With Dallas Keuchel on board, the primary team upgrade need shifts to the bullpen. Oddly enough, this part could end up being easier than we’d thought originally.
Give Dallas Keuchel credit: he knew that potential new teams would want him available as soon as possible and he held up his end of the bargain: he’s back in the majors and slated to pitch a scant 2 weeks after getting under contract with the Atlanta Braves.
That checks a box off in the Braves’ Front Office: ‘front line starting pitcher’.
There’s another box that now needs attention: ‘Back end reliever’.
The Braves apparently did make a run at Craig Kimbrel, but now that he’s a Cub, the opportunity for cash-only players has passed. Now the trade market wheels have to grind into position… a position that might actually turn out favorable to Atlanta.
Believe it or not, the Braves might just be able to snag one of these guys without having to give up the entire farm. Let’s look at the lists.
List 1 – the Sellers and their Wares
Here are the major league leaders in Saves… at least those who are pitching on teams that might be interested in building/rebuilding/retooling at the trade deadline:
- 26 – Kirby Yates (PADRES*)
- 21 – Shane Greene (TIGERS)
- 20 – Brad Hand (INDIANS**)
- 19 – Will Smith (GIANTS)
- 17 – Felipe Vazquez (PIRATES)
- 16 – Blake Treinen (A’s***)
- 15 – Alex Colome (WSOX)
- 13 – Raisel Iglesias (REDS)
- 12 – Sergio Romo (MARLINS)
- 11 – Ken Giles (JAYS)
- 11 – Hansel Robles (ANGELS**)
Notes:
- * – Padres have signaled a willingness to trade virtually anyone, though for Yates it would have to be “Overwhelming”. Okay.
- ** – These teams may require waiting for a late-July decision before reality sinks in.
- *** – Oakland always seems to be trying to make a push, so a hot streak could easily make them ‘buyers’… but then Treinen has been walking the house, so maybe he isn’t our first choice anyway?
So there’s 11 names with maybe only about 3 that might seriously be held back (Yates, Iglesias, Vazquez).
Now let’s look at who might be buying relief help among the contenders.