Scott Barlow
Absolutely nobody is uttering a word about Scott Barlow … and they very well should be. Perhaps that’s better for the Red Sox if they want to pick up a more under-the-radar guy like Barlow.
The Royals closer has tallied 16 saves and struck out 25.4% of his batters this year.
He’s seen an uptick in spin, yet his velocity has dipped, which makes his success this season all the more impressive.
Barlow gets swing-and-misses, he gets chases, and despite a drop in velocity, he’s in the top 90% for both average exit velocity and hard hit percentage. The guy simply does not get hit, and the Royals, for as bad as they are this year, really have themselves a stud at the back end of their games.
I would be beyond thrilled to see my Red Sox make a move for a low-key reliever like Barlow. I actually feel like he’s the one I can trust the most on this list I’m spouting for you today.
He blew his first save on May 1, and since then he’s only blown one other. Barlow might be the best available reliever out there this trade season, and he’s such a good trade piece for the Royals who have a ton of young hard-throwers coming up as we speak.