MLB Trade Rumors: Latest Buzz on Francisco Rodriguez and Top Relievers

Francisco Rodriguez is drawing a ton of interest—and for good reason.

There are at least three teams interested in acquiring the reliever, including the Los Angeles Dodgers, Detroit Tigers and Boston Red Sox, according to Danny Knobler of CBS Sports. Those three teams are all hoping to get into the playoffs this season but will need to add depth and talent to their respective bullpens in order to do so.

Rodriguez has been a reliable arm in manager Ron Roenicke’s bullpen this season. In 24.2 innings of work across 25 appearances, K-Rod has 10 saves and has allowed just three runs. It’s not every year there’s a reliever on the market who has a 1.09 ERA with August right around the corner.

While K-Rod has been good in 2013, let’s not forget how great he was just a few years ago with the Angels. The right-hander saved at least 40 games per season for four straight seasons (2005-08), and his best year came in 2008, when he saved 62 games and posted a 2.24 ERA in 68.1 innings of work.

The Dodgers need Rodriguez’s services the most out of the three aforementioned organizations. Los Angeles’ bullpen is currently ranked 20th in the game in terms of WAR, according to FanGraphs. K-Rod would likely serve as the eighth-inning guy, as Kenley Jansen seems to have a hold on the closer role (11 saves, 2.23 ERA).

Whether Rodriguez ends up back with his second Los Angels club, with Detroit or Boston, or with another club, there’s no doubt he’s going to play a big role down the stretch. He’s one of the X-factor relievers who are so valuable in today’s game. Aside from K-Rod, here’s the latest on other relievers who could get dealt before July 31.

Addison Reed, Chicago White Sox

The White Sox already dealt one of their relievers away this year, trading Matt Thornton to the Red Sox, and the team might not be done yet. Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe reports Addison Reed is available, but Chicago will be looking for more in return than it did when trading Thornton.

Chicago received Brandon Jacobs in return for Thornton a few weeks ago. Jacobs was a top-15 prospect in Boston’s system and could be a good power-hitting outfielder in the future. If the White Sox are asking for more for Reed, that likely means someone in the top 10 of an organization’s minor league system. That’s not crazy, though.

Reed doesn’t have a ton of experience, but he has been very effective for Chicago:

Cafardo notes that the Tigers could be a player for Reed, and indications are that the White Sox may be willing to make a trade with another team in the AL Central if the return is good enough. This is an opportunity Detroit cannot afford to pass up.

While Joaquin Benoit has been a strong closer since earning the job, he’s not really a closer. He was just the next best option manager Jim Leyland had when Bruce Rondon and Jose Valverde couldn’t get the job done. A one-two punch of Benoit and Reed in the eighth and ninth innings would make the Detroit bullpen much better.

Joba Chamberlain, New York Yankees

Remember when Joba Chamberlain was one of the top relievers in baseball? That was back in 2008, when the right-hander threw 100.1 innings in 42 appearances—12 starts—and posted a 2.60 ERA. Then, the Yankees tried to make him into a starting pitcher, and it was downhill from there.

Since 2008, Chamberlain’s WAR has declined in each season, per FanGraphs. This season has been an adventure on the mound for the Yankees reliever—and not in a good way. The righty has allowed 14 earned runs in 24.1 innings of work, which works out to a 5.18 ERA. That’s hurt his trade value for sure.

Dan Martin of the New York Post recently reported that the Philadelphia Phillies, Atlanta Braves and San Francisco Giants “aren’t wild” about trading for Chamberlain. The scribe does note that the Tigers might see him as an option for the earlier innings. The problem is that the Yankees probably aren’t going to get much in return.

There’s around a week left until the trade deadline, and Chamberlain needs to put together a couple of good outings to increase his stock. New York might not want to give him away for free, but at this point, the team may not have much of a choice—unless general manager Brian Cashman is just going to keep him.