Earlier this week, I discussed
available starting pitchers to try and ferret out the best options for the suddenly pitching weak Yankees. Today, we look at bullpen options, as the Yankees may choose to solve their starting pitching problems by moving Phil Hughes to the rotation. The following list is taken primarily from MLBTR, with some of my own additions.
Kerry Wood: He has performed awfully (5.28 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and makes a ton of money (upwards of 10 million for next season). He could be had for free, but the contract and poor pitching makes me say no.
Rafael Soriano and Mike Gonzalez: If the Braves fall out of the race, these two may become available, as both are free agents at the end of the season. Both are having very strong seasons, with Soriano being particularly dominant. Either one will cost you a legitimate prospect.
Danys Baez, George Sherrill: Outside of two awful outings, Baez has been very good and has a solid track record. Sherrill is still under club control, so he will likely be costly.
LaTroy Hawkins and Jose Valverde: Hawkins is unlikely to return to NY, but he has been very effective since leaving. Valverde has an expiring deal, and may be the best pitcher on the list. I doubt he can be head for anything less than Zach McCallister.
Rafael Betancourt: Betancourt has been solid this year, and has a career WHIP of 1.14. His slightly down year might make him a good bargain play.
Michael Wuertz, Brad Ziegler, Craig Breslow: Breslow is a solid lefty who should not require much to acquire. Wuertz seems to have found a niche in the bullpen, and can be used in one inning stints or in a similar manner as Aceves has been used. Zeigler is a good late inning option as well, and he and Wuertz are going to cost something of real value.
Chad Qualls: The D’Backs already traded Tony Pena, so they may be reluctant to part with Qualls. Qualls also has some elbow issues, which make me reluctant to trade the legitimate prospects that Arizona will want for him. When healthy, he is as good as any guy on this list, as he does not allow many home runs and has very solid control.
John Grabow, Matt Capps: Capps is a good pitcher having a rough year, while Grabow is an overrated lefty. I would stay away unless the price is absurdly low.
Juan Cruz – Strikes out a ton of guys, walks a ton of guys. He is the rich man’s version of Jose Veras, and the Yankees need to stay away.
Joe Beimel – He is a solid lefty that should not cost much and has had some success on a playoff team. Not a bad option.
Heath Bell- My favorite guy on the list, Bell is the kind of arm who can end the “who will pitch the 8th” debate once and for all. If the Yankees want to move Hughes to the rotation without getting a ton of flack in the media, they should give up some prospects to get this guy. McCallister, Melky, and Melancon is the package I was considering, but that might be a bit light.
Damaso Marte: Marte recently started rehabbing. If he can be the Marte that was a very good reliever prior to joining the Yankees, this entire article is moot.
Who did I leave out? Who would you target?
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17 Responses to Who Are The Available Relievers?
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TIQ IQ
When is Heath Bell due to become a free agent? Seems like it would be a stretch to think SD gives him up as I think the new ownership group doesn’t want a totally scrapped team. That said, they were considering giving up Peavy so who knows.
I think number two on the list would be Soriano. Seing his contract expires at the end of the year you’d imagine the price would not be that steep.
Yeah, it will take a lot to get Bell, he is still under team control for another two years, if I remember correctly.
I think the Yankee should take a chance by signing B.J. Ryan. I know he has been horrible so far this year, but if we can get him back on track and pitching the way he is capable of — which is dominating, it would do wonders for the Yankees’ bullpen. Plus, then the Yankees would not have to give up any prospects and would pay only a prorated share of the major league minimum of $400,000.
I completely agree. If the Yanks are willing to sign retreads for filling out the AAA team, why not take a chance on BJ? $200k is nothing …
Well, if the team can tell just by looking at him that his arm is shot, that would be a wasted 200K. I’m not saying I would not take a shot, just trying to explain the possible logic behind it.
Danys Baez only 5 K in his last 15 innings pass.
How has Huston Street completely missed mention in this convo…? He has to be the number one reliever available and is clearly the youngest closer on the market and the only one with the potential to take over the closer role and shut this Joba to the pen thing down for good after Mo retires, I think you could get him for 2 or 3 prospects but Mcallister is probably involved and maybe JB Cox and Kontos.
He’s not available. Colorado is in the heart of the wild card race.
And they are looking for a reliever.
I guarantee he will be available come the last 3 days of the wild card race… The rockies are in it because they had a real good run in June, and even though aren’t as bad as they played at the beginning of the season this is not a team competing for anything more than a wild card and a first round exit in the playoffs. Street is not an untouchable and for three pitching prospects I know you can get him.
I doubt it. They changed managers and have been great since, and there are no great teams ahead of them for the wild card. I think they try and win the thing.
They are two games out behind the Giants and if they can get even one starting bat there pitching will carry them over the Rockies for sure!
The Rockies are not going to concede the race if they get a bat. They will do their best to keep up.
No but Manny Corpas is coming back from injury and can be a closer and is in fact envisioned as there next closer and if they get offered three prospects they like they will take it to stay in contention in the future not just that one time in June.
Awesome. The Rockies like Corpas but Street has been a rock for them. Corpas was awful when given the opportunity to close this year, which is why Street ultimately ran away with the job. It would be hard for them to part with him right now. Also, Street is a strike-em-out kind of guy while Corpas is more about putting the ball in play. The Rockies like that ability in their closer as it plays well in Colorado.
Still he is a free agent after next season and I really doubt anyone expects him to stay with the Rockies and they can get more for him this year than they can trading him for a half a year loan next trade deadline…
Another Closer who is still young and could take over Mo after he is gone would be the hardest to get but could be the most valuable in the long haul… Joakim Soria I am sure the Royals would want a small ransom but for the right price he would a difference maker in the AL East race for a while to come.