SAGNOF Bullpen Report Week 17: Trade Deadline Musings

Athletics

They should be sellers. Will anyone want any of these bullpen arms? Don’t reckon it’ll shake things up from a fantasy perspective, as no one as has really stood out for very long. If they happen to buy anyone, it’ll likely be a depth piece with little value outside of AL-only.

Baltimore Orioles

Playoff hopes at least still have a pulse in Baltimore. The bullpen has been pretty effective, but willy nilly as far as roles go. Don’t have much faith in Ryan Helsley maintaining his health and/or being reliable the rest of the way. Do they trust the arms they have or chase someone on the market? If you own Helsley, prepare your heart and soul for a replacement. Even though others have gotten saves, I like Tyler Wells‘s chances best for fantasy value. Don’t trust Andrew Kittredge‘s health either.

Boston Red Sox

Boston has lost exactly one game in the month of July, and that was back on the 1st. A wayward season plumb turned itself right on around into a realistic playoff scenario. I would maybe consider adding some depth to this pen given the recent injury history of Justin Slaten. Otherwise, why shake it up? I’d be pretty surprised if they decide to move one of the better closers in the game at this point.

Chicago White Sox

These guys should really consider buying bullpen arms. High leverage ones, at that. I reckon they’ll try. Surprise season, hype is full tilt, and they’re gonna rely on the arms they got back there? I don’t see it. Grant Taylor has the chops to be elite, but he’s wishy washy. Seranthony Dominguez is likely done doing much from a fantasy standpoint unless the White Sox get outbid on high leverage arms. Reportedly the White Sox will be aggressive for players under team control.

Cleveland Guardians

Don’t reckon anything changes in this pen.

Detroit Tigers

Kenley Jansen might get traded. If he does, opens the door Kyle Finnegan to be a bargain save source (again) for the second half. I just…don’t care about anyone else here.

Houston Astros

Bryan Abreu has been awful and will be a free agent at season’s end. Do they see what they can get for a formerly elite arm? Bryan King went from lights out to just out. Sent down to Triple-A the other day. Figure he’s back up before long, but for now I reckon it’s Steven Okert‘s time in the sun. What a year he’s having, but gotta keep in mind it hasn’t all been high leverage. Astros don’t seem fit for the playoffs, so I don’t see them buying anyone noteworthy.

Kansas City Royals

The only arm anyone else would want is Daniel Lynch IV. He’s the only one that’s fantasy relevant right now, of course. If he gets moved, do you care who steps up? I don’t.

Los Angeles Angels

Watch Ben Joyce during this rehab stint. So far, not so good numbers-wise (16.9 H/9, 10.1 BB/9 in 2.2 IP). All that really matters is if he makes it through without a setback. I’ve been saying for years I don’t even like the guy much, and at this point in his career I don’t think he’s gonna amount to much in the majors. But I’ve also said opportunity is more than half the battle, and if he can get back on the mound in a Los Angeles Angels uniform, maybe he’s got a shot. Sure doesn’t have much in the way of competition.

Minnesota Twins

They’ve found their one-two punch in Yoendrys Gomez and Andrew Morris. They might buy some depth beyond that. Likely only someone who’d make small waves in a deeper format.

New York Yankees

Seeing the Bronx as a possible destination for Mason Miller should the Padres decide to sell him. Maybe it’s smoke and mirrors. Who knows. I do know the Yankees could use some bullpen depth.

Seattle Mariners

I don’t too much changes here. Injury bug bit Matt Brash again, so there goes some of the depth they hoped they had when they went out and got Jose Ferrer. Even so, Eduard Bazardo and Gabe Speier have been great. If they add anyone, it’s likely to be a fluff piece.

Tampa Bay Rays

Probably nothing of note happens to the Tampa pen. Maybe a low leverage addition.

Texas Rangers

Rangers are clinging to that AL West lead by a single cleat stud. Jacob Latz has morphed into a shutdown closer thus far and Jakob Junis has been a mostly reliable setup option who’s fresh off the IL. Past that, they need some stability. Reckon they’ll look to add a high leverage arm or two, and that could jeopardize Junis’s ROS value.

Toronto Blue Jays

Not impossible to imagine Jeff Hoffman getting moved with the playoffs likely off the table. He’s still looking fantastic from a metrics standpoint, so someone will be interested in that. Whatever happens, it’s still gonna be the Louis Varland and Tyler Rogers show back there.

Arizona Diamondbacks

Arizona is battling for a playoff spot and also has a bullpen bloated with impending free agents. Like, all of them buckaroos. So, how the team performs in the next two-ish weeks will determine the plan of action, I ‘spect. Paul Sewald is obviously the most tantalizing name as a veteran with plenty of closing experience who is also having a tremendous season.

