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New York Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Rosenthal: In looking to add a top reliever at the deadline, contenders face a conundrum
Here's the conundrum for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Toronto Blue Jays and all the other contenders with at least a passing interest in adding a top reliever: Do you overpay for an elite, controllable late-inning weapon such as the Athletics' Mason Miller, Cleveland Guardians' Emmanuel Clase or Minnesota Twins' Jhoan Duran and Griffin Jax? Advertisement Or, for maybe 30 percent of the price, do you acquire the St. Louis Cardinals' Ryan Helsley as a rental? Many teams would prefer Helsley, who is not quite what he was last season when he won the Trevor Hoffman Award as the best reliever in the National League, but is still pretty darned good. Relievers are so volatile, so prone to fluctuate from season to season, even month to month, additional years of club control matter less than they do with more stable performers. The teams peddling those pitchers, of course, see it differently, valuing them as long-term assets in trade discussions and asking for big returns. The deadline is Thursday at 6 p.m. ET. And the game of chicken, particularly in the bullpen market, is on. Will the Dodgers, who placed five prospects in Keith Law's latest top 60, leverage their deep farm system for a Clase or Duran when they spent more than $100 million on their 'pen last offseason precisely to avoid making an uncomfortable trade? Will the Blue Jays take the plunge to address their most glaring need in what is shaping up to be a special season? How about the Detroit Tigers, whose bullpen ranks 28th in strikeout rate? The New York Yankees, who face the potential losses of Devin Williams and Luke Weaver in free agency? The Philadelphia Phillies, who still need help after signing free agent David Robertson? The only other potential free-agent closers known to be available are the San Diego Padres' Robert Suarez, who leads the majors in saves and is expected to decline a pair of $8 million options at the end of the season; the Atlanta Braves' Raisel Iglesias, whose results are poor even though his strikeout and walk rates are similar to what they were the past two years; and the Washington Nationals' Kyle Finnegan, who has a declining strikeout rate and 4.50 ERA. Perhaps the Los Angeles Angels will trade Kenley Jansen if owner Arte Moreno figures out his team isn't winning the World Series. And perhaps some team will jump for the Baltimore Orioles' Seranthony Domínguez, who is more of a setup type. Helsley and Suarez are probably the only short-term, difference-making closers. Predictably, teams seeking late-inning help are complaining that the prices for the long-term options are exorbitant. What else would they be with the deadline still days away? Where this all gets interesting is in the final 24 to 48 hours, when teams realize they might get shut out. The sellers prey on the buyers' panic. And even some buyers who pride themselves on discipline and efficiency turn somewhat irrational. The controllable options, at least, are plentiful. Miller is under club control for four additional seasons through arbitration. Clase is under contract for three more. Duran and Jax have two years of arbitration eligibility remaining, Pittsburgh Pirates closer David Bednar and setup man Dennis Santana one. Not all of those relievers will change teams. The perception within the industry is that the Guardians and Twins will not move one or more of their top relievers unless they win the deal. As The Athletic's Andy McCullough writes, the Guardians can be such a difficult trade partner; some other front offices refer to them as 'The Cleveland Grind Machine.' The Twins, Pirates and Rockies are not exactly known for their deal-making prowess. Advertisement That said, those clubs have every right to set high prices on their relievers, anticipating a buyer or two might turn desperate. The Phillies' Dave Dombrowski might be so inclined. Even the Dodgers' Andrew Friedman, who hates overpaying at the deadline, might need to go against his instincts. His position-player roster is the oldest in the majors. The Dodgers' bullpen, beset by injuries and underperformance, entered Sunday having allowed the seventh-highest OPS in the majors, and the highest of any contender. The return of Blake Treinen will help. Tanner Scott and Michael Kopech are expected back in August, Brusdar Graterol possibly in September. And with the return of left-hander Blake Snell looming, the Dodgers also hold