Florio's Bullpen Report: Trade Deadline Shakes Things Up!

August 3, 2023

Michael F. Florio reviews bullpens that have changed, closers to add off the waiver wire, and relief pitchers who are useful for fantasy baseball heading into Week 19.

I have been talking about how the reliever market was going to undergo a huge shakeup because of trades for weeks - if not months now. And while it took longer than expected, the trade deadline did not disappoint. 

Many relievers were traded, which means if you need saves now is the time to strike. The rest of the year the only way we will see big changes to any bullpens is due to poor performance or injuries. Not saying it will not happen - but if you have been waiting to use FAAB on closers or just been hoping to have one hit off the waiver wire, you need to be aggressive now. 

This is the best chance for you to make a run in saves - even if you cannot win the category, every point counts down the stretch. Put yourself in the best position to win a championship, and for many, that means paying up for potential saves when waivers run this week. 

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Changing Bullpens for Fantasy Baseball: Post-Trade Deadline

The Blue Jays perhaps went out and made the biggest closer acquisition of the deadline by going out and trading for Jordan Hicks. The Blue Jays had to acquire a bullpen arm after placing Jordan Romano on the IL with a back issue. For the time being, Hicks is a must-start option as the closer for Toronto. However, things could get dicey once Romano returns as Hicks has experience as a set-up man who can be used to put out fires at any point in the game. My early lean is that Romano would get the bulk of save chances. However, a committee is also in play. Hold onto Romano as well moving forward. 

The Cardinals will have a new closer after trading away Hicks. The good news, is they have a capable option in Giovanny Gallegos. He has eight saves already this season - the same number as Hicks had for the red birds. While he will not provide strikeouts as Hicks did, their ERA and indicators are extremely similar and Gallegos has provided a much stronger WHIP. Ryan Helsley, who has seven saves of his own this season, is working his way back and could rejoin the save picture when he returns. He is a strong stash candidate if he is on the waiver wire. 

The Diamondbacks traded for Paul Sewald from Seattle and the next day traded Andrew Chafin to the Brewers. Arizona has struggled to find a consistent option to close out games this season with Scott McGough, Chafin, and Miguel Castro each picking up at least seven saves, with a couple of others also sprinkled into the mix. However, it appears like Sewald should be the top option moving forward. He has pitched to a 2.93 ERA, 1.93 xERA, 36 percent strikeout rate with a 1.02 WHIP. He is a strong fantasy option moving forward. The other arms here could be thrown back onto the waiver wire. 

The Mariners are now searching for a closer after trading Sewald to the Diamondbacks. Sewald had picked up 21 saves for the Mariners, while no one else has more than two. However, they do have a very capable backup in Andres Munoz. He has pitched to a 2.92 ERA, 2.94 xERA, 33 percent strikeout rate, and a 1.14 WHIP. He also picked up four saves last year. There is lots of reason to get excited about Munoz and if he is available in your league you should be aggressive to get him. 

The Royals had two proven back-end arms in their bullpen and they traded both. First was Aroldis Chapman to the Rangers and then they sent Scott Barlow to the Padres. Barlow will work as a setup man there, meaning in many instances he can be dropped in fantasy baseball. As for the Royals pen moving forward? Carlos Hernandez was the only other reliever to pick up a save this year and should be viewed as the top option moving forward. He has pitched to a 3.64 ERA, 1.02 WHIP with a 29 percent strikeout rate this season. Taylor Clarke and Dylan Coleman are deep-league fliers, but this bullpen gets gross fast. 

The Mets sold almost anyone they could at the deadline - except for their bullpen arms not named David Robertson. But with their closer now in Miami, expect Adam Ottavino to be the lead save-getter moving forward. However, the Mets will likely go to an all-out committee approach, as Ottavino has already been used in a fireman role since the Robertson trade. Brooks Raley and Drew Smith figure to get some chances as well. Ottavino is worth starting if you need saves and Raley can be added until we see how things fully shake out. Smith is best left for those in need of saves in deep leagues. 

The Rockies traded former closer Pierce Johnson but held onto Justin Lawrence. He should continue to see save chances moving forward, but with Daniel Bard looking like his old self again, he could take back his old gig if Lawrence struggles. Lawrence is worth starting as long as he is the closer, but Bard is a stash candidate for those in deeper leagues. 

The Dodgers seemed like a great bet to trade for a closer but they sat tight. In the last month, they have four different pitchers that have picked up a save and Evan Phillips with two is the only one with multiple. He remains the top option to roster here, but Daniel Hudson and Ryan Brasier, in that order, are worth adding if you need saves. 

Elite Strikeouts and Ratios for Fantasy Baseball

Andrew Nardi is back for the Marlins and that means he is back to providing strong ratios for fantasy baseball. On the year he has pitched to a 3.19 ERA, 2.78 xERA, and 1.12 WHIP with a 32 percent strikeout rate. He consistently posted strong ratios when he was in the minor leagues. He can provide everything except saves for your fantasy team. 

Nick Pivetta may sound like a gross recommendation - but over the last month, the only relievers who have thrown double-digit innings and have a higher strikeout rate are Felix Bautista (49 percent) and Devin Williams (47 percent). Pivetta has struck out 44 percent of the batters he has faced in that span with a 1.06 ERA and 0.65 WHIP. So not only is he providing great strikeouts and ratios - but his 17 innings in that span is second among relievers. He provides starter innings which only goes further in helping your ratios. 

Matt Brash has struck out 40 percent of the batters he has faced in the last month. In his 10 innings in that span, he has pitched to a 2.70 ERA with a 1.00 WHIP. Plus, the Mariners just traded their closer and it's possible Brash could have a larger late-inning role than anticipated. He is worth adding for the time being. 

Joel Payamps has the lowest WHIP (0.33) of any reliever with at least seven innings pitched in the last month. In that span, he has pitched to a 1.50 ERA with a 40 percent strikeout rate for the Brewers. The Brew Crew has a loaded pen so he may not get any save chances, but if it is ratios you seek, he can help greatly.

Make sure to follow Michael on Twitter, @MichaelFFlorio. 

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