Atlanta Braves

Robert Suarez is due back before long, so the Braves probably don’t make too big of a splash.

Chicago Cubs

Ahhh if only Daniel Palencia were healthy, then this would be an easy blurb. As it stands, have the Cubs found their interim closer in Jacob Webb? Been a long time since he’s allowed a run, and he’s converted 5 saves thus far. Wager they’ll still want to add some bullpen help. Could very well be someone who bumps everyone down the depth chart in one fell swoop. No one else can stay healthy long enough.

Cincinnati Reds

Don’t see Cincy buying anybody of note at all. Maybe there’s a market for Emilio Pagan if someone believes he can stay on the field and get closer to last year’s form, although I’m getting the vibe he’ll just hang around and they’ll try to do better in 2027.

Colorado Rockies

Mehhhh. Don’t care.

Los Angeles Dodgers

Edwin Diaz is hopefully back sooner rather than later. No real bullpen needs here unless he takes a turn for the worse.

Miami Marlins

Figure Pete Fairbanks is done for. One of two things will happen, in my mind. He’ll either lose the job because he sucks now, or he’ll get traded out of it anyway. If you have him, I think an outright drop is safe at this point. If someone with some upside is on the wire, mind you. Be smart about it. If I had to pick a replacement I’d want in fantasy, it’s Michael Petersen. Surely they wouldn’t go back to Faucher…

Milwaukee Brewers

Makes plenty of sense to me that the Brewers should try to deepen the pen. Trevor Megill is awesome, but as noted around the interwebs, he’s not used to pitching a ton (last year’s 47 IP were a career high). Down the stretch, he could get some safer treatment. Could. Not guaranteed. Maybe this is “best shape of his life” time or something.

New York Mets

I wouldn’t be surprised to see a firesale akin to what the Minnesota Twins did. Everyone in the pen is available in my book. I expect Luke Weaver, Brooks Raley, and A.J. Minter all get dealt at the very least. Weaver’s fantasy stock should stay the exact same in SVHD formats. Could even be a closer somewhere. Devin Williams might still attract someone, too, especially if they’re willing to retain some salary. Hard to say what the Mets pen could look like until the dust settles, but if any of these four remain then they’re still solid SVHD chaps for the second half. If all or most go, maybe it’s Huascar Brazoban who ends up as the most fantasy relevant Mets RP.

Philadelphia Phillies

Brad Keller is back on the IL. It’s the UCL. Ruh roh. That’s ball game. So yeah, the Phillies will absolutely want to consider a big name reliever. Orion Kerkering is thriving again, but past that it’s shaky ground.

Pittsburgh Pirates

Pittsburgh is in the same situation as Arizona. Fighting for a spot, so the next two weeks will determine their deadline approach. They could add a big name, they could stand pat and hope for the best since it’s been working well enough, or they could end up selling. Sorry, that’s the best I got right now, pard.

San Diego Padres

I do believe it makes a ton of sense to trade Mason Miller. A closer’s value has never been this high in the sport’s history, and the San Diego farm could use some more livestock. As amazing as Miller is, relievers are so volatile in the modern age. One pitch, one elbow pop, and that’s all she wrote. On the flip side, San Diego still has a shot at October. Guess we’ll have to wait and see. If he does move, a healthy Jeremiah Estrada makes the most sense to close. If he doesn’t move, Adrian Morejon still very well could. He’ll be a free agent this offseason, along with setup stud Jason Adam, who’s hurt and isn’t expect back until August. Bradgley Rodriguez might have some room to step into a bigger role depending on what plays out.

San Francisco Giants

They’ll surely sell what they can. Don’t know that I care too much how it all shakes out. No one has been able to be a steady presence back there. Erik Miller still has the most upside in my book.

St. Louis Cardinals

Hard to say what St. Louis will do. In the past, with Mo at the helm, I’d expect a whole lotta nothin. But now with this Chaim Bloom fella? Dunno. In my humble opinion, they need to deepen the pen in a serious way. Riley O’Brien hasn’t been the steadiest rock of late, JoJo Romero is on the IL due to appendicitis, and everyone else is straight dog water. I hope Bloom does some crazy work and lands Mason Miller or something.

Washington Nationals

Nationals are the definition of a .500 team at 50-50 at the time of writing. The bullpen is a glaring weakness. Stands to reason they’d want to flesh it out if they want to make any kind of serious attempt at postseason ball. They also probably don’t want to shake up the youth movement too much, so maybe they don’t add anyone too exciting.