Red Sox Rumors: Look to Padres for bullpen help on trade market
A Boston Red Sox team in need of bullpen reinforcements should look to the San Diego Padres as a trade partner before the deadline.
There aren’t many holes on a Boston Red Sox team on pace for a 110-win season but they can’t afford to let any weakness be exploited in what is expected to remain a tight division race. We can’t overreact to one loss. Yet Friday night in Seattle reminded us that this bullpen needs an upgrade prior to next month’s trade deadline.
Boston’s bullpen ranks third in the American League with a 3.02 ERA. It has hardly been a disaster. Although, it’s worth noting that the two teams ahead of them – Houston and New York – are their main competition for the pennant.
Despite the overall solid numbers produced by this bullpen, how many Red Sox relievers can you trust late in a close game? Craig Kimbrel has been brilliant as the closer and Joe Kelly has established himself as a reliable setup option. Beyond those two, the options get a bit shaky. Matt Barnes shouldn’t be utilized in high leverage situations. Heath Hembree is pitching his way out of a roster spot.
The impending return of Tyler Thornburg will help, assuming he’s back to pre-injury form. We can’t necessarily count on him returning to elite form right away or count on his addition being enough. For the Red Sox to improve the back of their bullpen they will need to explore the trade market.
The last place San Diego Padres appear open for business and their bullpen has a few enticing options. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports that the Padres have already received interest on Brad Hand, Kirby Yates and Craig Stammen.
Brad Hand
The prize of the group is Hand, who currently serves as the Padres’ closer. He’s third in the majors with 21 saves and owns a 1.78 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, and a 13.25 K/9. Those numbers compare very favorably to Kimbrel.
While Kimbrel appears uncomfortable in non-save situations, Hand has proven more adaptable. The Padres have used him in the eighth inning to face the heart of the opposing team’s order rather than wait for the glory of a ninth-inning save.
It doesn’t hurt that Hand is a lefty. Boston’s bullpen is short on left-handed options outside of Brian Johnson, who should never be allowed near a close game. Left-handed bats have hit a minuscule .054 with a .309 OPS against Hand this season. He’s no lefty specialist though. Right-handers are only hitting .200 with a .626 OPS.
The 28-year old signed a very team-friendly three-year, $19.75 million deal last winter with an affordable $10 million team option in 2021. He’s a bargain even in a setup role. His success as a closer would give the Red Sox the option to move on from Kimbrel after this season.
Hand’s excellent production and contract make him appealing. It also will make him expensive in trade talks. The Red Sox may not have enough left in the cupboard to acquire him with other teams in need of bullpen help circling the Padres like vultures. Think of the haul the Red Sox gave San Diego for Kimbrel, who had three years left on his deal at the time. Four prospects, including two of their top six. The asking price for Hand will be similar.
Kirby Yates
If the market proves to be too steep for Hand, Boston could look at one of their other top relievers.
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Yates is having a career year, posting a 1.00 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, and 10.67 K/9. He struggled through stints with the Tampa Bay Rays and New York Yankees before reinventing himself as a Padre. Yates has ditched his slider for a splitter to become more of a groundball pitcher. His 52.3 GB% is easily a career-high and nearly double last year’s rate. Yates was once homer-prone but with this new approach he’s only given up one long ball this season.
He doesn’t come with the “proven closer” tag but Yates has picked up a couple of rogue saves when the Padres send Hand in early. He’s next in line for the closer job if Hand gets dealt, unless Yates follows him out the door.
The 31-year old is making just north of $1 million this season and won’t hit free agency until 2021. Adding him now would fortify the bullpen this season while providing insurance for the next few years in case Kelly leaves as a free agent this winter.
Craig Stammen
Stammen is a former failed starter who transformed into a solid middle reliever for a few seasons with the Washington Nationals. He’s been better than ever this year, posting a 2.23 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, and 9.74 K/9.
He’s not overpowering with his low-90’s fastball but he pounds the strike zone and rarely walks batters. Stammen has issued only five free passes this season and owns a 1.39 B/9. He does a good job of keep the ball on the ground with a GB% above 50 for his career. His 3.7% HR/FB is among the ten best in the majors among relievers (minimum of 25 innings pitched).
The 34-year old remains under team control for a reasonable $2.25 million in 2019. He isn’t locked in for several more years on a bargain deal like Hand. Nor is he still arbitration-eligible like Yates. However, that’s what will make him cheaper to acquire than his bullpen mates.
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The Red Sox should inquire about Hand but the bounty they are bound to demand may be too steep. Yates would be an ideal alternative but San Diego may want to hang on to him given his low cost and ability to take over as closer. The Padres will listen in case another team wants to blow them away with an offer. Unfortunately, the Red Sox don’t have the chips to overpay. That leaves Stammen as the most realistic target.