Bullpen Report: July 30, 2015

With less than 24 hours until MLB’s non-waiver trade deadline, team’s continue to exhaust their resources in a last-ditch effort to make a run at the playoffs — and hopefully make the World Series — as their trading partners look to restock the farm. A few bullpen arms were on the move Thursday, so we’ll briefly touch on that to determine how players should approach said situations going forward.

Joakim Soria packed his bags and headed for Pittsburgh this afternoon. The veteran right-hander was dealt from the Tigers to the Bucs in exchange for minor league shortstop JaCoby Jones. The Pirates will likely slide Soria into set-up duties for Mark Melancon, so those in holds or saves + holds leagues may want to hang onto the former Tiger for the time being. In the Motor City, Alex Wilson picked up his first save of the season in a five-out effort. He surrendered one hit and fanned one during the 21-pitch appearance. Wilson is now 1-of-2 in save chances this season with a 1.79 ERA (2.89 FIP), but owned a rather pedestrian 11.7% K-BB% entering today. Bruce Rondon, the other potential closer candidate in Detroit, owns a 22.4% K-BB% and a 2.66 FIP, but sits on an unlucky 8.25 ERA. I don’t love Wilson’s strikeout rate, but he got the job done tonight has posted some fine ratios in more than 50 innings on the bump so far this season, so I may lean towards adding him first. Paul wrote a bit more about him this evening as well, so be sure to check that out here.

Dealt from the Phillies earlier this week for RHP Nick Pivetta, Jonathan Papelbon agreed to depart Philadelphia if he would assume the closer’s role with the new club — in addition to cleaning up some contract details. And that’s exactly what happened. Papelbon made his first appearance as a member of the Washington Nationals today with former closer Drew Storen setting him up. He dished a clean ninth frame, including striking out one to earn his first save for the Nats and 18th on the year. Storen fanned two in the eighth. Like Soria above, Storen should be held in leagues that reward holds and saves + holds.

Quick HItters: Hector Rondon notched his 14th save of the year in a six-pitch effort against the Brewers. Roberto Osuna also picked up a save tonight in a six-pitch effort, his sixth of the year. Osuna’s successful conversion came on three consecutive groundouts off the bats of Eric Hosmer, Kendrys Morales and Ben Zobrist. Ken Giles earned his first save as the Phillies’ new closer in a 4-1 victory over Atlanta, his second of the season. Finally, all that preseason speculation on Giles paid off! Hopefully not too late for you. Craig Kimbrel cleaned up his 30th save of the year in a whacky 8-7 victory for the Friars over the Metropolitans in Queens. Kimbrel’s 30th could be his final effort as a Padre, as some are reporting he may be on the move before Friday’s trade deadline.

Closer Grid:

[Green light, yellow light, red light: the colors represent the volatility of the bullpen order.]