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Red Sox Rumors: What’s left for Dombrowski on the reliever market?

By Damian Dydyn

BOSTON, MA - SEPTEMBER 18: Dave Dombrowski the President of Baseball Operations of the Boston Red Sox stands at home plate before a game against the New York Yankees at Fenway Park on September 18, 2016 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Red Sox won 5-4. (Photo by Rich Gagnon/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - SEPTEMBER 18: Dave Dombrowski the President of Baseball Operations of the Boston Red Sox stands at home plate before a game against the New York Yankees at Fenway Park on September 18, 2016 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Red Sox won 5-4. (Photo by Rich Gagnon/Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GA – JUNE 27: Raisel Iglesias #26 of the Cincinnati Reds pitches in relief in the ninth inning of an MLB game against the Atlanta Braves at SunTrust Park on June 27, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. The Cincinnati Reds won the game 6-5. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) /

The Reds. All of them.

Raisel Iglesias – CIN

Raisel Iglesias is cost controlled through the end of 2020, and as such, will not be cheap. That said, if the Red Sox are going to part with a trade chip like Michael Chavis, this is the arm to do it for. His ERA’s this season is 2.14. That follows seasons in which he posted a 2.52 and then a 2.49. He gets results. The strikeout rate hangs out around a batter per inning, and the walk rate rarely gets over 3 per nine innings pitched. If acquired, he would be a fine replacement for Craig Kimbrel who is likely to test the free agent market and may price himself out of Boston’s reach. Iglesias throws a fastball, slider, changeup mix with the heater living in the mid-90’s. If you are pulling for anyone on this list, make it Raisel Iglesias, price be dammed.

Jared Hughes – CIN

And if Iglesias proves to be just a little too expensive, Jared Hughes is a fine consolation prize. Like the Reds closer, Hughes is cost controlled through the 2020 season, with that final year being a team option. Having spent his entire career in the N.L. Central, he has been a solid to excellent reliever going back as far as 2014. This season he has a 1.51 ERA with a 3.14 FIP and a 3.49 xFIP. The K/9 is just 7.04 but he induces a 66% ground balls. While I would prefer Raisel Iglesias, if the Red Sox came out of negotiations with the Reds with Jared Hughes at a lower cost, we should all be happy with the return.

The Reds. The last of them. And a Cardinal.

David Hernandez – CIN

Another option from Cincinnati is 33-year-old righty David Hernandez. The journeyman is in the midst of a career year and is under control through the end of next season. Though he has an unsustainably low HR/FB of 4.5%, he is striking out nearly a batter per inning and is only walking 2.97 per nine. Hernandez does not display a significant platoon split and could be used in any late inning situation.

Bud Norris – STL

The 33-year-old Norris is on a one year deal with the Cardinals who may decide to cell before the deadline comes. If they do, Norris should be one of the more movable pieces they have. Having established himself as viable closer option in 2017, he has followed up with a 3.21 ERA, a 3.00 FIP and a 2.91 xFIP in 2018. His stuff has translated to the bullpen well where he strikes out 11.57 per nine, walks just 1.71 per nine, and has converted 20 of 23 save opportunities. You may not think of Bud Norris when considering name value closers, but he should qualify.

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