the option of moving one of their current starters, most likely Dustin May, to the bullpen. All that, of course, is subject to change, and likely will change for a team that struggles to keep its pitchers healthy. The Dodgers succeeded in the past by acquiring lesser-known relievers such as Adam Kolarek, Chris Martin and Ryan Brasier during the season, then getting the most out of them. But they also were burned in some of those deals — Yordan Alvarez for Josh Fields, Oneil Cruz for Tony Watson and arguably, even Zach McKinstry for Martin. The Blue Jays are another team fully aware that with relievers, it's buyer beware. During the offseason, they signed free agent Jeff Hoffman to a three-year, $33 million contract and Yimi Garcia to a two-year, $15 million deal. Hoffman has a 4.78 ERA and has allowed 10 homers, one more than in his two previous seasons combined. Garcia has had three injuries this season, the latest being ulnar nerve symptoms in his right elbow. Even with Hoffman's inconsistency and Garcia's continuing absence, the Blue Jays own the best record in the majors. They probably need to add two relievers to maximize their chances of winning their first World Series since 1993 — an outcome that team president Mark Shapiro, in the last year of his contract, surely desires. Advertisement Just as there is risk in acquiring relievers, there also is risk in playing it too safe. The Boston Red Sox did just that at last year's deadline, and their trades for two journeymen, Luis Garcia and Lucas Sims, proved detrimental. So, if the Dodgers, Blue Jays or Tigers get too cute, that also could bite them. When a deadline trade for a reliever works, the price is almost incidental. The Chicago Cubs do not regret giving up Gleyber Torres as part of a package for Aroldis Chapman in 2016. Nor do the Texas Rangers regret giving up Cole Ragans for Chapman in 2023. Those were steep costs for a World Series title, and both times Chapman was a rental. The controllable relievers who are currently available are not as accomplished as Chapman, but one could provide the same type of impact this season and possibly beyond. It's a tempting proposition. Particularly when there are only so many quality rentals to go around. (Top photo of Jhoan Duran: Matt Krohn / Getty Images)
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Dodgers Predicted to 'Break Prospect Bank' for Athletics' Flamethrowing Closer
Dodgers Predicted to 'Break Prospect Bank' for Athletics' Flamethrowing Closer originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Los Angeles Dodgers' need for another high-leverage reliever is one of the worst-kept secrets in baseball. The club's bullpen ranks in the bottom 10 of the league, and closer Tanner Scott has been anything but consistent. He leads the league in blown saves, and his ballooning 4.14 ERA is only made worse knowing he left Monday's win against the Minnesota Twins after experiencing a 'sting' in his left forearm. With a stint on the injury list likely, according to manager Dave Roberts, the Dodgers are desperate to fix the backend of the bullpen and even acquire another closer at the trade deadline. Zachary D. Rymer of Bleacher Report predicts the Dodgers' despondence will lead to 'breaking the prospect bank' for Athletics' flamethrowing closer Mason Miller. Rymer piggybacks off MLB insider Ken Rosenthal's initial thoughts of the Dodgers possessing the one thing the A's may covet to pry Miller away: the willingness to part ways with top prospects. According to Bleacher Report, the Dodgers have the fourth-ranked farm system in Major League Baseball. Although the A's have been stubborn about trading Miller, Rosenthal reports that their stance is 'subject to change,' and Rymer views the Dodgers as a team 'willing to move heaven and earth' to get the right-hander out of Sacramento. Former top prospect Bobby Miller and current top prospect Dalton Rushing, who is currently wasting away on the bench, could highlight a massive haul for Miller. The Dodgers get their closer, and the A's would sell extremely high on a player not expected to be on the club once their move to Las Vegas is finalized. Miller, 26, has not performed as well as he did in 2024, but his fastball is still one of the most electric in baseball. Consistently hitting above 103 mph, Miller has posted a 4.00 ERA and 19 saves in 36 appearances this season. However, Miller's recent stretch indicates he has plenty left in the tank after posting a 1.96 ERA with six hits allowed in his last 18.1 innings. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 24, 2025, where it first appeared.
