Reliever rumors: Greene, Vazquez, Giles, A. Sanchez
MLB.com is tracking all of the hottest trade rumors surrounding a busy reliever market right here.
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Rosenthal: Braves closing in on Greene
July 31: The asking price for Shane Greene was said to be "far more reasonable" than that of other closers on Wednesday morning, and it appears the right-hander has found a new home.
The Braves are close to acquiring Greene, according to MLB Network insider Ken Rosenthal.
The NL East-rival Nats had been in the mix for Greene but seemed to be turned off by Detroit's insistence on the inclusion of top infield prospect Carter Kieboom, sources told Jon Paul Morosi. As such, Washington has agreed to acquire right-handers Daniel Hudson from the Blue Jays and Hunter Strickland from the Mariners, plus left-hander Roenis Elias also from Seattle.
An All-Star this year, Greene is under control through 2020, as is Yates. Diaz (under control through 2022), Vazquez (signed through '21, with team options for '22 and '23) and Iglesias (signed through '21) are controllable for longer. The Padres continue to take calls on Yates, but they've also started discussions regarding an extension with the 32-year-old righty, per Heyman.
Will Dodgers pull the trigger on Vazquez?
July 31: Pirates closer Felipe Vazquez understandably is one of the most coveted relievers in baseball. After all, the left-hander is 28 years old, has been dominant again this season, is owed just $12.5 million in total over 2020-21 and has $10 million club options for both '22 and '23.
Up until this week, it had seemed like a long shot that Vazquez would be traded, but one source described his market as "hot" and predicted that the left-hander had a 50-50 chance of being moved, according to MLB Network insider in an article for The Athletic (subscription required).
The Dodgers are believed to be heavily interested in Vazquez, who would address the team's top need -- a left-handed reliever to pair with closer Kenley Jansen. The two sides are "engaged in a staring contest" as the 4 p.m. ET Deadline approaches, as MLB.com's Jon Paul Morosi writes, especially in the wake of reliever Shane Greene -- another arm Los Angeles was targeting -- heading to the Braves, per multiple reports.
ESPN's Buster Olney reported Monday that talks have been deliberate because the Pirates were asking for shortstop Gavin Lux -- who checks in at No. 10 overall on MLB Pipeline's recently re-ranked Top 100.
Giles still 'in play,' despite injury
July 31: Blue Jays closer Ken Giles has been one of the hottest names on the trade market over the past few weeks, but an injury could cause Toronto to wait until the offseason to move him.
Jays manager Charlie Montoyo told reporters on Monday that Giles is dealing with right elbow inflammation, the same ailment that caused him to go on the injured list earlier this season.
However, general manager Ross Atkins downplayed the issue, and the righty's MRI revealed no structural damage. Although Giles had a cortisone shot and will not pitch again before the Deadline, MLB Network insider Ken Rosenthal reports that he is still "in play" for a trade, with the Yankees and Rays among the teams that have inquired about him.
Giles, 28, is under control through 2020, so Toronto isn't facing a situation where it has to trade him by July 31 to avoid losing him for nothing. But the Jays had been receiving significant interest in the righty -- along with fellow relievers Daniel Hudson and Joe Biagini -- and it’s possible the demand won’t be as great in the offseason.
Teams are after Sanchez -- but as a relief option
July 31: Earlier in the season, Aaron Sanchez was viewed as a trade chip for the Blue Jays, but then his ERA rose from 3.95 to 6.31 over the course of six June starts.
While that undoubtedly turned off some suitors, there seems to be a group of contenders considering Sanchez again -- but as a reliever instead of a starter.
"Many contenders see him as a bullpen star," MLB Network insider Jon Heyman writes of the 27-year-old's potential, especially if he can move past his lengthy blister-related injury history. Sanchez is under club control through 2020.
Sanchez's stuff and "great arm" intrigue teams, fellow insider Joel Sherman points out, and Toronto is "getting lots of hits on him."
White Sox may hang onto Colome
July 31: In the middle of a strong season in which he's posted a 2.21 ERA, an 0.76 WHIP and racked up 21 saves, closer Alex Colome has garnered buzz on the rumor mill. The White Sox, however, may have other ideas.
The club has indicated that it has designs on keeping the 30-year-old, who is under control through next season when Chicago hopes the fruits of its rebuild will bring it back into contention, according to USA Today's Bob Nightengale.
The Phillies most recently had been linked to Colome, with MLB.com's Jon Paul Morosi citing a source that Philadelphia was "showing continued interest."
Few clubs have had as many bullpen injuries as have the Phillies, who are without David Robertson, Seranthony Dominguez, Tommy Hunter, Pat Neshek, Edubray Ramos and Victor Arano. They did sign free-agent Blake Parker on Tuesday after the Twins let the righty go.
Diaz drawing significant interest, though Red Sox likely out
July 30: The Red Sox were connected to Mets closer Edwin Diaz on Monday, but talks between the two clubs apparently didn't gain traction. According to MLB.com's Mark Feinsand, Boston is unlikely to trade for Diaz, the Tigers' Shane Greene or the Reds' Raisel Iglesias.
While the Sox are still looking to improve their bullpen, they are focused on lesser names, per Feinsand.
The market for Diaz remains hot, though, with the Dodgers, Rays, Braves and Padres among the other teams showing interest in him, according to MLB Network insider Ken Rosenthal in an article for The Athletic (subscription required).
MLB.com's Mark Bowman reports that the Mets are continuing to evaluate the Braves' top prospects, with Diaz appearing to be a more likely target for Atlanta than Noah Syndergaard. Atlanta could also consider Mets righty Zack Wheeler, an impending free agent who will cost less to acquire than Diaz (controllable through 2022) or Syndergaard (controllable through 2021).
