Relievers
1. Jeremy Jeffress (Milwaukee Brewers): 2.27 ERA/1.260 WHIP/26 SV/1 BS/2.3 BB9/6.8 SO9
Jeffress has been a revelation as a closer for the Milwaukee Brewers. He’s currently 26-27 in save opportunities and sports an ERA of under 2.30. He has typical closer stuff as he throws in the mid 90s and couples it with good control of all of his pitches. His only weakness is that he doesn’t strike out as many hitters as one would think being a dominant closer. It is starting to look more and more like Jeffress will stay put because of the recent deals we’ve had involving premium closers. Still the Brewers will listen to offers for them as they are in sell mode, but it will have to take something big in order for them to give away their 28-year-old late inning stud.
2. Boone Logan (Colorado Rockies): 2.40 ERA/0.833 WHIP/1.87 FIP/3.0 BB9/10.2 SO9
Boone Logan has flown under the radar, but he has had a very productive season as a late inning reliever for the Colorado Rockies. Contenders could always use more help in the bullpen, especially if it’s a left-handed reliever. He’s the best lefty available and he does a great job of getting left-handed hitters out, as they are only hitting only .143 off of the 31-year-old. Logan will be a free agent this winter, so it is likely that Logan will be on a new team come August 2.
3. Arodys Vizcaino (Atlanta Braves): 3.00 ERA/1.472 WHIP/10 SV/3 BS/5.5 BB9/11.8 SO9
Vizcaino has kind of lost steam since dominating whenever he appeared in the beginning of the season. His ERA and walks have risen, which has kind of tempered expectations for a trade. Still, the Braves closer has electric stuff and if he can get back his control, he will be a quality close for many years to come. He’s under team control for a few more seasons, so Atlanta doesn’t have to make a move, but they still should be listening on their young righty.
4. David Robertson (Chicago White Sox): 4.15 ERA/1.385 WHIP/25 SV/4 BS/4.6 BB9/10.8 SO9
David Robertson was a lot more likely to get traded before the Nationals added Mark Melancon from Pittsburgh. He would have fit nicely in D.C., but with that now no longer a possibility, a Robertson trade is looking less likely. Even though he is still a quality reliever, Chicago may wait to move him when his stock is a bit higher.
5. Brandon Maurer (San Diego Padres): 4.50 ERA/1.200 WHIP/3.64 FIP/3.4 BB9/10.4 SO9
After the Padres dealt Fernando Rodney to Miami, Brandon Maurer seized the closer’s job and never looked back. His stats may not look great on the surface, but the 26 year-old has been throwing the ball very well as of late. He seems to have closer stuff and the mindset for the role. He also has a knack for striking hitters out, which is crucial to being a dominant relief pitcher. A.J. Preller has said that there has been interest in some of his relievers and Maurer is probably the best of the bunch right now. If there’s interest there is always a chance, but with San Diego having years of control on the right-hander, they should not be pressured to swing a deal.
6. Erasmo Ramirez (Tampa Bay Rays): 3.88 ERA/1.343 WHIP/4.54 FIP/2.4 BB9/6.9 SO9
Ramirez is seen as both a starter and bullpen pitcher by contending teams. He has had success in both roles and is just 26 years old. With so many Rays pitchers available for trade, it may seem far-fetched that Tampa Bay would get rid of a productive and versatile pitcher like Ramirez, but everything is on the table for them.
7. Will Smith (Milwaukee Brewers): 3.86 ERA/1.238 WHIP/4.28 FIP/3.4 BB9/9.0 SO9
This lefty has been rumored to be a possible package with their catcher, Jonathan Lucroy. But there are many clubs that would want Smith in a package all by himself. The 27 year-old is actually tougher on righties than lefties by a large margin. Smith is a solid reliever who could be on the move even though he is under control through 2019.
8. Ryan Madson (Oakland Athletics): 3.89 ERA/1.295 WHIP/22 SV/6 BS/2.9 BB9/7.4 SO9
Ryan Madson has struggled as the closer for Oakland, but he still has good stuff and hasn’t been awful, just slightly disappointing after he had a great year in 2015. Madson is under contract at a fairly high dollar figure for the type of pitcher that he is, but the A’s might cover some of the salary if it means they can dump him off the payroll.
9. Fernando Abad (Minnesota Twins): 2.65 ERA/1.206 WHIP/3.43 FIP/3.7 BB9/7.7 SO9
This Twins reliever is exactly a type of pitcher that gets moved at the MLB trade deadline. He is solid enough, but he won’t change the dynamic of a bullpen. He will be able to work the seventh inning or be a lefty specialist in a good bullpen. He doesn’t make a team’s relief pitching that much better, but he does offer a viable improvement.
Other Relievers Available:
Jim Johnson: 4.10 ERA/1.366 WHIP/3.86 FIP/3.6 BB9/8.0 SO9
Ross Ohlendorf: 4.27 ERA/1.317 WHIP/4.80 FIP/3.7 BB9/9.3 SO9
David Hernandez: 4.37 ERA/1.500 WHIP/4.404 FIP/4.2 BB9/10.8 SO9
Mark Rzepczynski: 3.48 ERA/1.710 WHIP/3.52 FIP/5.8 BB9/9.3 SO9
Daniel Hudson: 6.81 ERA/1.541 WHIP/4.76 FIP/3.9 BB9/7.5 SO9
Joe Smith: 3.82 ERA/1.301 WHIP/4.62 FIP/3.1 BB9/6.0 SO9
Next: Trade Retrospective - Rangers Acquire Hamels
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