Mujica, Pomeranz could close in Oakland; Hawkins traded to Toronto

July 28, 2015

Toronto Blue Jays – The Rockies completed a mega-trade in the wee hours this morning that sent All-Star shortstop Troy Tulowitzki and veteran set-up man LaTroy Hawkins to the Toronto Blue Jays for shortstop Jose Reyes, reliever Miguel Castro, minor leaguers, and cash. While the shortstops will get the headlines this morning, we know you care only about how this trade affects the bullpens! LaTroy Hawkins will provide the Jays with a much needed arm in one of the league’s sketchiest pens. It is unclear right now exactly how John Gibbons plans to use him, but our best guess is that he’ll be a 7th inning guy who picks up a few holds now and again.

Updated hierarchy: Osuna | Sanchez | Hawkins.

Colorado Rockies – The Rockies picked up Miguel Castro in the Troy Tulowitzki deal, and given the state of their bullpen, he might get summoned to the big leagues soon. For now, though, we suspect that LaTroy Hawkins’s absence means more holds for Rafael Betancourt and Tommy Kahnle. Keep an eye on Betancourt in particular, who has come around as of late, having allowed only one run in his last nine innings pitched; he’s becoming an appealing alternative to closer John Axford, who destroyed his trade value by allowing 12 ERs in his last 11 innings. Axford blew the save last night after the Rockies staged a big rally to take the lead in the top of the 9th.

Updated hierarchy: Axford | Betancourt | Kahnle.

Chicago Cubs – Beginning on May 16, Jason Motte had a terrific run that saw him give up just 1 run in 21 appearances, pushing him to the front of the closer-by-committee in Chicago. But after winning the full time job, he’s been more hittable, and has now allowed 13 hits in his last 6.1 innings. Last night, he was yanked before recording an out after giving up a home run, single, and double. (After Motte was pulled, Rafael Soriano didn’t fare much better, allowing a home run to Carlos Gonzalez.) There’s been no indication that Joe Maddon will revert to a closer-by-committee, but he’s more the type to just do it, and tell the media of his plans later. Either way, we recommend a long look at Hector Rondon, if he’s available in your leagues; he’s allowed only 1 earned run in his last 25 innings.

Hierarchy remains: Motte | Rondon | Soriano.

Seattle Mariners – After taking the loss last night, Carson Smith has now had two outings and two losses since we removed his asterisk. As mentioned yesterday, the guy who he might have competition from now, though, is Mark Lowe. Lloyd McClendon favorite Fernando Rodney still lurks, as well.

Hierarchy remains: Smith | Lowe | Rodney.

San Francisco Giants – As predicted in the Vulture Save Watch, Santiago Casilla got a night off after pitching back to back games, allowing Sergio Romo to pick up the save.

Hierarchy remains: Casilla | Romo | Strickland.

Arizona Diamondbacks – As predicted in the Vulture Save Watch, Brad Ziegler got the night off after pitching three in a row, meaning Daniel Hudson got the keys to the 9th inning. As NOT predicted in the Vulture Save Watch, Hudson blew the save, and Andrew Chafin ended up nabbing a 1-out save in the 10th. So close yet so far.

Hierarchy remains: Ziegler | Hudson | Hernandez.

Kansas City Royals – Quick, who has more saves since July 19 — Joe Blanton or Aroldis Chapman? If you guessed Chapman, you’re wrong! If you guessed Blanton, well, you’re also wrong. They’re tied. They both have two. I guess this exercise was stupid.

Hierarchy remains: Holland | Davis | Herrera.

Oakland A’s – Tyler Clippard has been traded to the Mets. As mentioned earlier, we believe Edward Mujica is probably the best bet for saves in Oakland at the moment. Drew Pomeranz could also factor if the A’s continue to reconsider shifting him to the rotation, and one A’s beat writer believes Eric O’Flaherty is a possibility. We will follow this situation closely to see if the A’s anoint someone specific.

Updated hierarchy: *Mujica | Pomeranz | O’Flaherty.
* = closer-by-committee

New York Mets – The Mets’ acquisition of Tyler Clippard won’t displace Jeurys Familia, who has been one of the best closers in the game this year. It will, however, cut into hold opportunities for Jenrry Mejia and Bobby Parnell, as Clippard figures to be the 8th inning guy going forward. On the off chance that the playoffs matter in your fantasy league, know that the Mets likely made this move because they know they won’t have Mejia should they make it to October — he’s barred from postseason play this year as part of his earlier PED suspension.

