While the trade deadline is typically an exciting time when it comes to reliever movement, this deadline could be a dud with only two 37 year old closers in David Robertson and Daniel Bard guaranteed (or close to it) to be on the move. While both have pitched above expectation this season, the only potential landing spot I can see that either one of these guys would become the favorite for saves in would be Minnesota, as they seem reluctant to just let rookie Jhoan Duran be the guy in the ninth for them despite no quality alternatives at the moment. More than likely, both Bard and Robertson will wind up in set up/middle relief roles somewhere and will be droppable a week from now sadly.

 

Notes

 

• Despite the 4.36 ERA, Raisel Iglesias is, by all other metrics, having a solid season once again, despite the Angels providing limited save opportunities. I doubt he would be available after just signing a new deal, but with the lack of quality relievers on the market this deadline, I wonder if the Angels would consider moving him for the right return.
• Taylor Rogers struggles are continuing, and going on two months now as the lefty closer has an ERA of 7.45 over the past 60 days. He has been getting some bad luck, and his WHIP of 1.39 and K/BB of 22/4 over those 19.1 innings certainly don’t hurt. The Padres are likely to add a bullpen piece or two at the deadline, and they could try to make a splash with David Bednar or Scott Barlow instead of opting for a rental.

 

• Garrett Whitlock picked up a two inning save for the Red Sox last night, and while Tanner Houck has been fine in the role, it should probably be Whitlock’s primarily and Houck as option 1B. Both these guys being former starters allows them to work multiple innings, so perhaps it will just come down to who’s available that day to get the save.
• It looks like it will be Kyle Finnegan as Tanner Rainey’s replacement after all, with the reliever picking up two saves over the past two days. Finnegan does have some swing and miss ability with his slider (42.6% Whiff rate) but he does allow a lot of loud contact with a 50.5% Hard Hit rate against.

 

Rank	Pitcher	Change
1	Edwin DíazT1	-
2	Josh Hader T2	-
3	Liam Hendriks	-
4	Emmanuel Clase	+1
5	Clay Holmes	+1
6	Raisel Iglesias	-2
7	Ryan Pressly T3	-
8	Jordan Romano	-
9	David Bednar	-
10	Ryan Helsley	-
11	Kenley Jansen	+2
12	Paul Sewald	-
13	Taylor Rogers	-2
14	Craig Kimbrel T4	+1
15	Camilo Doval	-1
16	Jorge López	-
17	Scott Barlow	-
18	Gregory Soto	+1
19	Garrett Whitlock	+UR
20	David Robertson	-2
21	Daniel Bard	-1
22	Tanner Scott	-1
23	Jhoan Duran T5	-
24	Seranthony Domínguez	-
25	Alexis Díaz	-
26	Brooks Raley	-
27	Kyle Finnegan	+1
28	Brett Martin	-1
29	Lou Trivino	-
30	Mark Melancon	-

 

 

Photo by Larry Radloff/Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter)