Through 87 games, there’s no question where the Giants’ greatest weakness lies. The bullpen has struggled to the tune of 17 blown saves, tied with the Reds for the most in baseball.
This doesn’t fall solely on Santiago Casilla. A blown save can occur anytime a reliever yields the lead after the fifth inning. Because of the high volume of one-run games the Giants have played this year, the entire bullpen has had little to no room for error. Relief problems have really reared themselves in the last two weeks, punctuated by 10- and seven-run meltdowns.
So as the August 1 trade deadline draws closer, here’s a look at five relievers the Giants could consider acquiring. There’s no particular strong suit in the Giants bullpen, so it stands that it could use help against both righties and lefties, in addition to save situations. The price will be steeper for closers, especially any that are years away from free agency. That’s why the Yankees’ Andrew Miller isn’t on this list. Presumably the price in prospects will be too overwhelming for the Giants to handle. However, lets start the list with one of Miller’s teammates:
LHP Aroldis Chapman, Yankees (16 saves, 2.86 ERA, 0.955 WHIP, 22 IP)
He’ll likely be the most discussed reliever on the market, purely because of his lethal velocity. The left-hander isn’t having his best year, but would easily slide to the back of the Giants bullpen. It starts an important domino effect that could move Casilla to the eighth inning, Sergio Romo to the seventh inning and everyone else to fill-in between.
Chapman is a free agent after this season, making him readily available on a Yankees team inching further from contention.
He’s faired almost equally as well against lefties and righties. Left-handed hitters are batting .200 against Chapman, and have only two hits against him all year. It’s important to note that Chapman’s season didn’t begin until the early May, when his 30-game suspension for a domestic violence dispute ended. That surely a factor into any team’s decision to acquire the flamethrower.
LHP Fernando Abad, Twins (2.57 ERA, 1.179 WHIP, 28 IP)
Abad starred in the A’s bullpen in 2014 (1.57 ERA in 57 1/3 IP) before stumbling through last season. He’s returned to a level of normalcy this year in Minnesota, and has functioned primarily as the Twins’ setup man. Abad’s struggled a bit more recently, allowing six runs in his last six outings. Through 27 appearances this season, his ERA peaked at 0.79.
The left-hander has the potential to serve a role similar to the one Jeremy Affeldt filled. He’s not only a lefty specialist, allowing only two extra-base hits to right-handed hitters all year. The Giants envisioned Josh Osich as the lefty capable of throwing an inning late in games, but rightiies are hitting .342 off him this season. Abad will be arbitration eligible next season and a free agent in 2018.
RHP Jeremy Jeffress, Brewers (23 saves, 2.45 ERA, 1.309 WHIP, 36.2 IP)
The Brewers might not be inclined to part with Jeffress, who’s under contract through the 2019 season. But in the event they decide move their closer, they could fetch a steady batch of prospects. The right-hander doesn’t have gaudy strikeout numbers, but also doesn’t walk many hitters.
Jeffress’ two home runs allowed have come off lefties, who the right-hander has struggled against this season. They’re hitting .333 off Jeffress with eight extra-base hits.
It will be interesting to monitor how the rebuilding Brewers handle the trade deadline. Don’t expect Jeffress to be the first piece moved, but if Jonathan Lucroy and Aaron Hill depart, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the closer go too.
RHP Jeanmar Gomez, Phillies (23 saves, 2,68 ERA, 1.116 WHIP, 40.1 IP)
The Phillies closer has long been rumored as a trade candidate, but Philadelphia started the year atop the National League East standings. Now that they’ve returned to earth and are 11 games behind the Nationals, it would come as no surprise if they part with their 28-year-old closer.
The 6-foot-3 righty has been a reliable option in the Phillies bullpen for three seasons now, but this is the first he’s been the closer. He’s been steady against both righties and lefties, holding them to a .224 and .254 average, respectively.
An acquisition of Gomez or Jeffress would be interesting, because neither would automatically unseat Casilla. The Giants closer has similar numbers to Jeffress and Gomez, and it might not be worth the trouble of immediately demoting Casilla.
LHP Ryan Butcher, Padres (2.75 ERA, 1.167 WHIP, 36 IP)
Admittedly, this is a bit of a wildcard. Butcher is a rookie left-hander in San Diego, and the Padres could have no intentions of parting with a pitcher under team control for several more seasons as they turn toward a rebuild.
But Butcher, a 33rd round selection by the Nationals in 2005, has been solid in his first full major league season at age 29. He’s pitched in the seventh and eighth innings for San Diego this season, and is another candidate to fill the Affeldt-type role.
He’s held lefties to a .146 average, and righties haven’t faired much better, hitting .211 off Butcher. His addition would surely be a nice added layer to the Giants bullpen, but it may be difficult to swing the inter-division deal.
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