Updated hierarchy: Familia | Clippard | Mejia. 

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Mark Lowe, Seattle Mariners – Carson Smith has taken losses in back to back appearances and has pitched in four of the last five games.
2. Jake Petricka, Chicago White Sox – David Robertson threw 33 pitches last night (46 in the last two days) and Zach Duke has gone three straight.

Edward Mujica, Drew Pomeranz among closer candidates after Tyler Clippard trade

July 27, 2015

Oakland A’s – Tyler Clippard has been traded to the Mets. As mentioned earlier, we believe Edward Mujica is probably the best bet for saves in Oakland at the moment. Drew Pomeranz could also factor if the A’s continue to reconsider shifting him to the rotation, and one A’s beat writer believes Eric O’Flaherty is a possibility. Check back to see if the A’s anoint someone specific.

Updated hierarchy: *Mujica | Pomeranz | O’Flaherty.
* = closer-by-committee

New York Mets – The Mets’ acquisition of Tyler Clippard won’t displace Jeurys Familia, who has been one of the best closers in the game this year. It will, however, cut into hold opportunities for Jenrry Mejia and Bobby Parnell, as Clippard figures to be the 8th inning guy going forward. On the off chance that the playoffs matter in your fantasy league, know that the Mets likely made this move because they know they won’t have Mejia should they make it to October — he’s barred from postseason play this year as part of his earlier PED suspension.

Updated hierarchy: Familia | Clippard | Mejia. 

Aaron Sanchez, Mark Lowe ascending to 8th inning roles

July 27, 2015

Oakland A’s – Tyler Clippard is likely to be traded soon, according to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle. The Nationals, Mets, and Yankees were listed as possible landing spots; he would not close for any of those teams. The two most likely beneficiaries in the Oakland bullpen are Edward Mujica and Drew Pomeranz; the latter was discussed as a candidate for the rotation, but recently had his Wednesday start scratched.

Hierarchy remains: Clippard | Mujica | Pomeranz.

Toronto Blue Jays – Aaron Sanchez’s mere presence in the major league bullpen looked like it was probably going to be enough to supplant Bo Schultz as the primary set-up man in Toronto, and that was before Schultz gave up two runs in the 7th inning last night to blow the lead. Sanchez now has two scoreless 8th innings to his name and is the most likely candidate for a save when Roberto Osuna is unavailable.

Updated hierarchy: Osuna | Sanchez | Schultz.

Seattle Mariners – Mark Lowe pitched the 8th and 9th innings of a tie game on Sunday, posting two scoreless frames and lowering his ERA to a tidy 1.03. Lowe has been no fluke, as he’s throwing all of his pitches harder this year and has 46 strikeouts (in 35 innings) to show for it, and his Sunday outing mirrored an outing he had on Thursday, where he also kept the game tied in a 2-inning appearance. Those two outings — coupled with his 8th inning hold on Friday — have pushed Lowe to the 1st in line spot.

Updated hierarchy: Smith | Lowe | Rodney.

Arizona Diamondbacks – It was a long road back for David Hernandez, who missed all of 2014 after undergoing Tommy John surgery and didn’t get back to the big leagues until the middle of this season. But after a rough patch in late June, Hernandez has logged six straight scoreless appearances, including an 8th inning hold ahead of Brad Ziegler on Sunday.

Updated hierarchy: Ziegler | Hudson | Hernandez.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Daniel Hudson, Arizona Diamondbacks – Brad Ziegler has pitched in three straight.
2. Sergio Romo, San Francisco Giants – Santiago Casilla has pitched in back to back games. He has yet to pitch in three straight since experiencing some dead arm in early July.

Aaron Sanchez returns to bullpen for Blue Jays

July 26, 2015

Toronto Blue Jays — Aaron Sanchez was activated from the DL on Saturday and immediately inserted into an important spot for the Blue Jays’ bullpen.  He pitched a scoreless 8th in a tie game and ended up getting the win after the Blue Jays took the lead in the top of the 9th.  Roberto Osuna pitched a scoreless 9th for his 5th save of the season.  With Steve Delabar getting sent down, Sanchez will replace him on the Blue Jays’ hierarchy and could be an option to close games if Osuna struggles at all.

