Bullpen Report: August 1, 2019

There was a busy deadline with changes among several bullpens so let’s get started!

Luke Jackson had (another) bad day, getting the start to the 9th inning after struggling in a non-save situation on Tuesday. Jackson allowed the first two batters to reach and was relieved by Sean Newcomb before getting an out. His inherited runs scored inflating Jackson’s ERA to 3.96. Under the hood, Jackson still looks pretty good but he’s been struggling isn’t the most trustworthy at the moment. The Braves went out and got three relievers before the deadline was over – Shane Greene, Chris Martin, and Mark Melancon and all three are now on the grid. It’s a long fall from closer to off the grid, but that’s where Luke Jackson currently lies. Shane Greene takes the job with the esteemed closer experience label in the middle of a terrific season. We chastised the Braves for being a little cheap ealier in the season but by the deadline’s end they acquired Dallas Keuchel for the rotation and a trio of relief upgrades. I don’t expect Chris Martin and Mark Melancon to dip into saves over Greene but they are next in line if something were to happen.

• While there were several trades I will touch up on of equal interest are the teams that made no moves keeping the status quo. Alex Colome will still be closing for the White Sox and Will Smith is still getting saves for the Giants even though they did trade Sam Dyson and Mark Melancon. The Red Sox have had an up and down bullpen all year but decided to skip on making an upgrade, keeping Brandon Workman and their committee as is. The Royals didn’t want to pay to get a prospect out of Ian Kennedy so he will be closing games for the remainder of this year and likely the start of next year as well. The Mets dangled Edwin Diaz but nobody hit their price tag and he remains the closer in Queens. Diaz has struggled a ton this year compared to his dominant past but hopefully he finds some of his magic to close out the year.

Wade Davis seat has been at least room temperature this entire year and it’s certainly a bit hotter now after he allowed five earned runs last night. On the year Davis is now supporting a 6.82 ERA and a 4.94 SIERA. Scott Oberg has taken the job before, and it’s possible that he could again this year. The Rockies with no playoff hopes this year didn’t make any upgrades to their bullpen but they do owe Davis $17MM next year so they have incentive to get him right for 2020, whether that is staying as closer now or taking a break I don’t know but I would eye Oberg if you missed the boat on the closer carousel of late.

• With Shane Greene getting shipped to Atlanta, it’s the Joe Jimenez era in Detroit. Jimenez has often gone back and forth between dazzling and disappointing, although has always showcased excellent velocity. Behind Jimenez we have Buck Farmer and Trevor Rosnethal. The Tigers should be one of the worst teams in the last two months so saves won’t be plentiful but Jimenez should get the first crack at the ones that arrive. Jimenez has a recent history of under performing his peripherals and that’s the case this year with an inflated 4.93 ERA overshadowing a 3.36 SIERA. With a meager 28% GB% and FB% of 47%, Jimenez is susceptible to the long ball and unless he gains pristine control, if he can’t suppress his homers a bit better, he will likely always struggle to hit his peripherals.

• Florida decided to make a trade with itself with the Marlins trading Nick Anderson and Trevor Richards to the Rays, upending their pecking order.  We have updated the Fish to include Jarlin Garcia in front and José Quijada and Tayron Guerrero behind him. At the start, I would expect a committee that might no be particularly fruitful but as we know, saves are saves.

On the Rays side, their pen has been a committee the entire year so nothing really changes in that regards except there are some better inputs. I would still expect Emilio Pagan to be ahead of the committee and have the newly acquired Nick Anderson behind him along with Diego Castillo. Colin Poche has received a save of late and Jose Alvarado will make his return as well so while Pagan may be “ahead” he’s just one of several options for Tampa Bay. With all of that said, Chaz Roe got the save last night and is another name to consider in the mix.

• The Blue Jays kept Ken Giles who’s elbow issues likely played  a factor but they traded Dan Hudson (Nationals) and Joe Biagini (Astros). Justin Shafer and Tim Mayza should slot behind Ken Giles and neither are too compelling but if Ken Giles elbow doesn’t get right then both could see saves. Giles had a MRI that didn’t reveal major damage but he has received a cortisone shot, and color me skeptical about his chances of being a consistent producer for the remainder of the year.

• The Nationals didn’t acquire a relief ace in their playoff push but they did get upgrades in Roenis Elias, Hunter Strickland and Daniel Hudson. Sean Doolittle remains the guy but Washington has a few better options from both sides to help in the innings leading up to the 9th.  I have put Elias and Hudson on the grid behind Doolittle with Hunter Strickland in the mix behind them.

• The Mariners had a mediocre pen before the deadline and it’s certainly less than mediocre now with Roenis Elias and Hunter Strickland gone. Anthony Bass should be in the lead for saves although they won’t be particularly pretty. When Austin Adams returns, he could leap frog to the top as well since he seems to be the most promising arm of what remains.

Not Very Stable
Hot Seat
Committee
Bullpen Report — 8/1/2019
Team Closer First Up Second Up Minors/DL
ARI Archie Bradley Yoan Lopez Yoshihisa Hirano
ATL Shane Greene Chris Martin Mark Melancon
BAL Mychal Givens Shawn Armstrong Paul Fry Nathan Karns
BOS Brandon Workman Matt Barnes Nathan Eovaldi
CHC Craig Kimbrel Steve Cishek Brandon Kintzler Pedro Strop
CWS Alex Colome Aaron Bummer Evan Marshall
CIN Raisel Iglesias Michael Lorenzen Amir Garrett
CLE Brad Hand Adam Cimber Nick Goody
COL Wade Davis Scott Oberg Jairo Diaz
DET Joe Jimenez Buck Farmer Trevor Rosenthal
HOU Roberto Osuna Will Harris Collin McHugh Ryan Pressly
KC Ian Kennedy Tim Hill Scott Barlow
LAA Hansel Robles Ty Buttrey Cam Bedrosian
LAD Kenley Jansen Pedro Baez Joe Kelly
MIA Jarlin Garcia José Quijada Tayron Guerrero Drew Steckenrider
MIL Josh Hader Freddy Peralta Jeremy Jeffress
MIN Taylor Rogers Sergio Romo Sam Dyson Trevor Hildenberger
NYM Edwin Diaz Seth Lugo Justin Wilson
NYY Aroldis Chapman Zack Britton Adam Ottavino Dellin Betances
OAK Liam Hendriks Blake Treinen Joakim Soria
PHI Hector Neris Adam Morgan Juan Nicasio David Robertson
PIT Felipe Vazquez Kyle Crick Francisco Liriano
STL Carlos Martinez Andrew Miller Giovanny Gallegos Jordan Hicks
SD Kirby Yates Andres Munoz Craig Stammen
SF Will Smith Tony Watson Reyes Moronta
SEA Anthony Bass Sam Tuivailala Corey Gearrin Austin Adams
TB Emilio Pagan Nick Anderson Diego Castillo Jose Alvarado
TEX Jose LeClerc Brett Martin Jesse Chavez Shawn Kelley
TOR Ken Giles Justin Shafer Tim Mayza
WSH Sean Doolittle Roenis Elias Daniel Hudson





When he's not focusing on every team's bullpen situation, Ben can be found blogging at Ben's Baseball Bias and on Twitter @BensBias

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tommybonesnycmember
4 years ago

Re: miami, am I crazy to think Stanek’s the guy to grab?

Nasty Nate
4 years ago
Reply to  tommybonesnyc

You are not crazy. Well, you might be – but not about this.