SAGNOF: Halftime

What’s poppin, Razzpimples?!

Remember to bookmark that Razzball Bullpen Chart, y’all! I update it obsessively.

Also, if you’re a sub (you should be a sub…it’s great value), you get access to RP Projections and the super badass Relievonator Game Log tool, in addition to all the other awesome tools we have to offer. Hittertron and Streamonator, etc.

Let’s do it to it.

Note: All stats and Player Rater values are accurate through Sunday’s games.

Player Rater Top 20 (5×5 Standard)

Player Rater Top 20 (6×6 w/ Holds)

2024 SVHD Leaders

Weekly Saves Leaders

Weekly Holds Leaders

Weekly Blown Saves Leaders :'(

---

Reckon I’m gonna shake things up a little this week. Midway point in the season and all. Instead of recapping the last week, I’m gonna just jot a few little notes for each team’s bullpen at this point in the season. It’ll go down on this here [digital] paper as in flows into my stream of consciousness. As they like to say in the education field these days (y’all may or may not recall I’m a high school English teacher), I’ll look at some “glows and grows.” Rather, what I like and what I don’t like. And with the trade deadline looming, I’ll jot notes on that too.

Arizona Diamondbacks:

• Paul Sewald had three duds in a row but is already back on track. Ain’t nothing to worry about with that guy as long as he’s healthy. Actually really starting to like what Kevin Ginkel has going on again…Ryan Thompson has the ratios, but I’ll take Ginkel’s K upside thankyouverymuch: 40.4 K% over his last month (21:2 K:BB in 13.2 IP). This pen is in good shape.

Atlanta Braves:

• Another pen that’s in fine shape. Raisel Iglesias owners know what they have. What I can’t quite figure is the dynamic between AJ Minter and Joe Jimenez. The former is supposed to be one of the best setup men in the game. Injury hasn’t helped, but Jimenez has just been really, really good. Has 18 HLD. Minter has 8.

Baltimore Orioles:

• Nothing super noteworthy or surprising here. Both Craig Kimbrel and Yennier Cano have been what I thought they’d be for the most part. Kimbrel maybe even a little better than I could have hoped. Cano basically been exactly what I thought: good enough to keep his #1 setup gig, chugging HLD (already at 24) in the process. Even has 3 SV to his name. Danny Coulombe was also what I expected (better quality than Cano) but now it sounds like he’s probably out for the year, or at least so long that he’s not relevant anymore. Jacob Webb has been a pleasant surprise, I s’pose. Nice deeper league guy.

Boston Red Sox:

• Kenley Jansen is like the Energizer bunny of closers. He’s a free agent at season’s end, and the Red Sox have Liam Hendriks ready to take his job next year if it comes to it. I wager Jansen has earned a nice short-term deal and the Sox are planning to see him walk. Chris Martin is a free agent, too. With Martin and Justin Slaten on the IL, it’ll be Brennan Bernardino and Zack Kelly getting the holds in the meantime. Figure the next couple of weeks will likely determine how Bahstin approaches the deadline. Not far out of the WC race at all. Sure could use a Tanner Scott type…

Chicago Cubs:

• Pards, I love to see the Cubs flounder. They’re a-flounderin down to the bottom of the NL Central and it’s a lovely sight to behold. Hector Neris hasn’t been nearly as good as he was last year, but he has been better in the last couple weeks. He’s making $9M and is a free agent after next season. Not too expensive for a guy of his potential…just a shame he hasn’t met that potential this year. I mean, I don’t think it’s a shame, but some probably do. Might could get shipped out if someone comes knocking. Mark Leiter Jr. would be on my handcuff radar in that case.

Chicago White Sox:

• Well, here’s an easy one. These guys are gonna sell. John Brebbia ain’t expensive, has one year left on his contract, and is pitching great lately. You might recall he was once a pretty good high-leverage option back in the Giants pen in recent years. Michael Kopech enter his Arb 3 year next year and then hits the FA market in ’26. I could see him getting dealt, too. Brebbia pretty much definitely gonna go somewhere, I expect. Tanner Banks is who I’d be looking at to step up if one or both go. Guess Jordan Leasure could find some mojo again too.

Cincinnati Reds:

• Alexis Diaz hasn’t been sharp this season. Overall, his 2023 season was superb. His second half was not, and now it’s his first half that’s not in 2024. So maybe that means his second will be? Fernando Cruz has been mostly superb, but his bad has been bad. Has 3 W and 21 HLD…and also 7 L. Still, can’t argue too much with 65 K in 40.2 IP. Lucas Sims has 13 SVHD and a solid 3.38 ERA, so that might garner some interest on the trade market. Only $2.85M on the books and is a free agent once the season’s up, so he’s not a huge investment.

Cleveland Guardians:

• Everybody in this pen is good. I mean, almost literally everyone. Emmanuel Clase is the best overall closer in the game right now. Hunter Gaddis, Cade Smith, Tim Herrin, and Sam Hentges all have sub-1.00 WHIPS (Clase too, duh). And then Nick Sandlin has a 1.07 WHIP. The worst ERA of the heavy-rotation guys is Sandlin’s 3.74, follow by Scott Barlow‘s 3.52.

