As trades happen leading up to this year’s trade deadline, this tracker will keep Closer Monkey readers informed with updated hierarchies and instant analysis. Since it will update with each move, please bookmark it for continued use through July 30.
July 30, 2024
In a rush of moves at or just before the deadline:
- Luis García traded to Boston for four prospects
- Huascar Brazobán traded to the Mets for a prospect
- Dylan Floro traded to Arizona for a prospect
- Enyel De Los Santos traded to the Yankees
- Shawn Armstrong traded to St. Louis for Dylan Carlson going to Tampa Bay
- Gregory Soto traded to Baltimore
- Tanner Banks traded to Philadelphia
- JT Chargois traded to Seattle
San Diego Padres – A.J. Preller has pushed the chips in building a super bullpen, adding Tanner Scott and Bryan Hoeing from Miami for a package of minor-league players. How fantasy managers should treat this leverage ladder needs to be clarified. Mike Shildt can play match-ups in the late innings and leave his closer, Robert Suarez, in his current role or deploy a full-blown match-up-based approach in the late innings. Based on past usage patterns and Scott being a free agent at the end of the year, Suarez remains atop the hierarchy, but his runway gets shorter, and he can be rested more often.
As for Scott, he’s riding a 17-game scoreless streak; he’s recorded a win and converted ten saves with 22 strikeouts against seven walks over his last 17.2 innings since June 17. For the season, he’s secured 18 saves with a 53:27 K:BB through 45.2 innings. Over the last 365 days, he’s tied for 11th among all relievers with 28 saves. He owns a 0.91 WHIP with 86 strikeouts versus 32 walks (18.5 K-BB percentage), a 16.2 swinging strike percentage, and a 68.3 percent contact rate allowed.
Adjusted Hierarchy: Robert Suarez | Tanner Scott | Jason Adam
Seattle Mariners -Making a move for depth, Seattle traded for JT Chargois from Miami. He’s been scoreless in six of eight games in July with seven strikeouts against four walks and a 1.50 WHIP over ten innings. No change required in the hierarchy.
Hierarchy remains: Andrés Muñoz | Yimi García | Gregory Santos
Texas Rangers – Although this move may not be reflected in a hierarchy change, it does give the Rangers a high-leverage match-up left-handed reliever. They acquired Andrew Chafin from the Tigers per Jeff Passan. Chafin’s been scoreless in 15 of his last 16 appearances with 25 strikeouts against four walks. He’s limited left-handed hitters to a .180 batting average this year and a .474 on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS).
Hierarchy remains: Kirby Yates | David Robertson | José Leclerc
Kansas City Royals – Recent performances and injury issues necessitated another move for a reliever and J.J. Picollo delivered, trading for Lucas Erceg from Oakland. It may take a little time to sort out the roles in this hierarchy, but it’s greatly enhanced for a postseason run.
Updated Hierarchy: *James McArthur | *Hunter Harvey | *Lucas Erceg
*= closer-by-committee
Boston Red Sox – Acquired Lucas Sims from the Reds for a minor league pitching prospect. He’s been scoreless in nine of ten appearances in July with nine strikeouts against four walks and immediately slots into the team’s hierarchy ravaged by injuries:
Updated Hierarchy: Kenley Jansen | Lucas Sims | Zack Kelly
New York Yankees – Making the first move in the reliever market on the last day of the trade deadline, the Yankee acquired Mark Leiter Jr. from the Cubs and he immediately slots into our hierarchy. Through seven outings in July, he’s been scoreless, and hitless, with 14 strikeouts against zero walks while recording three holds. In a smaller move for a 40-man roster spot, the Yankees traded Caleb Ferguson to Houston for a minor leaguer and international slot money.
Updated Hierarchy: Clay Holmes | Mark Leiter Jr. | Tommy Kahnle
July 29, 2024
Atlanta Braves – In a trade with San Francisco, Atlanta added Jorge Soler and Luke Jackson for injured reliever Tyler Matzek and a minor-leaguer per the team’s offical Twitter page. This does not affect the current hierarchy but enhances the team’s lineup.
Hierarchy remains: Raisel Iglesias | Joe Jiménez | A.J. Minter
Pittsburgh Pirates – Adding to its leverage ladder, Pittsburgh has traded for Jalen Beeks per Mark Feinsand in this tweet. As of now, he does not slot into the hierarchy, but will still be a viable option in leagues with holds or SOLDS. Beeks owns a .182 batting average against facing left-handed hitters with a .246 weighted on-base average (wOBA).
Hierarchy remains: David Bednar | Aroldis Chapman | Colin Holderman
Los Angeles Dodgers – In a three-way trade with St. Louis and the Chicago White Sox, the Dodgers received utility player Tommy Edman and high-leverage reliever Michael Kopech, with the full details in this tweet by the MLB Network. Until his role emerges with his new team, the Dodgers hierarchy remains as:
Hierarchy: *Daniel Hudson | *Brent Honeywell | Blake Treinen
*= closer-by-committee
July 28, 2024
Tampa Bay Rays – Continuing its revamping of the roster for 2025 and beyond, the Rays traded Isaac Paredes in a four player deal to the Cubs and potentially a closer of the future in Hunter Bigge. He will be worth tracking, especially if the team moves Pete Fairbanks before Tuesday’s deadline passes. Stay tuned.
