July 31, 2021
Toronto Blue Jays — The Blue Jays acquired Joakim Soria, to go along with Brad Hand, giving them a formidable battery of arms for the 7th, 8th, and 9th innings. Hand came in to protect a four-run lead last night and gave up an unearned run making it a save chance for Jordan Romano. He also gave up a run but got the job done for his 9th save of the year. Romano has had a pretty awful run as of late, giving up runs in four of his last seven appearances, but last night was enough to earn him top of the committee status for now.
Updated hierarchy: *Romano | Hand | Soria.
*=closer-by-committee
Chicago White Sox –The White Sox won the Craig Kimbrel auction, giving up a lot to get more back-end bullpen help. After their big-time acquisition, they immediately announced that Kimbrel would be splitting save chances with Liam Hendriks. Hendriks has been very solid this year, but Kimbrel is having arguably the best season of any reliever in baseball. This news hurts both of their values as they went from surefire closer status to competing for chances. It’s hard to see Kimbrel being anything other than the top option, so he gets that spot for now, but we will monitor this situation to see if Tony La Russa starts playing any favorites.
Updated hierarchy: Kimbrel | Hendriks | Kopech.
* = closer-by-committee
Chicago Cubs — Although everyone pretty much knew that Craig Kimbrel was going to get traded, it may have come as some surprise that he was traded across town to the White Sox. He wasn’t the only big name on the move for the Cubs, as they went full-on fire sale, shipping out the core of the team that won them their first world series in over 100 years. The Monkey only cares about bullpens though, and we think that Rex Brothers has the inside track for saves at this point. Expect Dan Winkler and Rowan Wick (when he gets back from the IL) to be in the mix as well.
Updated hierarchy: *Brothers | Winkler | Heuer.
* = closer-by-committee
Philadelphia Phillies — The Phillies got some help in the bullpen, trading for Ian Kennedy. Kennedy had been one of the bright spots for the Rangers, saving 16 games for them. Ranger Suarez has been excellent on the year, and will remain a high leverage option as the Phillies try to make a run in the NL East. We think Kennedy was brought in to close games, and Suarez will take the 8th inning, but with the playoff race sitting in the balance don’t be surprised if the Phillies play the hot hand.
Updated hierarchy: Kennedy | Suarez | Alvarado.
Pittsburgh Pirates – The Pirates dealt their closer, Richard Rodriguez, to the Atlanta Braves yesterday. David Bedner, who has been excellent in the setup role, will take his place at the back end of the bullpen. Chris Stratton and Chasen Shreve will try to help bridge the gap to Bednar.
Updated hierarchy: Bednar | Stratton | Shreve.
Atlanta Braves – The Braves acquired Richard Rodriguez, and he will immediately jump onto the hierarchy. While it is possible he could take over the closing duties from Will Smith, Smith has been excellent recently, only giving up 2 earned runs in July. They will most likely share some of the save chances, but we will leave Smith at the top of the committee for now.
Updated hierarchy: *Smith | Rodriguez | Martin.
* = closer-by-committee
Minnesota Twins -The Twins traded away Hansel Robles, and until Taylor Rogers returns from the IL, the save chances will fall to Alex Colome and Tyler Duffey.
Updated hierarchy: *Colome | Duffey | Thielbar.
* = closer-by-committee
Texas Rangers — The Rangers shipped Ian Kennedy off to the Phillies, which leaves a wide-open committee for the Rangers. Spencer Patton will likely get the first crack at saves, but we expect Josh Sborz and Joe Barlow to be in the mix as well.
Updated hierarchy: *Patton | Sborz | Barlow.
* = closer-by-committee
Boston Red Sox – Boston acquired Hansel Robles from the Minnesota Twins. While Robles won’t be the first option (or second) for saves, he does bolster a bullpen that has relied heavily on Matt Barnes and Adam Ottavino. Robles has struggled with his command recently, but a change of scenery may be what he needs to get back on track.
Updated hierarchy: Barnes | Ottavino | Robles.
Arizona Diamondbacks — Joakim Soria was traded to the Blue Jays, leaving Arizona with a patchwork bullpen. We think Tyler Clippard (who got the 9th in a tie game last night) is the frontrunner for any saves that come along, but those will be few and far between for the woeful Diamondbacks. Noe Ramirez could have been another arm in the mix, but he hit the COVID IL yesterday. This is likely to be a committee to the end and is a bullpen that is probably best left alone.
Updated hierarchy: Clippard | Faria | de Geus.
Los Angeles Angels — While Raisel Iglesias didn’t get traded yesterday, Tony Watson did, heading back to San Francisco. The Angels recently said that Mike Mayers wouldn’t be getting high leverage work, but a lack of options for the Angels finds him right back on the hierarchy.
Updated hierarchy: Iglesias | Cishek | Mayers.
San Diego Padres — The Padres made a small move to help out the back of their bullpen, acquiring Daniel Hudson from the Washington Nationals. Hudson is currently on the COVID IL, but he was having an excellent July prior to being traded. We will see how he gets used in San Diego when he returns from the IL, but it wouldn’t be surprising if he challenged for a hierarchy spot quickly.
Hierarchy remains: Melancon | Pagan | Pomeranz.
Washington Nationals — In addition to Brad Hand, the Nationals shipped out Daniel Hudson, who is currently on the COVID IL. This is mostly news for anyone who was hoping that Hudson would fill the void left by Hand, as it doesn’t seem likely that Hudson will be closing for the Padres.
Hierarchy remains: *Finnegan | Rainey | Suero.
* = closer-by-committee
Baltimore Orioles — In non-trade-related bullpen news, after Tanner Scott and Dillon Tate struggled through the 8th inning, the Orioles used Cole Sulser to close out a 1 run game. A perfect 9th earned him his 4th save of the year. Since blowing a save on July 11, Sulser has yet to give up a run over 7 appearances, which is good enough to get him back onto the hierarchy. It could also lead to more saves in a wide-open bullpen so keep an eye on this if you are desperate for saves and interested in tracking a bullpen for one of the worst teams in baseball.
Updated hierarchy: *Tate | Scott | Sulser.
* = closer-by-committee
Colorado Rockies — The Rockies held on to their closer Daniel Bard at the trade deadline, but they did trade away their set-up man, Mychal Givens. Carlos Estevez and former starter Jhoulys Chacin should see more time in the later innings with Givens gone.
Updated hierarchy: Bard | Estevez | Chacin.
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Tanner Rainey (WAS) – Kyle Finnegan notched his second save yesterday, but has now pitched in back to back and 5 of 6.
2. Emmanuel Clase (CLE) – James Karinchak took the loss last night, and has pitched in 2 of 3.
3. Chad Green (NYY) – Aroldis Chapman has pitched in 3 of 4, while Green is well-rested.
4. Jake Diekman (OAK) – Lou Trivino has pitched back to back, throwing 31 pitches.
Sunday:
1. Jake Faria/Brett de Geus (ARI) – Today would be back to back and 3 of 4 for Tyler Clippard.
2. Tanner Scott/Cole Sulser (BAL)– Same for Dillon Tate (and Tanner Scott)
3. Blake Treinen (LAD)– Today would be back to back for Kenley Jansen, and he threw 26 pitches yesterday
