a run. Rodney has also saved 11 games for the Padres, who only have 24 wins on the year.

His price tag makes him an even more desirable pickup. Rodney took a $1.6 million deal this year, with a team option for $2 million in 2017. A team who wants to take a gamble on his resurgence may need to cough up a decent prospect to convince the Padres to part ways with him, but since they’ve already begun dealing away players like James Shields, it’s probably not long before the relievers start to go too.

Possible Landing Spot: New York Mets

The Mets have one of the best rotations in baseball, if not the best, but teams always need more quality relievers. Rodney’s distinct personality would fit in on a team where the starting pitchers go by superhero aliases and Bartolo Colon does Bartolo things. A Rodney trade is a bit of a wild card, given that the Padres seem to think they can contend every season, but he would be a good match for New York if they decide to deal him.

Next: The Flamethrowing Closer

#1: Aroldis Chapman

Aroldis Chapman will likely be the most-discussed reliever in terms of the trade deadline. So far this year, he’s made 14 appearances for the New York Yankees, saved 10 games, and posted a 2.08 ERA. He’s also struck out 19 batters in his limited time since returning from a 30-game suspension.

More from Call to the Pen

The Yankees don’t need both Andrew Miller and Chapman, so look for at least one of them to be dealt. If New York comes to its senses and realizes that the team isn’t a true World Series contender this year, the Yanks could trade both of them – but that seems unlikely. (And with their payroll, they can get away with it.)

The left-handed Chapman was acquired from the Reds over the winter, despite the fact that Miller was already an outstanding closer. Chapman is equally good, with 100+ mph fastballs that have helped make him a four-time All-Star with the Cincinnati Reds. His career 2.17 ERA over seven years and 332 innings is phenomenal, and he strikes out plenty of batters – 565 total, to be exact.

Chapman is going to be a free agent at the end of the year, so his $11.3 million contact is not likely to be an impediment to most teams (excluding, of course, small market clubs like the Indians and Pirates). Of course, any club who trades for Chapman is also trading for the baggage that accompanies his early-season suspension for domestic violence, but in the end, most general managers will base their trade decisions on on-field performance.

Next: Yankees Should Sell

Possible Landing Spot: New York Yankees

Yes, even though a potential Chapman trade will generate a lot of discussion among general managers and fans alike, ultimately, it’s hard to see the Yankees giving up on the season. They might deal Miller, but Chapman was their big off-season acquisition, and selling him off is a good way to anger the fanbase. Since the Yanks can just buy more players next year, they don’t need to trade in the way that teams like the Athletics and Brewers do. Chapman will still be in pinstripes after the deadline passes.

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