The trade deadline is now just five days away as the reliever market has started to pick up.
Rockies Add Oh to Pen
Jon Heyman of FanCred Sports has reported that the Toronto Blue Jays have agreed to send right-handed reliever Seunghwan Oh to the Colorado Rockies in exchange for prospect Forrest Wall (13th ranked in Colorado by MLB Pipeline), first baseman Chad Spanberger (24th), and either a player to be named later or cash considerations. Oh, 36, has pitched to a 2.68 ERA while averaging 10.5 K/9 and cutting his HR/9 to 1.0 – all similar numbers to those of his successful rookie campaign in 2016.
For both teams, the deal is a sound win. Colorado will certainly benefit from Oh and his 13 holds in the thick of a bullpen that has gotten little from its expensive group of Wade Davis, Jake McGee, and Bryan Shaw. Oh has a $2M club option at the end of the year that can be picked up should he continue his dominance.
Toronto cashes out as well. Signed to a relatively humble $1.75M deal towards the end of the offseason, Oh turned in a solid first half and in turn brings back two young talents north of the border. Wall ranked 90th on MLB’s top 100 prospect list prior to the 2016 season, and hopes to rebound from labrum issues.
Diamondbacks Get Relief Help Too
In other NL West news, the Arizona Diamondbacks also took a step to improve its pitching staff yesterday, acquiring Tampa Bay swingman Matt Andriese for unranked minor leaguers Michael Perez (catcher, first reported by Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times) and Brian Shaffer (RHP, first covered by Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic).
Andriese has posted a career-best 4.07 ERA, 3.71 FIP, and 8.9 K/9 as an “opener” starting pitcher and – more typically – a long-reliever. The righty has registered 48.1 innings in 23 relief appearances this season, and profiles best as a complement to left-handed long-man Jorge De La Rosa in Arizona’s present bullpen – who has struggled to a 5.58 FIP while averaging 1.6 HR/9.
The Diamondbacks have a lot of wiggle room with Andriese, who is just 27-years-old and has another three years of team control on tap. His 1.78 ERA in over 30 career innings against National League pitching could make him an interesting breakout candidate among NL West relievers.
Yankees Need Starter
The New York Yankees’ search for a fifth starter has continued to materialize over the past day. Texas lefty Cole Hamels, who has lost stock given his recent struggles, seems to be a Yankee-or-bust trade chip at the moment, with TR Sullivan of MLB.com citing the Bronx as the Rangers’ “best chance” at finding a suitor for Hamels.
Chances seem much greater that the Bombers grab Toronto southpaw J.A. Happ, as reported by MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand. While the Milwaukee Brewers and Chicago Cubs have been in play for Happ, Feinsand added that Toronto is close to pulling the trigger on a deal, and could net a respectable return given the increased competition on the market for him. Ken Rosenthal has thrown Brandon Drury forward as a potential piece heading to Canada; nothing new has come out otherwise regarding the veteran otherwise. In any case, Happ’s tough stretch of five starts doesn’t appear to be much of a deterrent at this point.
Phillies Still Hoping to Make Splash
The Philadelphia Phillies have expressed interest in Baltimore Orioles outfielder Adam Jones as well as Minnesota Twins utilityman Eduardo Escobar, as reported by Jon Heyman. Jones would likely fit in at right field given Odubel Herrera‘s stranglehold of center field, and even then hasn’t done a whole lot to differentiate himself from current starter Nick Williams (106 wRC+ over Jones’ 96), and is owed over $17M this year before he heads to free agency – rendering a trade even less feasible.
Escobar’s case makes a tad more sense here, as the Phillies would simply put struggling shortstop Scott Kingery out of his misery and let him figure things out in Triple-A. Escobar’s .278/.338/.522 line is far more convincing than that of Jones, but may also be a bit more of a burden on the current farm system. Philly could also swing Maikel Franco off the hot corner, but it would also make plenty of sense if they continued to ride his torrid bat (.341/.388/.615, 6 HR, 14 RBI since June 23) through the deadline.
Castellanos to Braves?
Atlanta may also be in the market for help at the left side of the infield – most likely at third base. MLB.com’s Mark Bowman has invited the idea that Atlanta make a play for third baseman/right fielder Nick Castellanos.
His .298/.351/.505 line would be a nice cut above streaking third baseman Johan Camargo (.282/.362/.463 since May 18, .892 OPS vs. lefties this season), but Detroit doesn’t seem very inclined to deal either Castellanos or right-handed ace Michael Fulmer unless they’re offered a “legit baseball trade,” as tweeted by Jayson Stark of The Athletic. Atlanta has the farm system – particularly a plethora of young pitchers – necessary to make a blockbuster deal, but the degree of their willingness to discuss is unclear at the moment.
ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick says interest in Kansas City third baseman Mike Moustakas is “minimal, at best” in Atlanta, but Bob Nightengale of USA Today adds that up to nine teams are engaged in discussions with the Royals about a deal – six in the American League and three in the National League.
More Relievers on the Move Soon?
Scouts have continued to tour the league and executives have continued making calls about smaller-scale relief pitchers over the past couple of days. Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press has linked the Boston Red Sox to Detroit arm Francisco Liriano as well as the Los Angeles Dodgers to closer Shane Greene. Liriano has worked to a dismal 4.73 ERA in 16 starts with the Tigers this year, but could be useful as either a situational lefty (.117/.221/.217 against left-handed hitters this year) or long-man out of the Boston pen, which has been a bit shaky beneath its big-ticket arms.
Greene has little to his name beyond a 3.97 FIP and 20 saves this season, but posted a 1.98 ERA in the second half last season. The .147/.171/.147 line in medium leverage situations this year could slot him in nicely with Pedro Baez and Scott Alexander, but it seems evident that Los Angeles is looking for more substantial improvements.
Another reliever who has received interest is Marlins veteran Brad Ziegler. The 38-year old submariner is owed a little over $3.2M through the end of the season, but has worked to a 0.68 ERA since June 5, and has worked dynamically in and out of the closer’s role (10 saves and 10 holds in 50 appearances this year). Seattle has been in contact with the Marlins about Ziegler, as reported by Jerry Crasnick, and other teams have reportedly inquired about left-hander Adam Conley, who has put together a 0.92 WHIP with 10.5 K/9 through 27 appearances (27.1 total innings) and is perhaps the most attractive of lefty relievers left on the market with Brad Hand and Zach Britton off the table.
