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Houston Astros Rumors: The Reliever Market

By Eric Huysman |
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Houston Astros Rumors: The Reliever Market

Jul 17, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Astros relief pitcher Luke Gregerson (44) pitches during the ninth inning against the Texas Rangers at Minute Maid Park. The Astros won 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

When July first started, it looked like the Astros had one goal for the trade deadline, a top of the rotation type of pitcher. With this target in mind, the CTH writers have focused on the starting pitcher market. We have talked about almost every available starting pitcher on the market; Jeff Luhnow has been recently saying that he might be looking for a power arm in the bullpen. From Evan Drellich’s article, Astros could be looking to add more heat to already effective bullpen, Jeff Luhnow was quoted saying the following.

“I think you can always use another good arm,” general manager Jeff Luhnow said recently. “You look at the arms we have in the bullpen: we’ve got a sinker baller, a slider guy, different looks. Neshek is a funky guy. The one guy we’re probably missing is the flamethrower guy.” – Luhnow via Drellich

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Before reading Drellich’s article, I thought that we had a soft throwing bullpen. However, I didn’t realize that they were at the bottom of the league with an average 90.3 MPH according to Fangraphs. With a bullpen that does not have a high average fastball, do they steer away from it? No, in fact, they rank sixth with 62.5% fastballs thrown as a bullpen. As Luhnow mentioned above, they all have different looks, which causes them to not allow the hitters to get comfortable. Plus the Astros bullpen is one of the oldest group on the team, so they have learned how to pitch without the blazing fastball.

The only one who really is a flame thrower right now in the bullpen is Josh Fields, but he can be unhittable for one hitter, and then allows an extra base hit to the next batter. If the Astros are looking to add a power arm, who is available through a trade? Let’s look at some Houston Astros rumors about relievers.

Next: The Trade Candidates

The Trade Candidates

Trade for Kimbrel

Jul 12, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; San Diego Padres relief pitcher Kimbrel (46) delivers a pitch to the Texas Rangers during the ninth inning of a baseball game at Globe Life Park in Arlington. The Padres won 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Jim Cowsert-USA TODAY Sports

The Padres GM made some bold moves in their offseason to restart the sputtering offense, but after a lackluster first half, A.J. Preller is looking to sell. They made a trade for one of the best closers in baseball in Craig Kimbrel but are having second thoughts. They are paying a lot of money to a closer for a team that is not winning as often as they should. Kimbrel is throwing his fastballs at his highest average speed of any other year that he has pitched in 2015. He has hovered around 96 MPH for most of his career, but in 2015 he is averaging a 97.5 MPH fastball according to Fangraphs.

Despite the increase in the speed of the fastball, he is also not having a normal Kimbrel type of season. His 2015 stats are 1-2/ 25 saves/ 3.06 ERA/ 52 strikeouts in 35 1/3 innings. According to Fangraphs, his strikeouts per nine innings is 13.25.

Is he a flamethrower? Yes.

Trade for Chapman

Jul 14, 2015; Cincinnati, OH, USA; National League pitcher A Chapman (54) of the Cincinnati Reds throws against the American League during the ninth inning of the 2015 MLB All-Star Game at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

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When the Reds signed Aroldis Chapman, I thought he would be with the Reds for his entire career because of his pure stuff and power. Why would the Reds not give him the money to retain his services? The answer is clear, they are presently not a good team, so why tie up a lot of money in a closer for a losing team? Astros fans are familiar with these thoughts, as we went with no-name closers or by committee for several years. In fact, some people criticized Luhnow for spending money to improve the bullpen for a bad team in 2015. But look at where the Astros are now.

According to Fangraphs, after 2014 where Chapman averaged 100.3 MPH on his fastball, he has dropped to a mere 99.7 MPH in 2015. Even with his 100.3 MPH average fastball in 2014, his career average is 98.6 MPH.

Unlike Kimbrel, Chapman’s ERA is below his career 2.23. His 2015 stats are 3-3/ 18 saves/ 1.69 ERA/ 65 strikeouts in 37 1/3 innings. His strikeout per nine innings is 15.67. He is a free agent after the 2016 season, so he could cost a little more.

Is he a flamethrower? He could be the king of them.

Trade for Papelbon

May 13, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies relief pitcher J Papelbon (58) pitches against the Pittsburgh Pirates ninth inning at Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies won 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

I wrote about Jonathan Papelbon the other day, Houston Astros Rumors: Phillies’ Papelbon begging for a trade. I’m not sure if he throws the fastest, but he sure has the fastest mouth out of all the available closers. The Phillies have made a mistake in how they have handled Papelbon, and he has spoken out against them. He feels like it’s time to get out of Philly, but would the Astros take a risk with all his baggage in tow? According to Fangraphs, Papelbon doesn’t quite throw as hard as he used to. His career average is 93.8 MPH, but for the past two years he has an average fastball speed of 91.3 and 91.1.

He would not make the Astros bullpen average fastball rise at all, move along, nothing to see here. Let’s take a look at his 2015 stats, he has a 1-1 record/ 15 saves/ 1.77 ERA/ 36 strikeouts in 35 2/3 innings. He has a 9.08 strikeout per nine innings average in 2015.

Is he a flamethrower? No, he is pretty equivalent to Luke Gregerson at this stage of his career with a bigger name. This is not the pitcher Luhnow is looking for.

Next: Astros Rumors: Does Luhnow have to trade Appel and Phillips?

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