The 2019 season is underway and, predictably, it’s a disaster. Some teams seem to have no plan at all. Other teams are continually searching for answers to get the last out, either because of poor performance or injury. Very few are the situations that have nary an issue. Each week we will try to get a handle on who the closer is, who is next in line and who is bringing up the rear as the third option in the pen. We will do our best, though it’s likely that the teams will not comply fully as we hope.
THE 2019 CHART
GREEN – There is a closer who has the role on lockdown.
WHITE – There is clarity as to who the closer is, but there is some uncertainty about his ability to hold on to the role.
RED – There is no clarity as to who the closer is, or what the true plan is for the 9th inning.
This is NOT a rankings list. It merely lists all 30 team situations in one of three categories.
Before you panic with your closer, make sure you check the recent usage. Many times, guys go 2-days in a row and then get a rest, which is why they aren’t getting a save chance in game #3, not because they have lost their job.
* Note, Chaz Roe has been placed on the IL though Diego Castilla is expected to be activated.
POTENTIAL MLB TRADE PIECES: A review of the men who are out there in Rumorland as potential chips who could be moved over the next three weeks.
Alex Colome is on a White Sox team that isn’t planning on winning this year, but they are closing in on their goal of being a legit contender. Dealing Colome to get some young talent seems like an ideal move for the club to make. Much like last season when he was dealt, Colome figures to be on the move this season. He’s been the nuts to this point, 20-for-21 in saves, but the punchouts have vanished (6.81 per nine). He will be dealt, but just like last season, it seems way more likely than not that he ends up as a setup man for his new team. Very likely. Aaron Bummer has been terrific with a 9.18 K/9, 3.09 K/BB and that 65 percent ground ball rate is glorious. I would expect him to get first crack at the gig.
Ken Giles has gone 13-for-14 in save conversions for the Blue Jays, and he’s been as dominant doing that as any pitcher in baseball with a massive 15.39 K/9 rate. With his contract up at year’s end, the return may not be stupendous, or a team might have no issue adding him with no expectation of future involvement. He’s been bad as a setup man the past few years, but as a 9th inning arm, he’s dominated. The issue for the Jays is who closes if he’s dealt since Dan Hudson is also rumored to be on his way out of town. I assume that means Joe Biagini would get first crack, but it might devolve into a committee if Giles/Hudson are both dealt.
Shane Greene is gonna be dealt. Has to be. He is arbitration eligible next season so will see a raise on the $4 million he’s making this year, but a team can handle that obligation to win now. Greene has been amazing with a 1.09 ERA while going 22-for-24 in saves. Still, that .183 BABIP is comically low, the 86.1 left on base percentage is dropping… the bottom line is that he’s likely to become a setup man. Unfortunately, with the Tigers in full rebuild mode, there have been plenty of rumors of Joe Jimenez also potentially being dealt. A bad team, with their top-2 arms potentially on the way out of town. Can you say fantasy disaster is coming in Detroit?
There are rumors the Indians might deal Trevor Bauer and/or Brad Hand. Seems like an odd move if you ask me, but it’s possible the Indians tear this down a bit and move Hand, for what would be a significant return. Then, we’d likely devolve into a cluster in Cleveland.
Shawn Kelley has supplanted Jose Leclerc as the closer with the Rangers, a team that isn’t winning this year. Do the Rangers have anything invested in the 35-year-old righty? No, they don’t, but he has a club option for $2.5 million next year, so he’s an attractive trade chip. He’s solid, but the only reason any of us are talking about him is that he’s working the 9th inning as it’s not like his performance has changed. Still seems like Leclerc has a shot at working the 9th at some point, but Chris Martin has looked awfully sharp.
Ian Kennedy is a player that the Royals would love to trade as the 34-year-old basically failed starter, has taken to the 9th inning role with tons of success. Will they be able to move him is the real question? The results this season suggest he could bring a nice return, but there’s a huge pink elephant in the room – his contract. Kennedy has a whopper of a deal which could make it virtually impossible to deal him for anything of note. Kennedy is working on a $16.5 million deal this season, and guess what? Yep, he’s also due $16.5 million next season. So, is it more important for the Royals to get a return or salary relief? The answer to that will determine how they handle Kennedy. It’s very unclear, like mud, as to what the team would do if Kennedy was indeed dealt.
Will Smith has been one of the best relievers in baseball for the Giants (he has not blown any of his 23 saves chances). The club has been better of late, but they still sit at the bottom of the NL West standings and seem very likely to deal Smith (he becomes a free agent after the year, and there’s no way the Giants are going to pay a closer $10M plus a year, given the current state of the organization). The lefty, who has been excellent since the start of last season, would likely bring a nice haul of prospects from a contending team looking at adding that final piece to their bullpen. As a lefty, it’s quite possible that his new team will slot him into a setup role. The Giants could also deal Tony Watson, another impressive lefty reliever, which could leave 9th inning duties open in SF with Sam Dyson and Reyes Moronta as the likely best leftover options (if they aren’t dealt).
Sergio Romo will be dealt by the Marlins. Come on, he has to be on the move. He’s obviously still an effective reliever, but his new team will not use him in the 9th inning. What will the club do once Romo is gone? Drew Steckenrider is coming back from an elbow issue, but he has to be considered a verrrry long shot to work the 9th. Adam Conley has been dreadful, allowing 1.53 homers per nine with a 1.61 WHIP. Nick Anderson has a mighty impressive 58 punchouts in 37.1 innings, and he would appear to be in the lead to take over. That 0.78 GB/FB rate is less than ideal, but it’s also noteworthy that he’s permitted a .366 BABIP, and that just isn’t likely to be something that continues moving forward. Nothing obvious here.
Felipe Vazquez has been mentioned in some circles as a potential trade piece by the Pirates. Why would they do that? They are only one game under .500 and just 2.5 games behind the Cubs in the NL Central. There’s also the fact that Vazquez has been tremendous this season, and that his contract is completely manageable, and in fact, very low for a player of his skill/performance. Vazquez is due just $5.25 million next season and $7.25 million in 2012 before two $10 million dollar club options in 2022-23. There’s no obvious reason at all to suggest that the Pirate will deal Vazquez.
