Closer Stashes for the Trade Deadline: Florio's MLB Bullpen Report

July 28, 2022

Michael Florio reviews bullpens that have changed, closers you can add off the waiver wire and relief pitchers who are useful for fantasy baseball heading into Week 16.

I have been talking about the trade deadline and the reliever shakeup we are (still) guaranteed to see. By this point, you may be thinking of me as the boy who cried wolf, but the trades are coming - the market has just been slow to develop. 

But by the time you click on this article a week from now, there will be many changes to bullpens. There will be teams who trade their current closer, opening the door for other relievers to suddenly be in a spot to pick up saves off the waiver wire. They will be in heavy demand and you should be ready to spend some FAAB or top waiver claims if you are in need of saves. Additionally, there may be some teams that trade for a more established reliever who will come in and act as the closer, usurping the current reliever in that role. 

This week, let's look ahead to the bullpens that could be changing in the coming days and what you can do as a fantasy manager to get ahead of it! 

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Fantasy Baseball Closers That Could be Dealt

David Robertson has been incredible this season getting the vast majority of save chances for the Cubs. In the last 30 days alone, he has had five saves. The only issue is, as a veteran on an expiring deal, he is a lock to be dealt in the next week. But we could also see the Cubs trade Mychal Givens and Rowan Wick.

If they hold on to those two and deal Robertson, Wick is the next man up. Givens would be third for those trying to get ahead of things in the Cubs pen. If all three are dealt, it would be up in the air who gets the save chances, but Chris Martin is one name to highlight here. 

Hunter Strickland has been getting the save chances for the Reds for a month or so now, picking up two in the last 30 days. But he plays on a team that is clearly not contending and is a veteran reliever without a long-term deal. So just like Robertson, he is a very strong possibility to be dealt.

If he is dealt, Alexis Diaz becomes a very intriguing option to get save chances for the Reds moving forward. He has electric stuff and can miss a ton of bats. Not quite at the level of his brother, Edwin, but certainly enough where he can be a successful closer. He would be a top stash candidate right now. 

Tanner Rainey / Kyle Finnegan: The Nationals are talking about trading Juan Soto, meaning that no one on their roster is off limits. In the past month, both Rainey and Finnegan each have three saves a piece. Both are under contract for years, so perhaps the Nationals decided to hold onto one or even both, but both are also 30-years-old.

The most likely scenario is at least one is dealt. If so, the other one would obviously gain in value as they would no longer have to split saves. But if you are looking for a stash candidate in this bullpen for saves if those two are dealt, Carl Edwards Jr., Hunter Harvey, and Steve Cishek are names to add to your watch list. 

The Rockies have had Daniel Bard as their closer all season, but as a team falling out of contention, they could easily look to flip him for a prospect or two. In the past 30 days, we have seen Alex Colome and Carlos Estevez each pick up a save.

Both have previous closer experience and would be the next in line for save chances if Bard is dealt. We could also see Colome, another veteran reliever, dealt as well. Because of that possibility, Estevez is the top stash candidate here. 

David Bednar has been great all year for the Pirates and has years left under team control, so they have no reason to deal him unless they are blown away in an offer. But if he is traded, Yerry De Los Santos, who has three saves himself in the past 30 days, looks like an obvious stash candidate in this bullpen. 

Jorge Lopez has been great all year as the Orioles' closer and Baltimore’s recent hot streak has suddenly put them in contention for a wild card spot. However, if they still decide to be sellers like reports indicate.

Lopez is 29-years-old and still has two more years of team control, so they could opt to hold him, but if they deal him, Felix Bautista is a very strong stash candidate. Bautista has been highly effective this season, misses bats at a high rate, and has already picked up a couple of saves, showing that he can do so. He is a top stash candidate this week.

Lou Trivino may sport a high ERA, but he also has picked up six saves in the past 30 days for the A’s. It may not always be pretty, but it is useful in fantasy. That is unless he is traded and no longer used as a closer. Then he is pure waiver wire fodder.

But if he is traded, A.J. Puk and Zach Jackson have each picked up a save in the past month. Puk is the top stash candidate here, but Jackson is a deeper league stash candidate. 

Gregory Soto has been the Tigers' primary closer this season and he remains under team control, but he should not fully be ruled out as a trade candidate. The Tigers have a surplus of late-inning arms also having Joe Jimenez and Michael Fulmer, who each picked up a save in the past month. If Soto is dealt, Fulmer and Jimenez become a strong add, as long as they are not traded themselves. 

Scott Barlow has been great for the Royals, especially as of late, picking up seven saves in the past 30 days. He remains under team control for a couple more seasons, meaning that the Royals can just hold onto him. 

But if they are sellers as expected, teams will certainly ask about Barlow. If he is dealt, he could be one of those relievers that take save chances away from an already established closer. But Taylor Clarke and Wyatt Mills are two stash candidates for the Royals bullpen if Barlow is dealt. 

Brett Martin has been a blessing for the Rangers, picking up three saves in the past month. He has been reliable, but that just makes him coveted by other teams and a team like the Rangers is clearly going to be looking to the future.

If he is dealt, Matt Bush and Joe Barlow are two names we are sure to hear mentioned as speculative save adds. Another sneaky stash in deeper leagues would be Jose Leclerc. 

Make sure to follow Michael on Twitter, @MichaelFFlorio.

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