Ranking the Top 10 Relievers Available at the MLB Trade Deadline

The 2013 Major League Baseball trade deadline may not offer the glitz and glamour of previous seasons, but there are still some quality players out on the market.

In the relief department, teams like the Tigers, Red Sox, Pirates and Braves are in the hunt to bring in a reliever for the stretch run.

With Francisco Rodriguez off the market after he was traded to the Orioles on Tuesday, the relief market has slimmed down a bit.

However, there are still 10 solid arms out on the market that could improve the fate of a playoff contender.

The rankings are based on the pitchers' numbers combined with their potential availability.

All statistics obtained from Baseball-Reference.com.

10. John Axford

With Francisco Rodriguez now in Baltimore and Ryan Braun suspended for the rest of the season, the Milwaukee Brewers could sell another one of their key assets.

John Axford was mentioned by ESPN.com's Jayson Stark as a potential trade candidate in his Tuesday article.

The 30-year-old Canadian right-hander can fill in the role of either setup man or closer for a contender, and he has done quite well this season by conceding just one earned run in his last 32 appearances.

One snag in a potential deal for Axford would be the high price tag the Brewers would put on the righty, who is for now the closer for Milwaukee.

9. Steve Cishek

It just would not be fair to mention the word trade without the Florida Marlins.

The Marlins, who are known for their trademark fire sales, have two relievers that could potentially leave South Florida before the trade deadline.

One of those two relievers is closer Steve Cishek, who has converted 20 of his 22 save opportunities this season.

Despite the Marlins' futility and a weak trade market, CBS Sports' Danny Knobler tweeted on Thursday that the Marlins are not making Cishek and teammate Michael Dunn available.

A lot can change between now and the trade deadline, and one of those things could be the availability of Cishek, especially if teams like the Tigers get desperate as Wednesday's deadline approaches.

8. Scott Downs

Any pitcher with 29 consecutive scoreless innings pitched on a third-place team with a below .500 record will gain interest.

All three of those qualities fit Angels lefty Scott Downs, who is 2-2 with a 1.24 ERA in 42 appearances this season.

MLB Network's Peter Gammons tweeted on Wednesday that interest in Downs was growing, but the interest in trading him from his organization is very low.

Downs was a highly sought-after free agent after the 2010 season, and now that the Angels are struggling this season, it could be the right time to let Downs leave.

7. Glen Perkins

Glen Perkins is the reliever everyone wants, but up until now, he has been unavailable.

The Minnesota lefty has converted 24 of his 27 save opportunities this season with the cellar-dwelling Twins; he could be offloaded to another ballclub.

According to David O'Brien of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Braves scouted a few Twins relievers including Perkins recently.

However, O'Brien also points out in the same tweet that it sounds like Perkins is currently unavailable.

If the price is right for the Twins, one has to assume they will take a few quality prospects in exchange for their 30-year-old closer.

6. Jesse Crain

Jesse Crain could have been the gem of the relief pitcher market this trade deadline, but he is currently on the disabled list.

Crain, who has a 0.74 ERA in 38 appearances this season, will not pitch before the trade deadline, according to Dan Hayes of CSN Chicago.

Despite being out with a shoulder injury, both Hayes and ESPN's Buster Olney tweeted on Friday that a potential suitor could work out a conditional trade for the 32-year-old reliever.

Even with Crain on the disabled list, there would be a market for him, as Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe tweeted on Tuesday that he was high atop the wish list of the Red Sox.

5. Jonathan Papelbon

The "P" on the hat of Jonathan Papelbon might as well stand for perplexing instead of Philadelphia at this moment in the season.

The Phillies are the one team in baseball that no one can figure out as the trade deadline approaches.

If the Phillies turn into sellers before Wednesday, Papelbon could be one of the many players exiting the City of Brotherly Love.

Matt Gelb of The Philadelphia Inquirer tweeted on Tuesday after Francisco Rodriguez was dealt to Baltimore that the Tigers and Red Sox have a considerable amount of interest in the 32-year-old closer.

Papelbon's statistics this season are not spectacular, but he has converted 20 of his 25 save opportunities.

Another appealing quality surrounding Papelbon is his plentiful amount of postseason experience with the Red Sox from 2005 to 2009.

4. Joe Thatcher

Any time a left-handed reliever on a struggling ballclub is thought to be available at the trade deadline, other teams begin to inquire about him.

That is the case with Padres southpaw Joe Thatcher, who currently has a 3-1 record with a 2.22 ERA in 48 appearances this season.

Fox Sports' Jon Paul Morosi tweeted on Tuesday that the Braves, who are in need of a lefty in the bullpen, had interest in Thatcher.

Morosi also tweeted that the Tigers could have interest in Thatcher, among others in a Padres uniform at the moment.

In his 28.1 innings this season, Thatcher has conceded just seven earned runs and held left-handed batters to a .194 batting average.

3. Oliver Perez

After spending a year-and-a-half out of the national spotlight in Seattle, Oliver Perez is in the spotlight again.

The 31-year-old Mexican left-hander, who used to be a starter with the Pirates and Mets, has a 2-2 record and a 2.41 ERA for the Mariners this season.

Just two weeks ago, Boston Globe baseball reporter Nick Cafardo tweeted that Perez was beginning to garner interest in the weak trade market.

This season, Perez has held left-handed batters to a .274 batting average and right-handed batters to a meager .195.

While Perez may just have one year of postseason experience, in 2006 with the Mets, he is a veteran of the game who can be trusted to get the job done down the stretch.

2. James Russell

James Russell is close to being saved from his Windy City hell with the Cubs if you believe everyone who is talking about him.

The 27-year-old southpaw has spent the last four seasons with the Cubs, and he could see himself in the playoffs for the first time in his career if he joins the right team.

One of the teams interested in Russell are the Atlanta Braves, who are in need of a lefty in their bullpen.

However, trading for Russell may not be all that easy, as CBS Sports' Jon Heyman tweeted last month.

With the Cubs wanting to hold on to Russell, dealing for him may not be as easy as the other pitchers on the list, but for the right price, he will be dealt.

1. Luke Gregerson

The San Diego Padres could potentially be moving three relievers before the trade deadline closes on Wednesday afternoon.

The prized member of that trio is setup man Luke Gregerson.

Fox's Jon Paul Morosi tweeted on Tuesday that interest is growing from the Tigers in the race for Gregerson.

On Friday, CBS Sports' Jon Heyman followed up on that tweet by saying the Padres are getting plenty of calls about Gregerson compared to their other relievers who could be on the market.

One quality about Gregerson that has to be appealing to possible suitors like the Tigers is the fact that he has experience as a setup man and as a closer.

Who do you think is the best available relief pitcher on the market?

Comment below or leave me a comment on Twitter, @JTansey90.