Bullpen Report: July 24, 2018

• There was no save last night between the Cardinals and the Reds but there was a save opportunity that was blown as Bud Norris allowed two runs in the ninth for his third blown save and third loss on the year. Jordan Hicks threw a scoreless eighth inning and weirdly enough both relievers now support matching 3.38 ERAs. Hicks has the blazing fastball but Norris’ peripherals have been quite a bit better. Hicks has been better of late generating whiffs but on the year has a 3.55 FIP and 3.98 SIERA compared to Norris’ 3.06 FIP and 2.36 SIERA. With the Cardinals closer to last place than first in the division at a .500 record, it’s possible they are mini-sellers with Norris being a trade candidate. But at the same time, it’s already July 24th, which doesn’t leave considerable time for a move to be done. If the Cardinals do decide to pack it in, they may give Hicks an extended look either way as Norris is a Free Agent next year and isn’t necessarily likely to return to St. Louis.

• Sergio Romo wasn’t feeling well last night and the Rays turned to Jose Alvarado for a four-out save against the Yankees. Things got a bit interesting in the ninth when Alvarado allowed two guys on but he closed the door for his fourth save. Sergio Romo is still the closer in Tampa but Alvarado looks to be securely behind him and ahead of Diego Castillo who gave up two runs in the seventh inning last night. Like every other soon to be free agent reliever on a non-playoff team, Romo is a trade candidate but there are no real rumors that he has been involved in of late, which is probably because he isn’t all that good. If he is moved, it’s hard to expect what the Rays will do but Alvarado and Castillo look like potential closers.

• Jacob deGrom pitched great and to the surprise of nobody, didn’t win which gave San Diego a save opportunity for Kirby Yates. Yates finished the 9th for his third save of the year and his first since being named closer after Brad Hand was moved. With two years of team control after this season, the Padres are in no rush to move Yates but as we saw with Hand, they aren’t in the business of hoarding relievers. I expect Yates to stay on the team however and enter next season as a close to top tier closer. Whether he’s closing on an upstart young team ready to take a leap or on another rebuilding team ready to be moved at the deadline, we don’t know.

• OK closers on bad teams are always trade candidates but I didn’t actually expect Soria to be quality enough this year to be wanted in a trade. However, after getting his 15th save last night Soria is supporting a 2.63 ERA, 2.18 FIP, and 2.81 SIERA with the second highest K% of his career at 30% which is supported by the highest swinging strike % of his career (14.9%). If Soria isn’t dealt, he won’t get many saves for the remainder of the year but his grasp on the job would be firm and the way he’s pitching he would provide ratio and strikeout help. However, if he is moved it’s unlikely he’s seeing saves.  Who closes for Chicago if Soria is moved was asked in the comment section yesterday and I agree with Al’s assessment that it might be best avoided. While Soria is proving to be a quality reliever this year, the same can’t quite be said about Jeanmar Gomez, Juan Minaya, Jace Fry and co.

• Joe Jimenez was a popular pick for future closer this year but Shane Greene is still there in Detroit and there aren’t too many rumors with Greene leaving. Greene picked up the save last night against the Royals, for his 20th on the year. While he’s unlikely at this time to be on the move, if he struggles the Tigers could put Jimenez in the ninth in a more permanent role as he’s the future. However, with the Tigers looking at a more lengthy rebuild, Jimenez figures to be a cost controlled highly valued trade deadline piece next year.