Updated hierarchy: Osuna | Schultz | Sanchez

St. Louis Cardinals — Randy Choate recorded the last two outs of a 1-0 Cardinals win on Saturday to pick up his 1st save of the season.  Seth Maness started the 9th, but the lefty-specialist Choate was brought on to face a couple of lefties to finish the game.  Kevin Siegrist recorded a 25 pitch save on Friday so he was likely unavailable yesterday, and manager Mike Matheny gave regular closer Trevor Rosenthal a second night off in a row, after he was convinced to pitch him a third consecutive day on Thursday.

Hierarchy remains: Rosenthal | Siegrist | Maness.

Seattle Mariners — We finally remove the asterisk from Carson Smith and how does he repay us?  He has his worst outing of the season.  Smith allowed two runs on two hits and two walks without recording an out and took the loss on Saturday.  Luckily for Smith, Fernando Rodney also allowed two runs on Saturday.  However, another outing like this one from Smith, and Rodney and Mark Lowe could enter the conversation for save chances moving forward.

Hierarchy remains: Smith | Rodney | Lowe.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Fernando Rodney/Mark Lowe, Seattle Mariners – Carson Smith has pitched in three straight.  Rodney could get the call on Sunday if necessary but he has pitched in two of the last three, including a 21 pitch outing where he gave up 2 runs yesterday.
2. Keone Kela/Tanner Scheppers, Texas Rangers – Shawn Tolleson has appeared in two straight and four of the last five games

Jake McGee could be closing soon; Jonathan Papelbon to Washington?

July 25, 2015

Seattle Mariners — Over the last two months, Carson Smith has nine saves and Fernando Rodney has two (and two blown saves). After Smith shut down Toronto in the ninth on Friday night, we think it’s time for him to shed his asterisk and be considered the Seattle closer, full stop. Just promise us you won’t tell Lloyd McClendon.

Hierarchy remains: Smith | Rodney | Lowe.

Tampa Bay Rays — Jake McGee earned his fifth save on Friday, in a game where Brad Boxberger did not appear. A McGee save by itself isn’t that unusual, but given the rumors swirling around all three members of the Tampa hierarchy, Friday could have been either an attempt to showcase the lefthander, who boasts 21 straight scoreless appearances, or an early look at life after a Boxberger trade.

Hierarchy remains: Boxberger | McGee | Jepsen.

Philadelphia Phillies — 17 saves in 17 appearances isn’t the only streak Jonathan Papelbon is working on this season; he’s also managed to whine about wanting a trade every single time he has seen a reporter. The latest rumor has him headed inside the division, to Washington.

Hierarchy remains: Papelbon | Giles | Gomez.

St. Louis Cardinals — Yet another save delivered to those who heed the Vulture Save Watch, courtesy of Kevin Siegrist. In other news, the Cardinals acquired Steve Cishek from the Marlins. Although Cishek has improved since his return to the majors in June (0.71 ERA, 11 K in 13 appearances), we think his ceiling is the Seth Maness level, solidly behind Trevor Rosenthal, Siegrist, and Jordan Walden, once the latter returns (as early as next week) from his biceps injury.

Hierarchy remains: Rosenthal | Siegrist | Maness.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Rafael Soriano/Pedro Strop, Chicago Cubs — Jason Motte’s blown save on Friday came on his third day of work in four (and fifth out of seven). Hector Rondon has seen an even heavier recent workload.
2. Pat Neshek, Houston Astros — Luke Gregerson hasn’t thrown many pitches (24), but they have come in three straight games.
3. Alexi Ogando/Tommy Layne, Boston Red Sox — If you believe Boston can win two straight games, it’s worth noting that Koji Uehara threw 29 pitches on Friday, and Junichi Tazawa has thrown 36 over the last two days. Ogando is next in line, while Layne is the only non-Uehara pitcher with a save for Boston this year.
4. Fernando Rodney, Seattle Mariners — Smith is Seattle’s closer, but he’s pitched on three of four days, and Rodney had Friday off.