MLB: Five Trade Destinations for Sean Doolittle

As the MLB trade deadline draws near, one of the top commodities will be late-inning relief help. One potential option? Oakland Athletics lefty Sean Doolittle.

With just over a month until the MLB trade deadline, teams have been inquiring on left-handed reliever Sean Doolittle. The former A’s closer has earned himself plenty of attention by posting a 2.93 ERA and striking out 35 in 30.2 innings.

Doolittle missed almost all of the 2015 season with a shoulder injury, but appears to be back in full form this year. His velocity is back up, his pitches are deceiving hitters, and he seems fully healthy despite pre-season concerns about his injury history.

There’s a case to be made that it makes no sense for the A’s to deal Doolittle, who is not just excellent on the field, but beloved by fans. Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports pointed out that the A’s aren’t doing themselves any favors by continuing to make major changes each season:

…it’s time for the Athletics to commit to a direction, going all-in with their veterans who matter most, and allowing that group to serve as a foundation while the team’s next wave of prospects emerges. The A’s live in no-man’s land. They have no idea if and when they are getting a new ballpark. And while Beane, to his credit, is too competitive to tear down his roster, he’s spinning his wheels with veterans such as Billy Butler and Jed Lowrie.

Doolittle is signed through 2019, with a team option for 2020, and plenty of clubs would love to get their hands on a left-handed closer on those kind of terms – but who are the top contenders for a trade with the A’s?

Next: The Chicago Cubs

Chicago Cubs

When the season began, the Chicago Cubs seemed poised to cruise to the playoffs. Lately, they’ve faltered a bit, losing six of their last ten games. Much of the blame can be placed on a bullpen that has some wondering if the Cubs can afford to wait much longer before pulling the trigger.

The Cubs have rotated through several relievers recently, including rookie left-hander Gerardo Concepcion. The bullpen has gotten less dependable as the year has gone on, after a solid start in April. Prior to Monday’s game, Cubs relievers had posted a 4.21 ERA in the month of June.

What Chicago needs is a veteran they can count on, and Doolittle fits the bill. They’ve had their eye on Aroldis Chapman and Andrew Miller, but there’s no guarantee that either will be made available by the Yankees. As long as New York is attempting to stay in the playoff race, Doolittle is the next best thing.

The Cubs have what they need to be a true World Series contender in 2016. Their rotation is outstanding, and their lineup is nearly unstoppable – but their bullpen is costing them. Doolittle could help them in the late innings, giving Joe Maddon more options early in the game. A team as good as Chicago should not be relying on unproven rookies like Concepcion.

In recent seasons, the Cubs and Athletics have been very active trade partners, so it’s definitely probable that the two could reach an agreement that would send Doolittle to Chicago for the final three months of the season.

Next: The Texas Rangers

Texas Rangers

The Texas Rangers no longer have the worst bullpen ERA in baseball, but they do still have the worst in the American League, edging out the last-place Minnesota Twins. They’ve also struck out the fewest hitters in the AL, and opponents have hit an astonishing .791 OPS against them.

In short, the Rangers need to improve their bullpen if they want to hold on to their lead in the AL West. Like the Cubs, they have a ten-game lead over their closest division rival, and it’s imperative that they make some moves in order to hang on to that advantage. Doolittle would be a good fit for Texas, and Billy Beane has never hesitated to trade with a division rival mid-season if he can get what he wants in return.

General manager Jon Daniels has expressed repeatedly in recent weeks that he’s not yet ready to make moves, focusing instead on the pitchers that are currently on the disabled list and may return soon.

“We want to get our arms around where our guys are,” Daniels said. “We want to know who will be back and what to expect from them. We’re spending most our time on that.”

But that would be pretty foolish for the Rangers, given that the rest of the team is playoff-worthy. Their rotation has the second-best ERA in the AL, behind only the Cleveland Indians – it’s just their bullpen that needs to improve.

Daniels points to relievers like Keone Kela and Tanner Scheppers, who will be back from the disabled list before the deadline – but none of them are on the same level as Doolittle.

Next: The Miami Marlins

Cleveland Indians

The Cleveland Indians have gone with an all-right-handed pitching staff with frequency in 2016. Not only is their rotation composed of five right-handers, their bullpen has, at times, been equally lacking in southpaws.

However, the Tribe hasn’t used their bullpen much at all lately, and when they do, Terry Francona relies heavily on Bryan Shaw and Cody Allen. That means lefty Tom Gorzelanny has only made five appearances since being added to the Tribe’s roster at the start of June. In 2.1 innings of work, he’s struck out three and walked two, but has yet to allow a hit or a run.

The Indians are in it to go all the way in 2016, and Doolittle could be the lefty they’re looking for. Their next-best in-house option is Kyle Crockett, who has struggled in his brief time with the Tribe this season. Right now, they have a respectable six-game lead on the Royals, but they are in no way guaranteed a playoff spot.

Shoring up a weak area of their bullpen would be a good way to make a move without disrupting the balance of the team. Gorzelanny has been excellent, but he’s also barely had the opportunity to pitch – and he’s coming off a season in which he posted a 5.95 ERA in 48 appearances with the Tigers. That’s a big risk to take for a team in the midst of a playoff race.

Doolittle’s team-friendly deal mirrors the type of deals that Cleveland offers their players, and it would make him a great fit financially for the Indians, as well.

Next: The Baltimore Orioles

Baltimore Orioles

The Baltimore Orioles are leading the AL East, but the Red Sox aren’t far behind. In order for the O’s to maintain their lead, they must make some moves at the deadline. Doolittle would be a nice pickup for them, as their bullpen has been a bit in flux as of late.

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The Orioles have one of the best bullpens in the game. So far this year, they’ve posted a 3.08 ERA, striking out 236 batters in the process. But they’ve also pitched over 257 innings, which is on the high side for a playoff-bound team. Almost every bullpen with more innings of work belongs to a non-contending team.

As the season goes on, Baltimore’s relievers are going to feel those innings, and it could be a liability later in the season. One option for them is to upgrade their rotation at the deadline, and find some starters who can last six innings or more each time out. But an easier choice, and one that would cost them fewer prospects, would be to pick up a reliever like Doolittle to lengthen the back end of the bullpen.

Orioles setup man Darren O’Day is working his way back from a hamstring injury and will certainly rejoin the team at some point before the deadline (although his last bullpen session didn’t go as smoothly as the team had hoped it would). Even once O’Day returns, Doolittle could be a big help to the Orioles.

Next: A's rookie Mengden off to hot start

By adding another pitcher with closing experience, the O’s can compensate for a rotation that isn’t very good at staying in the game. A veteran bullpen arm might be the difference between making the playoffs and missing out.