Updated Hierarchy: Pete Fairbanks | Colin Poche | Kevin Kelly
San Diego Padres – Striking while the team’s riding a seven-game win streak, A.J. Preller moved three of his top ranked prospects to Tampa Bay for Jason Adam. This strengthens the leverage ladder appreciably but at a high price in this reliever market.
Adjusted Hierarchy: Robert Suarez | Jason Adam | Jeremiah Estrada
July 27, 2024
Philadelphia Phillies – One of the big closer chips was moved. Carlos Estévez has been traded to Philadelphia for two breakout pitching prospects, announced first by Ken Rosenthal. This year, Estévez owns a 0.74 WHIP with 32 strikeouts against five walks (21.8 K-BB percentage) and converted 20 of 23 save chances. He will join the Phillies amid an 18-game scoreless streak with a robust 15:2 K:BB and minuscule 0.28 WHIP through 18 innings. His role in the team’s “floating closer” concept can cause some apprehension, but he will be firmly affixed in save chances and moves atop our hierarchy:
Adjusted Hierarchy: *Carlos Estévez | *Jeff Hoffman | *José Alvarado
Los Angeles Angels – While fantasy managers await a trade of Luis García next, which could open the door for Ben Joyce save chances, the hierarchy will appear as such entering Saturday’s game against Oakland:
Updated Hierarchy: Luis García | Ben Joyce | Roansy Contreras
Milwaukee Brewers – Announced by Jeff Passan, Milwaukee traded two pitching prospects to Colorado for Nick Mears. He’s been scoreless in five of his last six appearances with 10 strikeouts against one walk and a 0.60 WHIP through 6.2 innings. This may not move the needle from a fantasy perspective, but this could be a sneaky good deal for depth with strikeout upside moving forward.
Updated Hierarchy: Trevor Megill, Elvis Peguero, Jared Koenig
Chicago Cubs – With eyes on 2025 and beyond the Cubs have traded two prospects, one requiring Rule 5 protection to Toronto for reliever Nate Pearson, as reported first by Jesse Rogers of ESPN. This does not impact the hierarchy right now, but it potentially signals upcoming trades for veterans like Héctor Neris and possibly Mark Leiter Jr. Stay tuned.
Hierarchy remains: Héctor Neris | Mark Leiter Jr. | Porter Hodge
July 26, 2024
New York Mets – Per the team’s Twitter page, the Mets have acquired Ryne Stanek for a minor league outfielder, Rhylan Thomas:
Updated Hierarchy: Edwin Díaz | Phil Maton | Ryne Stanek
Seattle Mariners – Making a second move in two days, this one addressed a clear need in the leverage ladder. Seattle traded outfielder Jonatan Clase to Toronto for Yimi García:
Updated Hierarchy: Andrés Muñoz | Yimi García | Ryne Stanek
Baltimore Orioles -In a trade that benefits both teams, the Orioles acquired Seranthony Domínguez and Cristian Pache for Austin Hays. While this does not jump off the page from a fantasy perspective, it signals that a bigger deal may be imminent for the Phillies. It’s been reported Philadelphia has been in conversations about Carlos Estévez, Tanner Scott, and Kyle Finnegan. Stay tuned. For now, there are no hierarchy changes in either bullpen.
July 25, 2024
Arizona Diamondbacks – As announced by Craig Mish, the Marlins have traded A.J. Puk to Arizona for prospect Deyvison De Los Santos. Manager Torey Lovullo has steadfastly supported Paul Sewald, but this move makes his runway in save situations a bit shorter. Puk remains under team control through 2026, which may make him the closer next year, if not sooner. He will arrive in Arizona riding a 13-game scoreless streak with 22 strikeouts versus three walks during his last 15 innings.
Our hierarchy as of tonight:
Updated Hierarchy: Paul Sewald | A.J. Puk | Kevin Ginkel
July 13, 2024
Kansas City Royals – After a shutout loss in Boston, the team announced a trade to shore up its bullpen, adding Hunter Harvey for third base prospect Cayden Wallace and its Competitive Balance A pick in this year’s draft. While many may presume this will provide Harvey with save chances, he and James McArthur have very similar statistics since the second half of last year through this season:
- James McArthur last 56.2 IP: 5-3 record, 21 saves in 25 chances, three holds, 50:8 K:BB (18.7 K-BB percentage), 3.02 ERA, 2.96 SIERA, 1.08 WHIP, 12.4 swinging strike percentage, 75.4 percent contact rate allowed
- Hunter Harvey’s last 66.1 IP: 3-4 record, 2 saves in four chances, 34 holds, 73:13 K:BB (22.3 K-BB percentage), 3.53 ERA, 2.86 SIERA, 1.09 WHIP, 12.6 swinging strike percentage, 76 percent contact rate allowed
Until the team or the manager provide contrary information, fantasy managers should plan on McArthur remaining the Royals’ closer, but if there’s an update regarding a change, this will change our hierarchy accordingly. “The General” was recalled on September 1 last year and in the games since, he’s recorded the fifth most saves in the American League (21), trailing Emmanuel Clase (36), Clay Holmes (29), Pete Fairbanks (23), and Craig Kimbrel (23).
For now:
Updated Hierarchy: James McArthur | Hunter Harvey | John Schreiber
July 9, 2024
New York Mets – After suffering multiple injuries within its leverage ladder, the Mets made the first trade of the month, acquiring Phil Maton from Tampa for cash considerations. He immediately was slotted into the bullpen hierarchy:
Updated Hierarchy: Edwin Díaz | Dedniel Núñez | Phil Maton
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