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Red Sox: Five potential closer options to target in free agency

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 07: Liam Hendriks #16 of the Oakland Athletics reacts to striking out Josh Reddick #22 of the Houston Astros to end the eighth inning in Game Three of the American League Division Series at Dodger Stadium on October 07, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 07: Liam Hendriks #16 of the Oakland Athletics reacts to striking out Josh Reddick #22 of the Houston Astros to end the eighth inning in Game Three of the American League Division Series at Dodger Stadium on October 07, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) /
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ARLINGTON, TEXAS – OCTOBER 08: Blake Treinen #49 of the Los Angeles Dodgers (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – OCTOBER 08: Blake Treinen #49 of the Los Angeles Dodgers (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

Red Sox free agent target – Blake Treinen

Blake Treinen was the best reliever in baseball in 2018 when he posted a ridiculous 0.78 ERA and 0.834 WHIP. The former A’s closer notched 38 saves that year and finished sixth on the AL Cy Young ballot.

The follow-up to that breakout campaign was a disaster, as Treinen produced a 4.91 ERA while dealing with a sprained rotator cuff that landed him on the injured list. Known for his tendency to keep the ball on the ground, Treinen’s home run rates jumped to a career-high 1.4 HR/9 and 16.4% HR/FB.

Treinen got his home run issues under control this year, allowing only one in 25 2/3 innings for a minuscule 0.4 HR/9. He led major league relievers with a 64 percent groundball rate (minimum 20 innings pitched), indicating he’s back on track. The result was a much more tolerable 3.86 ERA in 27 appearances as a setup man for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

One concern is that his strikeout rate dipped to 7.7 K/9 from 9.1 K/9 last year, which was down from his 2018 peak when he posted an 11.2 K/9.  He’s still pumping his fastball at over 97 mph though and he offset the lack of strikeouts by limiting walks with a 2.8 BB/9.

A solid season helped Treinen re-establish some value but he shouldn’t be too expensive considering he wasn’t a closer this year and the stench of his disappointing 2019 campaign might still be lingering.

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