MLB Trade Rumors: Top 10 Relievers Likely to Be Dealt at the Deadline
When MLB teams enter trade deadline talks, they usually believe they are just one or two pieces away from completing the World Series puzzle. It's not uncommon, however, when these pieces are as small as one or two relievers.
Look at the San Francisco Giants last year.
On July 1, they sat two games over .500 and five-and-a-half games out of first place in the NL West—trailing the Padres, Dodgers and Rockies. Still, they decided to be buyers instead of sellers.
In a bold move, they traded catcher Bengie Molina for Chris Ray. A month later, they traded for two more relievers—Javier Lopez and Ramon Ramirez.
The moves weren't for big-name players, but Ray, Lopez and Ramirez all played their parts, and the Giants went on to win the World Series.
Let's take a look at the best short-inning guys that this year's contenders will be going after.
Jason Frasor, Toronto Blue Jays
1 of 10
The Toronto Blue Jays are currently sitting at .500, but in the AL East, that probably won't get it done. More than likely, they will be selling come July.
Jason Frasor has put together a nice season, compiling a 2.83 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP. Those numbers are easily good enough to attract a contender, while his $3.75 million option next season is expensive enough for the Blue Jays to part ways with the 33-year-old.
Michael Wurtz, Oakland Athletics
2 of 10
Honestly, the Oakland Athletics have lots of relievers that would interest teams come July 31.
Brian Fuentes is the team's closer, but he has struggled and might come off as too expensive for teams.
Grant Balfour is another interesting option, but he is set to make $4 million in 2012.
Wuertz, who has been terrific this year, has a club option next year that would cost $3.25 million.
Craig Breslow and Brad Ziegler, two solid relievers, are both set to hit their first year of arbitration next season and could make for good trade bait, as well.
The title of the slide says Wuertz, but really, all of these guys are terrific, and they are available.
Koji Uehara, Baltimore Orioles
3 of 10
The Baltimore Orioles are currently dead last in the AL East and might be trying to sell many of their relievers.
Koji Uehara is probably the guy they can get the most for, as he currently sports a 2.52 ERA, has 39 strikeouts in 32 innings and could probably close for a lot of teams.
If Uehara reaches 55 appearances or 25 games finished—he's on pace for both—the O's will owe him $4 million next season, something they might want to avoid.
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Leo Nunez, Florida Marlins
4 of 10
The Florida Marlins have went through a historically bad month, and are all of a sudden in last place in the NL East and falling further in the wild-card race. They should be sellers come the deadline.
Leo Nunez, who is set for his last arbitration next year, is currently making $3.65 million. He currently has a 3.77 ERA and 19 saves, so a raise next season may be in order.
Something tells me that's too much to pay for a closer, especially for a team like the Marlins.
Tyler Clippard, Washington Nationals
5 of 10
Tyler Clippard's name has been thrown in trade rumors recently, including in a post by Foxsports' Ken Rosenthal.
While it may be possible, trading Clippard doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me.
Clippard is currently one of the top relievers in the league right now, with an ERA of 1.94 and a WHIP of 0.912.
While he is set to go into his first year of arbitration after this season and may see a raise, he's not closing games, so he shouldn't be able to demand too much money. Also, the Nats have control of him through 2015.
Unless Washington gets a team to overpay for Clippard, I don't expect to see him moved.
Joakim Soria, Kansas City Royals
6 of 10
According to Baseball Prospectus, the Kansas City Royals have a zero percent chance at making the playoffs. Ouch.
If the Royals become sellers at the deadline, Joakim Soria might be their biggest bait.
Soria is currently sporting a 4.65 ERA and has recently lost his closer's role, so this might be seen as selling low on the 27-year-old. Soria, however, has some pretty expensive club options for the 2012-14 seasons.
If the Royals can bring in a prospect or two for him, it will still probably be the smart move.
Matt Capps, Minnesota Twins
7 of 10
The Minnesota Twins have had a slew of injuries, and that has caused them to fall out of contention as the all-star break approaches.
If they should become sellers, Matt Capps might be one of the first guys on the trading block.
Capps currently has 11 saves and a 4.06 ERA, but he also has a minuscule 0.87 WHIP—a sign that ERA could soon drop.
The 27-year-old is set to hit free agency next season and could easily attract both contenders and teams looking to rebuild, although a contender is more likely.
Joel Hanrahan, Pittsburgh Pirates
8 of 10
The Pittsburgh Pirates are still completely in contention for the playoffs, so I'm not ready to anoint them sellers quite yet. If they should falter, however, they have some interesting pieces, with Joel Hanrahan being the most intriguing.
Hanrahan has been one of the best closers in the majors this year. He is the owner of a sparkly clean 1.39 ERA, a 0.99 WHIP and 19 saves.
The 29-year-old, who is making $1.4 million this year, will likely garner a big raise during arbitration if keeps up his current production. It's still a question whether or not the Pirates, who have one of the smallest team salaries in the majors, will put up big money for a closer.
Francisco Rodriguez, New York Mets
9 of 10
The New York Mets have improved as of late, but they still sit nine-and-a-half games out of first place in the NL East. It still appears that they will be sellers at the deadline.
Francisco Rodriguez currently sports a 3.18 ERA and 19 saves, but if the Mets were smart, they would get rid of him as soon as possible.
First of all, K-Rod owns an awfully high 1.44 WHIP, a common sign that an implosion may be coming.
Second, if Rodriguez finishes 55 games or more this season, the Mets will owe him an insane $17.5 million next year. He's currently on pace to finish about 61.
Heath Bell, San Diego Padres
10 of 10
The San Diego Padres are 13 games under .500 and have lost five in a row. They have perhaps the worst offense in the majors and will be looking to improve in any way possible.
Heath Bell has been one of the most common names thrown around this spring, and rightly so.
He's proving again that he is one of the best closers in the league, as he has a 2.79 ERA to go along with 18 saves.
Throw in the fact that Bell is set to become a free agent next season, and you have yourself a perfect rental for a contender looking to make a splash.
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