Colorado Rockies:

• I wanna say this one is like the White Sox in that it’s an easy call that they’ll sell, but the Rockies often do not take the easy road. They should try to get what they can for Jalen Beeks, who has been a decent enough closer. Only making around $1.7M and is an upcoming free agent. Victor Vodnik is maybe the biggest beneficiary in a Beeks departure.

Detroit Tigers:

• Jason Foley started the year sizzling hot, but he’s really quite lame all of a sudden. Arb 1 year starts next year, so I wonder if those years of control plus his 19 SVHD will get any takers. Shelby Miller is an anomaly: 5.23 ERA, but then 0.92 WHIP. He’s got a year left on his deal, making $3M this year and $4M next year. Someone might be willing to take that on. Not too jazzed about any feller left behind.

Houston Astros:

• Sure, they all struggled out the gate, but no concerns as far as I’m concerned. Josh Hader is elite, Bryan Abreu is maybe not quite as elite as I thought (but still has 66 K in 46.1 IP), and then Ryan Pressly is still just solid at collecting SVHD and putting up solid ratios.

Kansas City Royals:

• The Royals went and got a good one in Hunter Harvey. They were a team I was sure would add bullpen depth. Hell, they may not be done. They could use at least a couple more if you ask me. James McArthur has the saves you hoped for, just not the ratios you hoped for. However, the metrics do still look pretty good..

Los Angeles Angels:

• Carlos Estevez is sitting at 17 SV, 2.61 ERA, and 0.77 WHIP, with a 31:4 K:BB in the first half. Boy howdy, how many contenders would want that to bolster their pen? I wager all of em. Figure he might be one of the hottest commodities on the market, if I don’t miss my guess. Making $6.75M and is set to become a free agent. A rental with those shiny ratios at that cost? Ben Joyce seems to have figured out how not to walk people anymore, so I think you should probably add him if you’re an Estevez owner. Odds are pretty good he goes somewhere that doesn’t need a true closer.

Los Angeles Dodgers:

• Evan Phillips mostly been great. Not perfect, which he almost was the past two season, but pretty ding dang close. Daniel Hudson and Alex Vesia have been awesome, while Blake Treinen has actually been good but bumped down the depth chart by those other two.

Miami Marlins:

• Tanner Scott has to be the #1 commodity on the market. Last year was almost flawless, and he’s pretty much back to that kind of form right now. Yessiree, I do recall his awful spring and awful early numbers once games started to matter. Even with all that, he’s gotten his numbers down to a 1.34 ERA and 1.07 WHIP. Man has allowed two earned runs in his last 32.2 IP. Opposing hitters batting a paltry .131 in that span. Reckon his SVHD value only skyrockets once he moves to a contender; it’s the SV-only stock that’s up in the air. Once he’s out, my money’s on Andrew Nardi to eventually take over in the ninth.

Milwaukee Brewers:

• Devin Williams isn’t far away. Add in all formats if he happens to be available. Trevor Megill has been great and figures to be a lock for SVHD sexiness ROS unless he Brew Crew go and add a big name or something. Don’t really expect that to happen, but then again I never expected them to trade Josh Hader at his peak while they were winning the division lol. I guess I don’t rightly know what to expect.

Minnesota Twins:

• This is a bullpen that’s very deep and will only get deeper when Brock Stewart comes back. Jhoan Duran and Griffin Jax are bona fide badasses, and Cole Sands and Jorge Alcala had breakout first halves.

New York Mets:

• Edwin Diaz has been a far cry from the #2 RP I ranked in preseason. Everyone starts with a clean slate in the second half, however, and that dude could very well be the #2 RP of the second half. Dedniel Nunez is the Setup Sheriff I want from the Mets. Seems they’ve finally realized what they have in that guy. Rocking a 2.07 SIERA, 0.82 WHIP, and 39:5 K:BB in 30.2 IP.

New York Yankees:

• Luke Weaver has broken out as a stud RP after being a flop as a starter. Good for him. Clay Holmes has 21 SV and pretty good ratios, though he didn’t finish the first half on the highest of notes. I feel just fine about him, though.

Oakland A’s:

• Mason Miller collected 15 SV and 70 K in the first half. That’s not a bad season, especially for an Oakland Athletic. Oakland could try to sell high some of their setup dudes, but I don’t think any of us really care about anyone but Miller back there, right? Miller has even been rumored to maybe move…but why? He’ll cost two arms and two legs, and there are plenty of viable names who wouldn’t cost half as much. Maybe the unthinkable happens and he’s shipped out. Lucas Erceg and Austin Adams probably get looks at closer if that’s the case. Just can’t really see it happening, though, pards.

