The Astros have a clear need for an arm that can pitch in high leverage spots come postseason time and the countdown is truly upon us for the July 30th deadline. So it's that time again to look at some names that will be in play for the Astros on the trade market with the bullpen. Some of these are names that I have heard via some investigative work, others are a complete guess, it's up to you to figure out who falls into each category. Let's get after it.
Craig Kimbrel- Chicago Cubs
The biggest fish on the market with the biggest name value. He is having an incredible bounceback season for the Cubs, posting a sub one ERA to this point of the season. There are still some questions that are worthy of having. Is this a flash in the pan or is he back to being the Kimbrel of old. One thing is certain, if the Astros were to land him, he will have to improve his postseason numbers that have been sketchy at best.
Acquiring him takes the biggest financial commitment of any available reliever, he is making sixteen million this year with a team option at sixteen million for next year as well. If you do not want to pick up the option, you will have to pay him a one million dollar buyout. The Cubs are going to want to cash in prospect wise here, as they should. Given the Astros state of the farm system and the money he is owed, I find it hard to believe that the Astros will really play for his services. They're willing to spend and will at the deadline, but Kimbrel might not be the smartest way to spend for this year and years moving forward.
Paul Fry- Baltimore Orioles
On the outside, grabbing a lefty might not seem like the thing to do, but Dusty Baker loves having lefties in the pen. With the three batter mininum in play, this is not a name I love, but anything that gives me less Brooks Raley, I'm fine with. He's basically a two pitch guy with a fastball and slider, the slider has been a big swing and miss pitch for him this season. Being under club control through 2025 is something that will be appealing to the Astros.
Scott Barlow- Kansas City Royals
One of my favorite arms on this list, everything about his stuff says high leverage guy. The Royals are going to make you fork up at least one solid prospect and I think it will take at least two to get him given that he is under club control through 2024. Big fastball paired with a filthy slider and curve, this guy has diamond in the rough written all over him, he is under club control through 2024. I would really keep an eye on this name at the deadline.
Cole Susler- Baltimore Orioles
Susler is enjoying the best season of his career for the lowly Orioles and should be on the move before the deadline. Any pitcher from the Orioles probably won't inspire too many fans out there, but he, like Fry, is having a very nice season overall. The strikeout rate is good, he is a guy that to me profiles as a sixth or seventh inning guy for most good clubs. Mainly a three pitch guy, he has enough stuff to miss bats consistently. Under club control through 2025, the price to get him might be more than you think for a guy you probably have never heard of before.
Jose Cisnero- Detroit Tigers
The former Astro (I bet you had no idea he's a former Astro) has really turned his career around after leaving Houston. He possesses a big fastball and has really started to get his command in check. Detroit will not sell just to sell, so getting him will not be as easy as you would expect. This guy however should be a very real option for the club at the deadline, he is under club control through 2023.
Anthony Bender- Miami Marlins
This one would probably cost you a few prospects given that he is a rookie. You have to think about the fact that he does not have a lengthy big league track, but man is he having a great start to his big league career this season, sporting a sub one ERA. The stuff is filthy, he mainly relies on a sinker and slider, the sinker averaging a cool 96.9 mph this season. With his club control and big stuff, this is a name that very much should be on your radar.
Richard Bleier- Miami Marlins
Another lefty, I see his name as one that pops up as a last second type of option if they miss on others they might be targeting. Not a big strikeout guy which is something you do not love, this is simply a name I think has to be put down because Miami is looking to move anyone with some sort of value.
David Bednar- Pittsburgh Pirates
He and the next pitcher mentioned are the options out there to land from the Pirates. For me, Bednar is the easy favorite between the two. Having a very nice first full big league season, I prefer him over our next option here because of his big fastball. It's 97+ everytime he throws it, his stuff is high leverage spot stuff. To go along with his fastball he sports a splitter and curve, both pitches being barely hit by any batters he has faced this season.
Richard Rodriguez- Pittsburgh Pirates
This is a name that is out there and mentioned by a lot of people, I just do not think he is at the top of their list of options. He is strictly a two pitch guy, and truly that is all a reliever needs, but to me, you cannot be that guy unless you are touching one hundred miles per hour on the gun. Rodriguez is not that guy, but his fastball is good. The Pirates are going to expect a good return here and I just do not see him as the ideal fit for what the Astros need. Would I be mad if he landed here? No. He just will not be at the top of the list for me at any point.
Daniel Bard- Colorado Rockies
I believe that Bard represents the bargain option. You get him because you bank on the stuff and getting him out of that death trap that is Coors Field. He has to be on the radar because he throws so hard and in the postseason, velocity out of the bullpen really matters. I do not think he is a top option, but someone that is worth keeping an eye on.
There are options that of course that were not mentioned here and they very well might land someone that none of us have thought of to this point. If I'm pegging two guys to key in on today, I think Barlow and Bender might be the two names I would watch the most. It should be a fun few weeks leading up to the deadline, here is to hoping that James Click dunks on the entire league with whoever he lands.