Here’s a roundup of some bullpen-related rumors about teams who may be looking to add, subtract or stand pat in regards to their relief corps…
- The Nationals, Giants and Rangers are the three teams “poised to be most aggressive in pursuit of late-inning relief help” in the opinion of rival evaluators, ESPN’s Buster Olney writes (subscription required). The latter two clubs aren’t a surprise given how injuries and ineffectiveness have hampered both the San Francisco and Texas bullpens, but the Nats entered today with the fourth-lowest bullpen ERA (3.15) of any club in baseball. Despite good results overall, closer Jonathan Papelbon has outperformed his peripheral stats and seen a velocity drop, so Washington could be looking to make a midseason closer addition for the second straight year. All three teams have been linked to Aroldis Chapman and Andrew Miller if and when the Yankees make their star relievers available.
- Brewers relievers Jeremy Jeffress and Will Smith are getting a lot of attention from scouts, ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick reports (Twitter link). Jeffress was recently ranked by MLBTR’s Jeff Todd as one of the top 20 trade candidates leading up to the deadline, as the righty has performed quite well as Milwaukee’s closer. It was an injury to Smith that opened the door for Jeffress to take over the ninth-inning role, and Smith has pitched well himself in 17 innings since returning from the DL.
- The Cubs have been heavily connected to bullpen trade rumors, though they could potentially receive help from within if veteran Joe Nathan is able to regain any of his old form, CSN Chicago’s Patrick Mooney writes. Nathan signed a minor league deal with the Cubs in May as the 41-year-old looks to return from the second Tommy John surgery of his career. Mooney and Cubs skipper Joe Maddon both provide some detail on Nathan’s promising appearances over six games for Chicago’s Double-A affiliate. Nathan struggled in 2014 and missed virtually all of 2015, of course, so you would think the Cubs would look for a more solid relief option even if Nathan does look good.
Cubs can’t let the deadline pass hoping Nathan is the only answer to its pen problems. Cubs need to be in on chapman and a high leverage left handed set up man
My thoughts exactly. You can’t put your entire hopes in a 40+ year old coming off of a serious injury until there are no relief trade help left.
I would be extremely shocked if Nathan provides any value at the major league level. I thought he was at this end at Detroit- and that was before the injury. Regardless, the Cubs are attacking the bullpen the right way. Throw inexpensive numbers and it, and hope a couple stick. Relievers are so volatile that one of them may stick, and if one does, all the time and money is worth it.
I don’t think they will plan on Nathan bring a savior. Like so many others they’ve tried, they hope to get some quality innings out of him as a pen piece. They will still add at least 1 reliever.
VOR- I wished the Cubs would have pulled off a trade like in 2014 when Shark and Hammel went off to Oakland for Russell & McKinney. If they want a big time reliever like Miller they have to have the strength to go after him now because the Giants want him badly too. So, the Cubs have to be willing to part with some folks like Baez (since they said no to the Yankees on Schwarber) and heck, throw in one of these folks Warren-Grimm-Richards-Strop. Again, before the deadline, they need to be on this now because they gave up so much ground the past 3 weeks and after the ASG who do they begin play with…The Rangers and Mets! They need effective pitching now. Take care,
Strop, Javy, Warren and Grimm are going nowhere. Why trade your setup man for another, and still have the same hole you have? Makes no sense
I don’t think the Yankees are parting with Miller unless they’re over whelmed and the Cubs aren’t trading schwarber for a reliever.
How about trading for chapman and then going to the Rockies and getting Logan? Both are in their walk years.
Then maybe go get a left handed outfield bat.
Then get healthy and get to the playoffs. After that, the playoffs are a crap shoot.
The Cubs will make two or three trades for pitching the next eight weeks. However, knowing where Nathan fits (or doesn’t) will clarify what *is* needed.
Nathan would be great as the 2016 answer to Fernando Rodney, but there’s no reason to believe that he can be anything more than that. The Strop-Rondon end game is great, and I really like what I’ve seen from Edwards. If Grimm could return to 2015 form, that would be as good as any acquisition, but again, I wouldn’t hold my breath on that. I don’t mind Wood and Cahill as long men, but the fact is that we need at least one more reliable arm. Doesn’t necessarily have to be someone like Chapman or Miller, but somebody who can be relied to hang on to a lead on a regular basis.
First DFA Clayton Richards before Maddon think it 2015 and Richards was only bad every other time not like this year every time.
Jeffress/Smith won’t be cheap coming from Milwaukee. Lots of years of control left.
As much as Chapman is the sexy name and would help, I think Jeremy Jeffress is the more sensible guy. Rizzo typically doesn’t go for 1 year rentals. Andrew Miller will probably not be traded.
Nats- Jeremy Jeffress
Brewers- AJ Cole, Wilmer Difo, Abel de Los Santos
Sorry, aj cole is going back to oakland in a doolittle trade.
Wouldn’t shock me. What would a trade be if it isn’t between Rizzo and Billy Beane? Maybe expand it for Doolittle and Reddick? But isn’t Doolittle on the DL?
15 day deadline isnt till 31st so thetes time. But i mean they have a rp ryan dull whos having a great season. Could sell high.on him and reddick.
Mmm Jeffress is under team control until 2019. I think the Brewers should ask for Lopez
The Brewers can certainly ask for Lopez, but they won’t get him. I do think, however, that the proposed trade of AJ Cole, Wilmer Difo and Abel de los Santos for Jeffress is a fair one to both sides.