The Mets picked up Diaz from the Mariners alongside Robinson Cano in the offseason for a five-player package that included Jarred Kelenic (currently MLB's No. 24 prospect) and Justin Dunn (No. 77).
At the time, the club was undoubtedly hoping the 25-year-old would be its closer of the present and future. But Diaz has recorded a 4.95 ERA with a 1.45 WHIP in 2019, and MLB Network insider Joel Sherman reported Friday that the likelihood of the righty being traded had "greatly increased."
Nats among clubs showing interest in this Giants lefty
July 30: The dominance Drew Pomeranz has shown in the brief time since he moved to the bullpen is apparently drawing the attention of some opposing clubs.
The Giants are receiving "sudden interest" in the left-hander, who has allowed just one hit and one walk while striking out six batters over 4 1/3 scoreless innings as a reliever, according to MLB Network insider Ken Rosenthal. The Nationals, in particular, have discussed the 30-year-old with San Francisco, sources tell MLB.com's Jon Paul Morosi.
While Pomeranz struggled as a starter and owns a 5.75 ERA overall, he has racked up strikeouts at an above-average rate all season (25.6 percent).
The Giants have surged back into the postseason race, calling into question whether they will move trade chips such as Madison Bumgarner, Will Smith, Sam Dyson and Tony Watson.
It didn't look like Pomeranz, an impending free agent like Bumgarner and Smith, would have much trade value as recently as two weeks ago, but that seemingly has changed.
Seeking relief, Dodgers are in play for Diaz
July 29: Because of their desire to upgrade the bullpen, the Dodgers have been linked to relievers of just about every role on the trade market.
Even with longtime closer Kenley Jansen securing saves in the ninth inning, Los Angeles is "still in play" for one of the bigger names in Mets closer Edwin Diaz, according to SNY's Andy Martino, who cites Major League sources.
Jansen has remained effective this season, but the 31-year-old's decline from utterly dominant a few years ago to merely above-average has continued. Other than Jansen and Pedro Baez, the Dodgers don't have much in the way of reliable arms with late-inning experience.
With 132 career saves across his first four seasons, Diaz certainly would provide that -- despite being in the middle of a season in which he's struggled to a 4.95 ERA and 1.45 WHIP. Still only 25 years old, Diaz does own strong strikeout (13.7 K/9) and walk (2.9 BB/9) rates, and he is under club control through 2022. There also are signs he's not far off from finding his elite 2018 form or something close to it (1.96 ERA, 0.79 WHIP, 15.2 K/9), as MLB.com's Mike Petriello breaks down.
Were the Dodgers to acquire Diaz, it's hard to imagine he would usurp Jansen for closer duties, but adding his electric arm to the mix no doubt would be a boost to their lacking late-inning relief corps.
Nationals making a push to improve their bullpen?
July 28: The Nationals have climbed all the way back into the NL East race, just 5 1/2 games behind the Braves entering Monday. If they want to sustain their 32-16 surge since June 1, however, they could use another reliever or two to team with closer Sean Doolittle at the back of a beleaguered bullpen. Washington's relievers sport a 6.02 ERA -- the worst in MLB.
Not surprisingly, the club appears to be exploring a number of options.
MLB.com's Jon Paul Morosi reports that the Nats have shown interest in Rangers reliever Jose Leclerc. The right-hander lost the closer's role after posting an 8.44 ERA in March/April, but he had recorded a 2.70 ERA with 58 strikeouts over his previous 36 2/3 innings entering Sunday, when he blew a save against the A's. Leclerc is signed to a team-friendly contract that will pay him $12.5 million in total over 2020-22 and includes club options for $6 million in '23 and $6.25 million in '24. As a result, it will likely take a sizable haul to pry him from Texas.
Morosi previously reported that Washingon was eyeing the Tigers' Shane Greene, the White Sox Alex Colome, and the Blue Jays' Ken Giles and Daniel Hudson.
Both Greene (1.22 ERA, 0.87 WHIP) and Colome (2.33 ERA, 0.80 WHIP) have experience as closer and setup relievers, and both also are under club control through 2020 -- two factors that would make them good fits for the Nats.
The Toronto duo of Giles (1.59 ERA, 1.09 WHIP) and Hudson (2.80 ERA, 1.24 WHIP) would be intriguing as a potential package deal to help shore up the 'pen in one fell swoop, similar to what Washington did in acquiring both Doolittle and Ryan Madson from the A's in July 2017. Of the two Blue Jays, Giles remains under control through next season.
Yankees have asked Tigers about Greene
July 28: The Yankees have been targeting a number of options in their search for a starting pitcher, including one -- Marcus Stroman -- who was taken off the market on Sunday when he was traded from the Blue Jays to the Mets. If New York doesn't find a deal it likes to acquire a starter, it could go in a different direction by improving an already strong bullpen, according to MLB.com's Jon Paul Morosi.
A source told Morosi that the Yankees have asked the Tigers about closer Shane Greene, who is under control through 2020.
The 30-year-old began his career with the Yankees when he was selected in the 15th round of the 2009 MLB Draft. He made 14 starts for the club as a rookie in 2014 before being traded to the Tigers as part of a three-team deal that brought Didi Gregorius from the D-backs to the Bronx and sent Robbie Ray from Detroit to Arizona.
Greene has enjoyed a breakout campaign in 2019, recording a 1.22 ERA with 41 strikeouts in 37 innings.