New York Times
5 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Fantasy baseball bullpen report and how every team is likely to handle MLB trade deadline
After spending the All-Star break recharging my batteries, the second half has arrived like a tidal wave, wreaking havoc across the high-leverage ecosystem. Here are the recent roster changes and injury updates: With this in mind, my leverage pathways have been updated, and in one situation (Dodgers), it anticipates a reliever being activated this weekend. Here are my high-leverage pathway identifiers. Each team will receive one of the following labels: Access The Athletic's guide for abbreviations used in fantasy baseball. Below are my thoughts on how teams will handle the trade deadline, using Fangraphs' playoff odds (through July 24). Buyers (playoff odds greater than 70%) Striking distance (playoff odds between 30-50%) On the fence (playoff odds between 10-30%) Sellers (playoff odds less than 5%) Below are my thoughts on how teams will handle the trade deadline, using Fangraphs' playoff odds (through July 24). Buyers (playoff odds greater than 70%) Striking distance (playoff odds between 30-50%) On the fence (playoff odds between 10-30%) Sellers (playoff odds less than 5%) *Multi-inning or bridge relievers who can vulture wins and help protect ratios. Statistical Credits: and Check out my work at Reliever Recon and Closer Monkey for daily updates. (Photo of Mason Miller: Kelley)
Newsweek
21-07-2025
- Sport
- Newsweek
Phillies Likely 'No. 1' Destination for Mason Miller as A's Weigh Change: Insider
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Philadelphia Phillies got a jump on the trade deadline with a significant roster addition on Sunday, but more is likely to come. The Phillies reached an agreement with veteran free agent reliever David Robertson, according to ESPN, and made some progress on reinforcing a leaky bullpen ahead of their playoff push. But the team is still in need of a dependable closer option if it wants to reach the World Series. As a result, The Athletic's Major League Baseball insider Ken Rosenthal has pegged the Phillies as the top destination for fireball reliever Mason Miller as his current team, the A's, considers making him available. "A year ago, Athletics closer Mason Miller was untouchable," Rosenthal wrote. "To this point, the A's messaging this season — we're not talking about him — is pretty much the same. But according to sources briefed on the team's plans, that stance is subject to change." SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 09: Mason Miller #19 of the Athletics looks on before the game against the Atlanta Braves at Sutter Health Park on July 09, 2025 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty... SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 09: Mason Miller #19 of the Athletics looks on before the game against the Atlanta Braves at Sutter Health Park on July 09, 2025 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by) More Cunningham/Getty And as the A's consider placing Miller on the block, the Phillies could be in the best position to benefit. "Which teams might tempt the A's?" Rosenthal asked. "The Philadelphia Phillies, who reached agreement on Sunday with free-agent reliever David Robertson, probably would be No. 1 on the list." Miller would solicit trade offers from virtually every contending team if he really does become available, as he emerged as one of the sport's best young closers last year and faces four years of arbitration eligibility after this season. He has not been as effective this season, with a 4.04 ERA and 19 saves in 29 games finished so far, but he could still be the Phillies' primary addition at the trade deadline. The A's would surely demand a king's ransom to move Miller, though. The Phillies would probably have to part with at least one of their top-ranked prospects to get him, a list that includes Andrew Painter, Justin Crawford and Aiden Miller. More MLB: Cubs Blockbuster Brewing? Why Latest Trade Buzz Makes No Sense
Newsweek
21-07-2025
- Sport
- Newsweek
Yankees Could Be 'In Mix' for A's Star as They Face Pending Roster Losses
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The New York Yankees have a long shopping list as they head toward the trade deadline and that includes some reinforcement for the bullpen. Following a slew of injuries and shaky performances, the team has little choice but to add at least one relief arm in the near future. "This has become an extremely vulnerable area," according to Pete Caldera. "Key setup relievers Fernando Cruz and Mark Leiter Jr. are on the injured list, Luke Weaver has been spotty since coming off the IL and Jonathan Loaisiga remains a talented, injury-prone enigma." As a result, the Yankees are among the teams hoping that the A's have a change of heart on one of the most coveted young stars in all of baseball, as The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal reported that closer Mason Miller could soon be placed on the trade block. TORONTO, CANADA - MAY 31: Mason Miller #19 of the Oakland Athletics signs autographs for fans ahead of their MLB game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on May 31, 2025 in Toronto,... TORONTO, CANADA - MAY 31: Mason Miller #19 of the Oakland Athletics signs autographs for fans ahead of their MLB game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on May 31, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by) More Burston/Getty "A year ago, Athletics closer Mason Miller was untouchable," Rosenthal wrote. "But according to sources briefed on the team's plans, that stance is subject to change." Virtually every contender would be interested in acquiring Miller. But along with the Philadelphia Phillies and Los Angeles Dodgers, Rosenthal singled out a fit with the Yankees as their primary closing options in Weaver and Devin Williams could join new teams this coming winter. "The Los Angeles Dodgers, with free agents Tanner Scott and Kirby Yates performing below expectations, almost certainly would be in the mix," Rosenthal added. "So would the New York Yankees, who face the losses of Devin Williams and Luke Weaver to free agency." If the Yankees opt for a multi-year solution to their bullpen problem, Miller could make sense. He has four years of arbitration eligibility ahead and he emerged as one of the most coveted young pitchers in a breakout All-Star campaign last year. However, the A's would surely command a significant haul for Miller if he is on the move. And with a long shopping list of trade needs, the Yankees might not be able to put all of their eggs in one basket. More MLB: Cubs Blockbuster Brewing? Why Latest Trade Buzz Makes No Sense
