Focusing on trade rumors is just that: rumors. Not everything shared can be considered fact, but with the trade deadline fast approaching, July 30 at 6 p.m. EST, anticipating potential moves helps keep fantasy managers ahead of their competition.
Beginning with the reliever most likely moved and sifting through more notes, today’s post should help identify relievers who could be moved over the next five-plus weeks.
Tanner Scott (MIA)
- Last 30 Days: 2 wins, 3 saves, 11 IP, 13:3 K:BB, 26.2 K-BB percentage, 16.6 swinging strike percentage, 64.5 strike percentage, 65 percent contact rate allowed, 2.36 SIERA, 0.64 WHIP
- Unrestricted free agent at the end of the season
From this column by Jon Heyman for the New York Post:
It will be no surprise to see the Yankees attached to many of the relievers on the market. Currently churning through relievers like Michael Tonkin, Tim Hill, and Tommy Kahnle, the team will prioritize strengthening the bullpen ahead of the trade deadline.
Scott’s interest does not lie only with the Yankees. Baltimore, Philadelphia, and the Dodgers are also interested in the Marlins’ closer. However, he would be working as a set-up reliever in almost all these team leverage structures, not the ninth inning.
Potential Replacement(s): Calvin Faucher; Andrew Nardi; A.J. Puk; Declan Cronin
*Marlins may deploy a match-up-based approach after the trade, or one of these relievers will emerge as the clear-cut favorite soon.
Heyman also provided more closers potentially on the market:
Interesting, though it’s not a slam dunk that the A’s will move Mason Miller. More on this later.
Kenley Jansen (BOS)
- Last 30 Days: 1 win, 5 saves, 7.2 IP, 10:1 K:BB, 33.3 K-BB percentage, 12.5 swinging strike percentage, 72.1 strike percentage, 75.9 percent contact rate allowed, 2.32 SIERA, 0.52 WHIP
In a column for The Boston Globe, Pete Abraham compared Boston’s having Kenley Jansen on the roster to putting a Rolls Royce ornament on a 10-year-old Honda Civic. Simply put, it makes no sense. This was before the team’s recent hot streak, but the team will be ready for a transition near the trade deadline, especially if Liam Hendriks is ready for game action.
Jansen’s contract will make moving him a bit more difficult, so he could be tied to teammate Chris Martin in a potential deal. How the team sits in the playoff picture in a month from now likely determines how it proceeds at the deadline.
Projected Replacement: Liam Hendriks
If Hendriks’ recovery timeline changes, Justin Slaten will move atop the hierarchy if Jansen and Martin are traded.
Michael Kopech (CHW)
- Last 30 Days: 1 win, 3 blown saves, 7.2 IP, 12:4 K:BB, 19 K-BB percentage, 15.2 swinging strike percentage, 64.6 strike percentage, 67.5 percent contact rate allowed, 3.23 SIERA, 2.22 WHIP
From Bruce Levine of The Score, the current market for Michael Kopech includes:
Kopech would be a set-up option for the Yankees or Philadelphia but could get save chances with Kansas City. One would hope another team could help him vary his arsenal as a reliever:
A change of scenery and competing for wins may make him more effective. Here’s hoping he finishes the year strong and he could be an upside play in leagues with holds as a category or SOLDS formats.
Projected Replacement: Jordan Leasure
John Brebbia has a mutual option and should be traded before the deadline lapses.
Carlos Estévez (LAA)
- Last 30 Days: 1 win, 6 saves, 7 IP, 6:0 K:BB, 28.6 K-BB percentage, 12.9 swinging strike percentage, 68.2 strike percentage, 72.5 percent contact rate allowed, 2.54 SIERA, 0.00 WHIP
Despite his strong results in recent outings, he’s not at the of many wishlists. He will need one of the teams in the National League wild card bucket to emerge with a need for a reliever, perhaps even a closer (Cubs anyone?). If his slider gains hold, he will garner more interest soon. Here are his swinging strike percentage courtesy of Brooks Baseball by month this season:
Potential replacements: Ben Joyce; José Soriano; Hans Crouse
Mason Miller (OAK)
- Last 30 Days: 1 win, 4 saves, 13.1 IP, 18:8 K:BB, 18.9 K-BB percentage, 16.2 swinging strike percentage, 68.6 strike percentage, 68.2 percent contact rate allowed, 3.37 SIERA, 1.13 WHIP
Representing one of the most hot-button topics for a team, should Oakland sell high on its closer? He’s under team control for five more years, but as Mark Feinsand of MLB.com shares from his post:
It’s a similar situation to the one David Bednar continues pitching through with Pittsburgh. Lucas Erceg has also been mentioned in trade rumors, so he’s not listed among the replacements.
Potential replacements: Dany Jiménez; Grant Holman
Part of the reason this could be a slow-moving market, the logjam of teams within striking distance for the Wild Card in the National League:
Link: https://www.mlb.com/standings/wild-card
Every team except Colorado and Miami is within a game and a half of the last Wild Card spot. In the American League, here are the playoff odds courtesy of Fangraphs for the teams not leading their division:
In the event a team decides on selling, here are relievers of interest that could be moved:
- Arizona: Paul Sewald (free agent for 2025)
- Colorado: Jalen Beeks (free agent for 2025)
- Houston: Ryan Pressly (mutual option for 2025)
- Los Angeles Angels: Luis García (free agent 2025); Matt Moore (free agent 2025)
- New York Mets: Adam Ottavino (free agent for 2025)
- St. Louis: Andrew Kittredge (free agent for 2025)
- Tampa Bay: Shawn Armstrong (free agent for 2025)
- Texas: Kirby Yates (free agent for 2025); José Leclerc (free agent for 2025); David Robertson (mutual option for 2025)
- Toronto: Yimi García (free agent for 2025); Trevor Richards (free agent for 2025)
Teams will be formulating decisions based on how they enter the All-Star break, which makes the games until then pivotal for the ever-evolving reliever market. There has been speculation about St. Louis fielding offers for Ryan Helsley, but it would be a rough trade from an optics standpoint. Anything can happen between now and July 30.
Thanks for being a part of the Closer Monkey community. Stay safe and be well.
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