Philadelphia Phillies:

• Jeff Hoffman showing us that last year wasn’t a fluke. I’m sorry if I led anyone to drop him in SV-only…it looked like Jose Alvarado was the clear lead there for a while. Definitely not Hoffman’s job to himself, but one look at his first half compared to Alvarado’s is all it takes to see who should have the edge. I don’t know that that’ll be the case, of course. Just sayin. I don’t think the Phils really need to add anyone here, but maybe they do. Saw Tanner Scott linked to them once upon a time. But they’ve got Hoffman, Alvarado, and then Matt Strahm and Orion Kerkering, both of whom are kicking major ass already.

Pittsburgh Pirates:

• I expect Aroldis Chapman to be wearing a different uniform before long despite his 20.3 BB%. Still has elite strikeout stuff and gobs of experience that any contender would covet. David Bednar is also probably on the block given some teams will like that he’s got some years of control left (Arb 2 starts next year). Not a definite to get traded. His ERA doesn’t look good, but the ERA predictors are in much better shape, plus that 1.08 WHIP looks purty dandy. If he moves, his SV-only value probably takes a nosedive. Chapman’s SVHD value probably only goes up, but those walks are a serious problem right now. Let’s say both move…who closes in Pitt? Maybe Colin Holderman?

San Diego Padres:

• Breakout first halves for both Robert Suarez and Jeremiah Estrada. Legit breakouts. Not sure whether the Dads look to make any pen moves or not. Lots of years and money invested into Suarez, Matsui, and Peralta. Some lesser names could move I guess, but I doubt anyone meaningful comes in or goes out.

Seattle Mariners:

• Andres Munoz had a very nice first half. Ryne Stanek busted out into near must-own status in SVHD leagues (and even had a little run of SV-only fame), and his mysterious early departure in his last outing has turned out just to be back spasms.  Gregory Santos is back and might be a thing in the second half for SVHD. I could see the M’s making a move to deepen this pen, but then again, Trent Thornton and Austin Voth have been far from bad.

San Francisco Giants:

• Rocky first half for Camilo Doval but I’m not a single bit worried. I’ve heard crazy stories of that dude getting dropped. Insanity! Blasphemy! I mean, if someone’s selling, buy low. I know that 1.62 WHIP is an eyesore, but he’s too elite to stay there. Ryan Walker has broken out with 16 HLD, a 0.89 WHIP, and 60 K in 49.1 IP. Viable in all holds formats as long as that keeps up. Tyler Rogers still viable too: 1 SV, 18 HLD, very good ratios. It’s just his Ks absolutely suck lol. Rogers enters Arb 3 next year and could interest a contender with money to negotiate.

St. Louis Cardinals:

• Ryan Helsley done went and bagged 32 SV in half a season. My rough math tells me he’s on pace for 64 SV. I know that we’re technically a little over the halfway point of 162 games, and pacing out saves is stupid anyway, but y’all get it. He could realistically get 50+. The Cards are just one of them teams that win often enough by not large margins. JoJo Romero and Andrew Kittredge combined for 51 HLD and good ratios. I expect that if they even bother to add to this pen, whoever comes in won’t be high-caliber enough to overtake either one of those guys for high-leverage work.

Tampa Bay Rays:

• Jason Adam remains one of the singular best bullpen arms in the game. Has 4 W, 4 SV, and 18 HLD, along with a 1.67 ERA and 0.79 WHIP so far in 2024. Pete Fairbanks has been good enough but not even close to the eliteness I though we’d get. Both these names have been brought up in potential moves. Not sure how much weight there is to all that. Colin Poche and Kevin Kelly are guys to keep in the back corner of your brain if there turns out to be some weight after all.

Texas Rangers: 

• Seen speculation the Rangers may be open to selling as well. Crazy the defending champs might be sellers at the deadline. Reckon the next couple weeks will be the deciding factor. As it stands, they’re 7.5 games out of WC contention. Not great odds. Kirby Yates and David Robertson have looked about 10 years younger thus far, so now’s the time to sell while they’re at peak value and still healthy. Yates would be a one-year rental, while DRob hits the market after next season.

Toronto Blue Jays: 

• The Jays are 9.5 games back from a WC berth. They’ll likely be selling come late July. Yimi Garcia is back just in time to not be hurt for the trade deadline, and he’s had one of the best season of anyone. He’s a free man come season’s end, so I think he’ll be highly-sought after if he can prove he’s fully healthy. Chad Green has been a good interim closer. Plenty of veteran experience, and while he does have a year of control left, he’s a pricier investment at $10.5M AAV.

Washington Nationals:

• Hunter Harvey has already been covered. The next man to leave will be Kyle Finnegan. Just can’t picture a scenario where he doesn’t get traded. Having himself an ungodly season (25 SV, 2.45 ERA, 1.02 WHIP) and has a year of control left (Arb 3 next year, and then FA in ’26). Probably keeps good SVHD value ROS, but like with Tanner Scott or David Bednar or Carlos Estevez, his SV-only stonks probably plummet. Robert Garcia is my dark horse ROS MVP from this pen.

That’s all for this week! Thanks for reading. Leave me a comment below so I feel all warm and fuzzy.