MLB Trade Rumors: 6 Bullpen Arms Likely to Be Available at the Deadline

Today is May 1st, and you know what that means: It’s time to talk about MLB relievers on the move.

It might seem a bit early in the season, but there have been some impressive and surprising names on the top-relievers list so far this season and it’s never too early to prepare for the push towards the postseason.

I have compiled a list of six of the top relievers in the game right now and some of the names might seem to come out of left field. Three of them are not very well-known bullpen hurlers, while the other half have experience to complement their strong 2012 start.

Each reliever on this list is currently on a squad that is struggling to keep afloat this spring, but personally, continues to pitch well and refuses let his team’s lack of success bring him down.

Check out the list and let me know what you think (these relievers are not in any particular order of trade value)!

1. RHP Ryan Cook, Oakland Athletics

I’m not sure if you have heard of Oakland Athletics reliever Ryan Cook, and judging by his age and experience level, you probably haven't, but you should take notice. Cook has been one of the best, if not the best, relievers in the entire league this season.

He’s only surrendered one base-hit throughout the first month of the season. Over his nine appearances, he’s tossed 10 innings, struck out eight and walked five. He’s usually a one-inning guy, though, twice he has lasted more than just one frame, but never two full innings.

Cook is just 24 years old and only has 21 games of experience at the major league level. He debuted for the Diamondbacks, but really struggled. Over his 12 appearances with Arizona, he compiled just 7.2 innings and he surrendered six earned runs on 11 base hits, not to mention he issued eight free passes and only seven strike outs.

So, we’ll see if he can continue his hot streak; only time will tell when he’ll allow his first earned run of 2012, but it does not seem like it will happen anytime soon. He might not have that much experience pitching at the major league level, but he would be a great trade commodity because of his age and success this year.

Since the A’s will not be in the race, a contender can offer them a lesser-known player in exchange for Cook. As long as he continues to pitch well, he might be on the chopping block come July.

2. LHP James Russell, Chicago Cubs

Another relief pitcher who has had great success this season, but has flown under the radar, is the Chicago Cubs' lone left-handed pen member, James Russell. Although the 26-year-old is still young and only has two-plus seasons of MLB experience, he’ll be one of the hotter commodities come July.

Russell has appeared in nine contests this season, and has yet to allow an earned run. He’s tossed 7.2 innings, scattered six base hits, struck out eight and issued four walks for the lowly Cubs.

Last season with the North Side club, he appeared in 64 games, accumulating 67.2 innings of work (4.12 ERA). During that span, he gave up 31 earned runs on 76 base hits, struck out 43 and walked just 14.

In his first season at the major league level in 2010, he tossed 49 innings while making 57 appearances. Russell allowed 27 earned runs over that stretch (4.96 ERA), struck out 42 and walked just 11.

Although he has not posted the best numbers in his career, he is pitching very well, and has been the most consistent Cub so far this season. Russell is a left-handed pitcher, so he is even more desirable because teams are always looking to pick up southpaws at the deadline.

I’m sure he will give in and allow an earned run at some point this month, but if he can continue to pitch well and keep his ERA low, he will be on the trade market come July, especially since the Cubs will not be in the race.

3. RHP Juan Cruz, Pittsburgh Pirates

Finally, we get to a reliever who people have heard of before. Veteran right-handed hurler Juan Cruz makes the list because of his early success and also his experience pitching at the major league level.

The 11-year-plus vet has been around since 2001, when he broke into the majors with the Chicago Cubs as a starting pitcher. Since, he has made the transition to relief pitcher, and has been up and down from team to team.

This season, Cruz finds himself with the Pittsburgh Pirates, and currently, is their closer. Joel Hanrahan, who was supposed to be the back end of the Bucs pen, is on the DL and Cruz seems to be filling in for him as he’s saved both opportunities he has been given.

Cruz has appeared in nine games this season, compiled 8.1 innings with a 1-0 record, scattered nine base hits, struck out eight and walked two.

In his career, Cruz is 38-35 over his 413 career appearances (38 starts) with a 4.07 ERA; he’s played for seven different teams, and spent time in each league. Last season, he finished with a 5-0 record and a 3.88 ERA in 56 games with the Tampa Bay Rays.

He has bounced around from team to team, but in some ways, that’s a good sign. He has the ability to adjust to any squad, he is familiar with both leagues and he has experience pitching in any situation in the majors.

