Dodgers: Three ‘Big Ticket’ Relievers to Target at the Deadline
The Los Angeles Dodgers have established themselves as one of the best in baseball, but with Kenley Jansen looking shaky they need to fortify their bullpen. What reliever should the Dodgers target to cement their status as World Series favorites?
2019 has been a good year for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Real good. The club came into Opening Day with high expectations, projected to win 93 games while holding the highest odds of reaching the postseason at 89.8 %. Sure enough, they look to outperform even the loftiest predictions.
The Boys in Blue have the best record in the Majors at 63-34 and are projected to finish the season with a league-high 101 wins. On top of that, the Dodgers employ MVP candidate Cody Bellinger and Cy Young candidate Hyun Jin-Ryu, two key members of a team that has steamrolled their way to having a 19.1% chance to win the World Series, according to FanGraphs.
One Dodger who has underachieved this season, however, is Kenley Jansen. L.A.’s closer is having his worst year since he took over the 9th inning in 2012, as indicated by career-worsts in ERA (3.72) and ERA+ (112). He has been a sup-replacement reliever (-0.1 WAR) and has been especially bad in July, where he’s allowed four runs in as many innings with batters hitting .294 off of the 31-year old Curaçaoan.
To make things worse, Jansen was struck in the ankle by a comebacker Tuesday night against the Phillies, and after immediately shaking off the training staff he allowed four consecutive hits including Bryce Harper’s walk-off double that sealed a 9-8 victory for Philadelphia. Postgame, Jansen told reporters “I should have come out of the game” after getting hit, a comment that wasn’t well-received by manager Dave Roberts. Jansen was unavailable to pitch Wednesday night because of the injury.
All in all, the Dodgers need to improve their bullpen, which ranks 9th in baseball with a 4.00 ERA. The back end of the bullpen needs help even more so, as many believe that a better closer is the one thing that stands between L.A. being odds-on World Series favorites.
If the Dodgers were to acquire a high-end reliever to fortify the back of the bullpen, I think it could prove to be the difference-maker and give them an edge that puts them clearly above the rest of the field. Continue reading to discover the three bullpen arms who I think the Dodgers should go after; landing any one of them wouldn’t be cheap, but giving themselves an even better chance at winning it all would make it worthwhile.
Los Angeles Dodgers relief options
Shane Greene, Detroit Tigers
Shane Greene’s name has been brought up in trade speculation quite often, mostly as a result of the Detroit Tigers having an awful 2019 but also because their closer has become elite. Greene has pitched to the tune of a microscopic 1.06 ERA in 34 innings to go along with a 0.85 WHIP, 5.0 H/9, 35 strikeouts, and an incredible 452 ERA+.
The 30-year-old righty was named an All-Star for the first time in his career, and with good reason looking at his numbers. Greene’s been proficient at shutting the door, going 22-for-24 in save situations with one of those blown saves attributed to his defense costing him the unearned runs.
Greene has been pitching the lights out and would be an instant force at the back of the Dodgers’ bullpen. He could be thrust into the closer role, or in the event, Jansen improves would be an excellent set-up man over Pedro Baez, who hasn’t exactly been good either as L.A.’s primary 8th inning guy. Greene isn’t the most coveted arm on this list, but acquiring him will force the Dodgers to give up some decent capital since he’s under control until 2021.
Los Angeles Dodgers relief options
Felipe Vazquez, Pittsburgh Pirates
In 2016, the Pittsburgh Pirates traded their closer Mark Melancon to the Washington Nationals for a package including Felipe Rivero, a young arm who had some serious potential to be a threat at the back of a bullpen.
Fast forward to now and, apart from a name change, the Pirates have the exact same pitcher they were expecting when making the trade — with even more upside.
However, history may repeat itself as Vazquez is highly coveted on the trade market and a contending team could very well force Pittsburgh’s hand in moving the Venezuelan product. He has a 2.01 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 219 ERA+, and a ridiculous 14.1 K/9, good enough for 5th best in the NL among qualified relievers — and you wonder why he earned the nickname “Nightmare”.
Vazquez has been nearly perfect when it comes to closing games having 21 saves in 22 opportunities, something the Dodgers surely value as they look to regain stability from their 9th inning fireman. A 2.10 FIP indicates Vazquez has been legit rather than lucky this year, and with a 2.13 ERA across 185 2/3 innings since 2016 further illustrates his dominance.
The 28-year-old closer is sought after by an abundance of clubs, and if the Pirates decide to sell he’ll guarantee their biggest return. But would the return be too substantial for most clubs? Probably. Vazquez has just three years of service time under his belt, meaning he won’t be a free agent until 2022. That along with his excellence means the Pirates can put a very high price tag on him, especially since they aren’t in any rush to move him this season.
This could force a team to give up several top prospects, but if the Dodgers are serious about going for it they should be willing to offer such for him. Acquiring Vazquez would likely cost the Dodgers a package that would feature Gavin Lux, Dustin May, or perhaps Jeter Downs as the centerpiece(s).
Los Angeles Dodgers relief options
Kirby Yates, San Diego Padres
One of the few relievers who have been better than Felipe Vazquez this season is Kirby Yates. The Kauai, Hawaii native is in the midst of his first full season of being his team’s closer, and boy has he been good at it. How good, you ask? Oh, just a 1.04 ERA, 0.81 WHIP, 1.19 FIP, and 394 ERA+ good.
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Yates is tied for the MLB lead in saves with 31 (in 33 opportunities) and ranks 3rd in K/9 (14.4), 3rd in K/BB (7.44), 5th in H/9 (5.4) and 8th in BB/9 (1.9) among qualified NL relievers. He gives up home runs at an infinitesimal clip of 0.2/9 innings and is about as much of a sure thing as it gets for a reliever this season. He’s improved from a remarkable 2018 in which he took over the 9th inning duties from Brad Hand, who was traded to the Cleveland Indians at the deadline. The Padres could follow that same blueprint this year if they want to continue stockpiling high-end prospects.
The southpaw’s indomitable campaign has made him a reliever every contender wants to anchor their relief corps. The Dodgers would have to give up a lot for him, however —nabbing him would require a package as strong as Vazquez’s if not more. Sure, Yates is 32 and will be “old” when he reaches free agency in 2021, but if the Dodgers want to make 2019 their year they should strive to get the closer that is the best there is as of now.
San Diego is still mathematically within reach of a playoff spot, but unless they get hot between now and July 31st I could see them trade away Yates in return for a considerable haul of prospects. Imagine what the Padres would look like the next few seasons if they amassed MORE young talent?
Next. Mets: Wheeler joins IL close to trade deadline. dark
They’ll make the NL West even tougher than it is now, yet another reason why the Los Angeles Dodgers should go for it now and trade for the relief pitcher that gives them the best chance at winning the World Series