Bullpen Report: July 18, 2017
• Let the trades begin! In case you haven’t heard the news, the Yankees and the White Sox conducted a trade with fairly significant bullpen implications. Travis Sawchik has a great post about the trade here but the White Sox are sending Tommy Kahnle, David Robertson and Todd Frazier to the Yankees with prospects Blake Rutherford, Tito Polo, Ian Clarkin and veteran arm Tyler Clippard moving to Chicago. With Aroldis Chapman and Dellin Betances already in store, it’s unlikely that Robertson or Kahnle see the ninth but they sure make for a formidable pen in New York.
If you were a Robertson owner hoping to see saves in Washington, I’m sorry. If you were a Kahnle owner licking your chops for Robertson to be moved, I’m sorry. Of more interest than the Yankees situation since Chapman and Betances already have the fort down is the current one in Chicago. I initially thought that Clippard would get the first shot but with a 4.95/4.97/4.82 pitching line and a contract into next year, it’s unlikely he will be able to prove enough as an interim closer to get anything of value in a trade. Anthony Swarzak however is a different case. He has been excellent with a 2.45/2.29/3.48 line and since he is a free agent next year, it’s likely the White Sox want to pump up his value. I expect him to get the first save chances and also expect him to be in trade rumors until the deadline. With all of that said, this situation is still red.
• The Nationals had their first save opportunity since acquiring Ryan Madson and Sean Doolittle and Dusty Baker went with that order in the eighth and ninth to secure the win last night. Madson threw a perfect eighth with a strikeout while Doolittle allowed a run but otherwise held on to the lead for his first save in the NL. You can never be too sure which way the wind will blow with Dusty but since he went with Doolittle first we will keep him in the first chair. Ryan Madson shouldn’t be dropped if you’re in desperate need for saves, but it’s also possible or even likely that the acquire an additional reliever moving both former A’s into setup roles.
• Speaking of Oakland, without Madson and Doolittle looking over his shoulder, Santiago Casilla got comfortable and allowed two runs to blow his fifth save of the year. Casilla should in theory have a longer leash with Madson and Doolittle gone but a 4.15/3.71/4.54 ERA just sin’t that appealing. The A’s went with the newly acquired Blake Treinen in the eighth and he responded with a perfect inning. Treinen’s peripherals are better than his bloated 5.45 ERA and if he keeps throwing scoreless eighths, the A’s might trot him out in the ninth.
• Quick Hits: After getting four outs on Monday, Felipe Rivero still came in for the save last night allowing two hits but striking out three for the save. MLB is not lacking in power relief arms but Rivero rules nonetheless and should continue to be an elite level source of saves here on out and next year in Pittsburgh. Hector Neris saved his ninth game with Pat Neshek and Joaquin Benoit setting up. Neris’ hold on the job seems to be a little more consistent and I upgraded them to yellow. With trade rumors swirling, Pat Neshek could be moved as well, helping Neris grip on the ninth as well. Cody Allen blew a save but his role is secure and Sam Dyson pitched two scoreless for the Giants, getting the win in extras. His hold on the job with Melancon out is surprisingly secure considering where he was in April in Texas. Kenley Jansen (24), Greg Holland (30) and Alex Colome (28) all recorded saves.
Closer Grid:
[Green light, yellow light, red light: the colors represent the volatility of the bullpen order.]
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
May be worth noting that in the Washington game the batters due up in the eighth included a couple of righties and, assuming the eighth went 1-2-3, the ninth would have been a couple of lefties. That may be why Dusty went Madson first, Doolittle second.
I see what you mean, but the Nats are sure making noises about not wanting to mix and match.
“I do think we are going to pick a player to pitch the ninth inning and a guy to pitch the eighth inning,” Rizzo said. “I don’t think it will be closer-by-committee, we just have to sit down with the two pitchers, the pitching coach, and the manager, and figure out who we want to do it.”
Aaaaaaaaaaaand Dusty has already directly contradicted Rizzo:
https://twitter.com/chelsea_janes/status/887458067167629312
Honestly, since Dusty is the one directly behind the wheel, I’m more inclined to believe he’ll force the Nats to mix-and-match in late innings, despite what Rizzo wants to do.