I love it when fans say such and such team won’t give up so and so player like they are the GM. Truth is none of us have any idea, it’s all speculation. That trade looks kind of meh to me though. You’re getting an effective cost controlled player for an extended period of time. The Brewers GM has already said if they trade away low cost controlled players the return needs to be much more significant. Brewers have pretty strong infield depth coming up so Difo doesn’t really do much for me. We will see what happens I guess.
Nats window of opportunity is slowly closing especially with Harper’s free agency looming. They would be stupid to not dangle Lopez to get someone like Jeffress or even Lucroy or Braun.
For Braun I could see a guy like Lopez. However, to give up a top 35 prospect who his this close to the big leagues is an awful lot for a bullpen guy. That is not to say they won’t but I would be surprised if it was for simply Jeffress. Now if we are talking Braun then maybe. Also, I am not so sure the Nationals window is a small as many people think it is. They have a great farm system and a very good rotation as well as another couple of years of Harper. The team will look very different in the future but lets not act like they are going to be awful in 2 years all of a sudden
Where is he ranked in the top 35? I think BA had him like 48th in its midseason rankings but Keith Law says he’s still most likely a future bullpen arm. So theres a lot of different opinions on him, he’s no sure fire mid to front of the rotation starter. I know Law said Lopez for Chapman would be a very fair deal and obviously Jeffress is not Chapman but he’s also controllable for 3 more years after this so that adds significant value to him.
Chapman is more than a sexy name. He’s the best closer right now, of his generation and could go down as the greatest ever. And, he’s in his prime. a game is 8 innings if he is on your team and winning. That’s way more than a sexy name.
Rizzo don’t make trades
Joe Nathan is not the answer. If he can get back and provide anything useful let’s just consider that a little extra icing on the cake. Moves need to be made to the pitching staff. We really need to go get a starter. We got the prospect money do let’s spend it. Hopefully they can find 1 new starter and atleast 1 solid reliever
YES
Which starter are you replacing?
Agreed are Five great even Hammel so far this second halve
I wonder if the Cubs would do Ian Happ & Carl Edwards Jr. For Andrew Cashner & Ryan Buchter.
I would say probably not. Even though they have had some bad starts lately, the Cubs starting 5 are all better than Cashner right now and Butcher was actually in the Cubs minor leagues before signing with the Padres. Also, I think a prospect like Happ is too much to give up for a middle of the rotation starter with bad injury history.
True, I think Cashner is just miss-used in San Diego. He was lights out as a reliever when we first got him in 2012 I believe, he was the 7th inning guy and was able to come in and rare back and throw gas for 15-20 pitches and his night was over. He was successful in that role and the Padres wanted more, understandably so. So moving him to the rotation was a sensible move but he can only last 5 innings then he fizzles out, he over throws and labors through a game. It’s really tough to watch. A team needs to acquire him and use him appropriately, he can be a lights out reliever again, he has that quirky mentality for it. That’s why I think a reunion back to CHC would be good for him. They can use him just like they used Cahill last year.
I am holding out hope Happ and Candelerio or Cease will go to the Yankees for Miller. I know Happ for Chapman is an overpay but maybe Candelerio plus a lottery ticket for Chapman would be a good consolation if they don’t get Happ. IMHO Happ is gonna be a solid major leaguer for years and I hope it is with the Yankees.
I wonder if the Yankees would take back Warren along with Baez for Miller? I think it is worth it because the Yankees get so many years of control over Baez, he has upside potential can play many positions and would probably work well with Castro. I know the Cubs front office said no Schwarber but Baez might make them think?
why do so many fans want the cubs to trade Baez instead of prospects? Baez is a legit major league talent and belongs on the team he is on right now!
I say send Happ, Vogelbach, Candelario, Pierce Johnson, and and low level pitching prospect or two for Miller and Chapman.
Holes closed, super serious WS contender, end of trading until the offseason, and one of the two players in return has multiple years of control. The cubs don’t need to dip any further into prospects for their roster for a good 6 years, and this move in no way drains the organization of talent.
We got minor league guys that teams are begging us for
Your not a Cub fan both are better fit than Cashner I liked this deal last year no WAY
I would be very surprised if the Yankees deal either Miller or Chapman.
I think Chapman will be but not Andrew Miller.. There is not other way for the Yankees to get starting pitching. They have nothing in their system and there is noone going to be available in FA.
I agree. Just because the yanks are struggling this year doesn’t mean they should sell off a guy they control for the next two years. I think chapman will go but the miller rumors are just getting ridiculous.
Beltran and Chapman gone Miller only if it’s for the Pirates star outfielder who don’t have it no more would be a great trade for both teams
Miller will get Traded like most Yankees,
Yanks don’t trade they BUY
Not sure how realistic some of these guys would be to get in trades but some names I’d like to check out are Logan-rockies, Buchter-pads, Colome-rays, Gomez-phillies, and of course Abad and Doolittle. Theo get me 2 of these please
Logan is a lhs guy. Abad same isn’t going to be as expensive. I can see the others costing a lot just because of contract and control.
Minor league 10-20 guys
Boone Logan has been ultra solid for the Rockies and is in the last year of his contract. Excellent LOOGY option.
I would be shocked if the Nationals picked up a closer before the deadline, when they have a need for clutch hitting, and bullpen strength already. Papelbon has settled down nicely since his return from the D.L. Can’t see Rizzo doing anything to upset a good thing they’ve got going.