MLB Trade Deadline Targets: Best Players Contending Teams Should Pursue

We are getting closer to one of the two spots that the Astros have actually said they are interested in as we are nearing the end of the trade deadline add possibilities. The fact that things have remained the same over the course of at least the past two seasons is an interesting phenomenon. The Astros continue to have a lot of left-handed pitchers in their bullpen, and Dana Brown is still looking for a left-handed batter to join the team.When it comes to the pen, Josh Hader, Steven Okert, and Bryan King have all shown impressive performance. The Astros have a significantly more restricted range from the right side of the field.

This club is still relatively poor from the right side, with Bryan Abreu spending the majority of the season in the tank. A.J. Bulbuzh has performed well when he has been limited to one inning (we touched on that in the Espada piece), and Enyel de los Santos has had his moments. However, this squad is still relatively weak from the right side. We are going to look at ERA, xERA, FIP, and xFIP, much like we did with the contenders for starting pitcher responsibilities. Not only does this provide us with a notion of what the player has done up to this point, but it also provides us with an indication of what they tend to do.

We have chosen to handle the available possibilities in a different manner because there will be a greater number of relievers available than there are for any of the other positions. I took a look at teams that were 10 games or more behind in the standings in their respective division. Currently, we are examining the top six choices that are available. Because it is obvious that there are a great number of arms that could be traded before the deadline, we are looking at players who could easily fit into the eighth inning for the team.

Huascar Brazoban

In many ways, relief pitching is comparable to gambling. As a result of the extremely small sample sizes, it is difficult to accept any number at face value. It is for this reason that we integrate the ERA estimators. Because he is not eligible to become a free agent until the year 2030, Brazoban is expected to be more expensive in terms of prospect capital. Over the course of 39.2 innings, he has nearly one strikeout per inning. Given Joe Espada’s management style, it is imperative that he has proven himself capable of pitching several innings in the past.

Yennier Cano

Cano is more of a specialist who faces right-handed heavy lineups, in contrast to Brazoban, who is more of a backup pitcher. Furthermore, the data demonstrate that he is not as good as what the fundamental numbers indicate he is. This year, he has been fairly effective at maintaining control of the ball, and he has a little more than one strikeout per inning on average. Upon the conclusion of the 2028 season, he will be a free agent.

Rico Garcia

After a period of instability beginning in 2019, Garcia has been performing well over the past two years. Prior to the year 2031, he will not be a free agent. It is clear that he is missing bats because he is averaging more than one strikeout per inning. Contrary to Brazoban, it appears that he does not pitch for more than one inning in each of his outings. Obviously, if you are looking for a pure eighth-inning player, you could do a lot worse than what you have right now.

Antonio Senzatela

A vulture is the term that we would use to describe Senzatela in the business world. Two significant distinctions can be made between Senzatela and the other pitchers in the competition. First, he is a starter who has been converted. It appears that he has shifted his focus from being a subpar starter to taking on the role of a bullpen pitcher. Furthermore, at the conclusion of the season, he will be a free agent. However, despite the fact that he does not miss as many bats as the other relievers, this is not a coincidence. Having a tendency to distort the ERA estimator statistics is something that happens when you pitch half of your games in Denver. Because of his appearance, he appears to be an average reliever, and it is possible that he will wind up being that. However, it is also feasible that a better team with superior fielding behind him might continue to show signs of improvement in the future. As of the current season, he has an amazing record of 8-0, which places him in second place in terms of relief victories. Did he use up all of his good fortune in the first half of the game?

Luke Weaver

As is the case with Sentazela, Weaver is also a converted starter who appears to have reached his full potential as a reliever. Despite the fact that he signed a contract worth 22 million dollars for two years prior to the 2026 season, he has not missed a beat. It is possible that the Mets will want to trade him if they decide to rebalance their roster following the horrible season they have just experienced. Over the course of 33 innings, he has a strikeout to walk ratio of 34 to 9. The fact that he is coming off of two successful seasons with the Yankees indicates that he has some pedigree and may be able to handle the intense pressure that comes with pitching in the eighth out.

Garrett Whitlock

My admiration for Whitlock dates back quite some time. Every team has at least one or two players who they admire and wish they could have on their roster. Despite the fact that Whitlock has team options for the next two years, he has the potential to become a free agent at the end of the season if he declines those choices. Due to the fact that he has only pitched a few innings so far this season, the tread on those tires is not very deep. Years ago, he shown that he is capable of pitching for more than one inning. To add insult to injury, he has a few starts under his belt. The way he feels is that he is a guy who needs a specific position. The eighth inning appears to be ideal.

Putting it all together

Starting pitchers, outfielders, and now relievers are the players who we have been analyzing. Should we suppose that we are only able to add one, which of the positions would be the most significant to add? Because of the realities, these choices are more challenging. The cost of starting pitchers who are ranked number two or three is more than that of corner bats or bullpen pitchers. However, despite the fact that a bullpen pitcher might be the most affordable option, will it be enough to make a difference in our chances of making the playoffs? Do you have any thoughts?