If he can continue his success with the Pirates, he will definitely be expendable because the Bucs will not be in the pennant race come July. There will definitely be teams out there in search of a powerful, veteran arm, and he could be the reliever teams are looking to fortify their bullpens.

4. LHP Matt Thornton, Chicago White Sox

Another left-handed specialist makes the list of possible relievers on the trading block. White Sox LHP Matt Thornton is another veteran who could add a sense of depth in the back end of a bullpen that is missing a strong southpaw.

Thornton has jumped out to a strong start this season, as he’s allowed just one earned run over his first 11 innings of work. He has appeared in 12 games, surrendered just eight base hits, struck out 10 and has yet to walk an opponent.

Over his nine-year career, he sports a 29-28 record with a respectable 3.46 ERA over his 471 innings of work. He debuted with the Mariners and stayed in Seattle for two seasons before heading to the Midwest, where he has been ever since.

Between 2005 and 2011, he averaged 64.7 appearances per season. In both ’08 and ’09, he made at least 70 appearances (74 was a career-high in 2008). Plus, he does have experience pitching in the postseason, as he was part of the ’08 White Sox, the last Sox team to make it to October. From 2008 to 2010, he finished with an ERA of 2.67 or lower.

Thornton definitely has been one of the more consistent relievers around the American League over the last seven years, but he’s never drawn that much attention. He’s 35-years-old and still has a couple of strong years left in him.

The White Sox are 11-11 and struggling in one of the tougher divisions in baseball, which includes the Tigers and Indians. I do not think they will be contenders by the end of July, so dealing Thornton for younger arms or a strong bat would be a great move for the Sox.

5. RHP Alex Burnett, Minnesota Twins

The Minnesota Twins have always had a strong farm system that’s been able to produce quality arms, and right-hander Alex Burnett is another example of a young, hard-working reliever. The Twins have been struggling this season and they might be looking to ship away young talent for strong offensive production come July.

Burnett has gotten off to a hot start with the Twins this season. Over his first 10 appearances, he’s tossed 12.2 innings, yielding 12 base hits and two earned runs (1.42 ERA), while striking out four and walking two out of the pen.

He is in his third year at the major league level with the Twins—in his first two seasons, he appeared in 107 games, compiled 98.1 innings of work and allowed 59 earned runs (5.41 ERA).

This season looks to be different for Burnett and the Twins, as he’s come out of the shoot looking like a much improved pitcher with more experience. He’s currently a middle reliever and really is flying under the radar.

This is the type of guy everyone wants on their team. He can flourish in the Twins' pen and build up confidence, and then be picked up by a team in need of a right-handed reliever. He can definitely surprise a team and help them build a winner.

The Twins are not going to be in it by the end of July—they’re out of it already. As long as he continues to pitch well, he’ll turn heads and maybe make a name for himself by the end of the season. He is definitely a bullpen arm who could be on the move because teams would not have to give up too much for him and he could reap great rewards in the end.

6. RHP Brett Myers, Houston Astros

The last reliever on my list is none other than former Philadelphia Phillies starter Brett Myers. Now, he’s part of the Houston Astros’ bullpen and is currently pitching very well for the struggling Texas team.

The 31-year-old Jacksonville native has 11-plus years of experience at the major league level, and most of that was when he was a starting pitcher, which of course, makes him more expendable on the trade market.

This season, Myers has moved into the closer role with the Astros. He’s made seven appearances and has tossed 6.2 innings, allowing just one earned run (1.35 ERA). He is a perfect 5-for-5 in save opportunities, has walked just one and struck out five.

Over his career, he sports a 94-85 record with a 4.22 ERA. He burst onto the scene in 2003 when he went 14-9 for the Phillies. Since then, he’s fallen off a bit, but won another 14 games in 2010 in his first year with Houston.

Obviously, Myers has not had the most successful career, but he’s pitching very well to start the 2012 season and he is in a new role. There were times he pitched out of the pen for the Phillies (249 games started, 314 overall appearances), and I think he will have success out of the pen for the remainder of the season. In ’07, he saved 21-of-24 games for the Phillies.

Myers definitely has a great deal of experience and he knows how to pitch at the major league level. He can help out a team in need of a veteran right-handed hurler, and the Astros will not be making a run for the NL central title this season, so I think he’ll be on the trading block as long as he can continue his early-season success throughout the rest of the year.